Cross post: 17Z Pedal Feel Opinions

[fR3ZNO]

Hey everyone, I did a few searches, but couldn't find much.

I want to get a few opinions from those of you with 17Z's on the pedal feel.

I recently picked up a set of them and was worried that the pedal feel would be crap. I currently run B5 S4 calipers in the front and stock rears. I had to bleed the brakes about three times before the pedal was okay. Even then, the feel is kinda meh. I'm pretty sure the air is all out because with the car turned off, the pedal firms right up. It feels like there's more pedal travel before the brakes engage.

I am also on the stock MC and brake booster as well. I have yet to do any ABS recoding with VCDS, but I don't believe that would alleviate the pedal travel.

Anyways, back on topic. I am kinda hesitant to install the 17Z's because of a few cases that I've read where the pedal feel is crap. I emailed ECS about pedal travel with their Stage 5 kit with 18Z calipers and they said: "We sell a lot of these kits and have never had any complaints about pedal feel. These are designed to retain the OEM pedal feel even though it is a larger caliper. A lot of the customers who purchase these kits use them for the track."

So I'm getting mixed answers here. I understand how Pascals Law works and how different MC piston and caliper piston areas affect the pedal feel, but I want to hear some firsthand accounts.

[vavJETTAw36]

Drive them. They will feel better as they are used. Trust me. Same issues I ran into.


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[fR3ZNO]

Drive them. They will feel better as they are used. Trust me. Same issues I ran into.


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When you say feel better, is the pedal travel actually improving or perhaps you're just getting used to it?

[vavJETTAw36]

Sorry I skimmed and missed some key pieces of info.

So what I was saying was when I first installed my 17z's, they felt like they needed a lot of pressure to get them to work. I hated it. I bled entire system once more with same results. I got some advice to just drive and bed them. After bedding them they are back to normal feel. Almost oem.


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[zillarob]

Get rid of those dangerous things asap!!!
Scrap guy here gives me a good rate so I could prob give you $100 if you send them to me




Put them on, you wont regret it.
I have seen some be a little funny at first, but they got happy after a day or two. I think it was just the shims that are stuck to the back of the pads flattening out and getting cozy in their new home.

[fR3ZNO]

Get rid of those dangerous things asap!!!
Scrap guy here gives me a good rate so I could prob give you $100 if you send them to me




Put them on, you wont regret it.
I have seen some be a little funny at first, but they got happy after a day or two. I think it was just the shims that are stuck to the back of the pads flattening out and getting cozy in their new home.

Lol. Let me box them up for you right away then!

I think I'll go ahead with the 17Z's then.

[Wagonholic]

i'm not sure if this is relevant but i have 18z calipers and i like them with no pedal feel issues. stops like a dime every time

[jaychen]

18z are actually better suited the B5's.

Pedal feel with 17z will be more 'unassisted' than stock. Eg no initial 'bite' when you first touch the pedal, but they will stop well.

For the aforementioned reason, I wouldn't install 17z again on a B5. To each their own, though.

[zillarob]

Given the same pad, I doubt most could even feel the difference between 17z and 18z.

Pad choice makes a way bigger difference than 17z or 18z.
The 17z/pagids I ran at first had so much initial bite that I put the mystery pads from the junkyard in to calm them down.

[fR3ZNO]

18z are actually better suited the B5's.

Pedal feel with 17z will be more 'unassisted' than stock. Eg no initial 'bite' when you first touch the pedal, but they will stop well.

For the aforementioned reason, I wouldn't install 17z again on a B5. To each their own, though.

Yep. 18Z total piston area is slightly smaller than the 17Z.

My main thing is pedal feel. How much pedal travel would you say there is before the pedal firms up?

[jaychen]

Yep. 18Z total piston area is slightly smaller than the 17Z.

My main thing is pedal feel. How much pedal travel would you say there is before the pedal firms up?

I don't remember measurements.. enough to know i didn't like the feel and wouldn't do it again.

I'm sure there will be other people that say different, but i tried 2 or 3 different pads too. They just don't feel assisted.. not a feeling i like in my cars.

[audacity]

not sure what you mean by assisted? how do the stock brakes feel assisted?

[jaychen]

not sure what you mean by assisted? how do the stock brakes feel assisted?

last time i checked b5's run a brake booster.

