Brake options...

[QuattroRS3]

So today I brought my car in for service just to find out my Front brakes need to be changed pretty soon. I just didn't expect it to be $800+ as I was told, but it is what it is. However before I decide to replace them for that much are there better aftermarket options for about the same price? I have a 2009 Audi S5 and never considered upgrading the brakes before, but now that I know the Front ones need to be changed I'd listen to some of the of the options you guys went with if I find a good deal. Let me know as I'd appreciate the input, thanks.

[Pelican Parts]

You could do some Brembo rotors for about $140 for just the fronts and HAWK Ceramic brake pads (good for the street for low dust and noise) for $152 for just the fronts. Done this combo more than a few times at the performance shop I used to work at. Otherwise, we do have genuine and OEM options for less as well.

Brembo http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/..._pg2.htm#item8
HAWK http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/..._pg2.htm#item3
Sensor http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/..._pg2.htm#item6

[pr1malr8ge]

Well, yeah you could do much better..

IF you need rotors you can get 4 rotors and akebono pads for around 400. This does not include labor though.

[Brozee]

Either DIY, or have a friend help you change the front rotors. They are just like any other car. I changed all four corners myself with pads and rotors in under 2 hours easy. The rear needs the VCDS computer to release the rear parking brake. Either way you could Buy the parts (rotors and pads) and purchase a VCDS cable ($350) all for much cheaper than the stealers outrageous asking price.

[XLR8 Craig]

So today I brought my car in for service just to find out my Front brakes need to be changed pretty soon. I just didn't expect it to be $800+ as I was told, but it is what it is. However before I decide to replace them for that much are there better aftermarket options for about the same price? I have a 2009 Audi S5 and never considered upgrading the brakes before, but now that I know the Front ones need to be changed I'd listen to some of the of the options you guys went with if I find a good deal. Let me know as I'd appreciate the input, thanks.

There are many options that will get the job done but it depends on what you're looking for out of your brakes. We have solid recommendations for reasonably priced OEM components or we can offer high quality aftermarket/performance. We are located in Branford, along the I95 corridor in Connecticut and have a recently expanded 11,000 sq ft facility with three very capable mechanics with decades of experience.

Feel free to visit our website to learn more about us (the new site is a work in progress) if you cant find what you are looking for let us know. Feel free to stop down at any time and we will give you a tour.


Thanks,

Greg

[QuattroRS3]

Thanks for the input guys. I've been looking around and the ones that really stand out to me are the ones from StopTech. They are the Street Axle Pack, Drilled-Front and Rear rotors with pads. By any chance does anybody on here have them?

[jwr9152]

I have the stoptech ST 60 bbk and it is very good. JHM has lightweight floating rotors that use the stock calipers.

On a side note you do not need a vag com to replace the rear rotors. You can remove the emergency brake motors and screw out the calipers. Only takes a few extra minutes.

[QuattroRS3]

Okay I was hoping to update you guys today as my rotors finally came in. I ended up getting the StopTech Street Axle Pack - Drilled-Front and Rear rotors; however my mechanic who just happens to work at Audi told me to contact StopTech as they sent me two front Left rotors. While the rare rotors were just fine. However I do recall some manufacturers sending LEFT side only for matching purposes, but it was not mentioned what so ever in the description when I bought these. So just wondering if anybody here has these on their car and IF StopTech does owe me a right side aka passenger side rotor or is it actually suppose to be 2 Left side ones and I missed the memo or something?

[Sweep]

So just for everyone's reference I paid the dealership $775 to do rear pads and rotors with oem parts. Fronts will probably need to be replaced soon but I'm thinking of doing stoptech rotors and hawk or akebono pads myself. Anyone got a link to a good DIY?

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[Vicnumb7]

I have brembo BBKs and can't recommend them more

[ParadigmTony]

Honestly I think we need to have Sticky about BBK and Braking options on this platform. For one the Dealer charges so much for a basic brake job that its absolutely absurd to consider the price for oem braking "performance" while I will say its sufficient for the car in day to day driving even the improved S brakes are leaving to be desired. Its a heavy car. Heat soak, and pad compounds are a real issue if you even wanna bang around the canyons or lakes one weekend, let alone decide to recreationally hit the track and melt your pads to the rotor..

Driving and goals are the biggest consideration here as Excelerate said. This however I think is always underrated. We all just say "I dont track my car, I just like to drive spirited occasionally" well if you do that in your 3500lb land missile you're a danger to those around you in the stock braking configuration. The RS brakes would be sufficient here, but even they for a day or two of track use with aggressive pads are pretty much useless.

The next consideration is budget. I consider this first lol. Because I dont care what my goals are if Im replacing something on my car, I'm improving it somehow. Nothing stock goes back on! But the brakes can run from a few hundred to 10k+ if you wanna go ceramic. There are so many HIGH END BBK at a low price point for this car its almost laughable to not have them.

Then comes tech... Not getting way into that bc thats what a sticky should be for. In short you wanna lighten your rotating mass, improve heat exchange, and retain longevity. The stock units actually the worst in all three categories. There are several two piece rotors on the market, start there. Then there are face considerations (Slotted, drilled) If you all season your car, I would avoid drilled. If you drive your car very hard, Id avoid drilled. Actually Id always avoid drilled lol. (tbh there is some value sorry guys). Adams, ECS, Stoptech, all have very affordable improvements. Start there. Then look into pads. Akebono, and the ST pads are pretty great. Hawk I've heard good things about, but never ran them, as well as pagid.

Then comes so much more...

Hope this helps. I should write the sticky.

[Sweep]

Honestly I think we need to have Sticky about BBK and Braking options on this platform. For one the Dealer charges so much for a basic brake job that its absolutely absurd to consider the price for oem braking "performance" while I will say its sufficient for the car in day to day driving even the improved S brakes are leaving to be desired. Its a heavy car. Heat soak, and pad compounds are a real issue if you even wanna bang around the canyons or lakes one weekend, let alone decide to recreationally hit the track and melt your pads to the rotor..

Driving and goals are the biggest consideration here as Excelerate said. This however I think is always underrated. We all just say "I dont track my car, I just like to drive spirited occasionally" well if you do that in your 3500lb land missile you're a danger to those around you in the stock braking configuration. The RS brakes would be sufficient here, but even they for a day or two of track use with aggressive pads are pretty much useless.

The next consideration is budget. I consider this first lol. Because I dont care what my goals are if Im replacing something on my car, I'm improving it somehow. Nothing stock goes back on! But the brakes can run from a few hundred to 10k+ if you wanna go ceramic. There are so many HIGH END BBK at a low price point for this car its almost laughable to not have them.

Then comes tech