[redline380]

LOL, yeah pretty sure he was referring to vacuum assisted brakes. It would be very difficult to generate enough pressure with your foot alone without an absolutely giant piston

[zillarob]

I don't remember measurements.. enough to know i didn't like the feel and wouldn't do it again.

I'm sure there will be other people that say different, but i tried 2 or 3 different pads too. They just don't feel assisted.. not a feeling i like in my cars.

I drive quite a few of these cars with all sorts of different setups and have never felt anything like that.
Well, there was this one time I had the brake booster line off for some diag- that was fkn both feet on the pedal scary!
I actually think this is a good thing to do for people with the late style booster hose to prepare them for when that thing blows apart Its no joke.

I think you had some bunk calipers or something else going on there.
hp2, 17z, 18z, stoptech- they all stop just fine. Some a little better than others.
My junkyard 17z/v70r rotors and those evil Pagids would just about put you through the windshield if you werent paying attention. Not to mention being the dirtiest pads Ive ever seen in my life. Should have read the Touareg forums before I bought them.
I threw the mystery junkyard pads that showed up in the calipers in and like them much better.
I drive a few with Hawk HPS and those are also nice drivers. Will get these on the next go-round.

[redline380]

Interested in windshield shattering pagids....

[zillarob]

Pretty much new.
Pay for shipping and those nightmares could be yours

[redline380]

Pretty much new.
Pay for shipping and those nightmares could be yours

If you are serious PM me. Drop them in a flat rate box and I will check them out come spring!

[zillarob]

Lol, Ill dig them out for you. I hope you have black wheels

[audacity]

last time i checked b5's run a brake booster.

so they should feel assisted...unless you removed the booster.

[Racin2redline]

Interested in windshield shattering pagids....

lol pagids are notorious for that

what model ? are they oem compound? my b6 brakes feel like that also with pagid... boy do they dust lol

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[Robsa6]

18zs here was a nice improvement over stock in my a6. pedal is firmer no doubt but its easier to modulate. I don't regret it and wouldn't go back

[Mkiv]

Hey everyone, I did a few searches, but couldn't find much.

I want to get a few opinions from those of you with 17Z's on the pedal feel.

I recently picked up a set of them and was worried that the pedal feel would be crap. I currently run B5 S4 calipers in the front and stock rears. I had to bleed the brakes about three times before the pedal was okay. Even then, the feel is kinda meh. I'm pretty sure the air is all out because with the car turned off, the pedal firms right up. It feels like there's more pedal travel before the brakes engage.

I am also on the stock MC and brake booster as well. I have yet to do any ABS recoding with VCDS, but I don't believe that would alleviate the pedal travel.

Anyways, back on topic. I am kinda hesitant to install the 17Z's because of a few cases that I've read where the pedal feel is crap. I emailed ECS about pedal travel with their Stage 5 kit with 18Z calipers and they said: "We sell a lot of these kits and have never had any complaints about pedal feel. These are designed to retain the OEM pedal feel even though it is a larger caliper. A lot of the customers who purchase these kits use them for the track."

So I'm getting mixed answers here. I understand how Pascals Law works and how different MC piston and caliper piston areas affect the pedal feel, but I want to hear some firsthand accounts.

I have 18Z's, excessive pedal travel lasted a few hours . Re bled system , Bedded pads and everything felt great

[demonmk2]

^^this
Kinda ran into the same thing with Porsche calipers. Drove it a bit and asll was good

[fR3ZNO]

So far seems like 18Z has better feel and less issues than 17Z.

[narth327]

I have 18z, I'd say the pedal feels way better than stock, very easy to modulate

[zillarob]

17z and 18z feel the same. They both use the same pad and pad choice is a change people can actually feel.

Take these little demons of deceleration for exampe:



If you dont respect the pedal, these dirty beeatches will launch the the headlights clean out of the grill.
They also come with the auto-black option for that sweet murdered out wheel look. I recommend replacing fr/rrr at the same time to maintain balance.
Not brake balance we are worried about here, but you just aint pimpin properly when the front wheels are black and the rears are silver.

[vavJETTAw36]

^^^ ding ding ding..... We have a winner.

Now close thing thread already lol


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[fR3ZNO]

17Z and 18Z pads are slightly different. 18Z pads are taller than 17Z. But yes, pads make a big difference. I just wanted to get a few opinions from people.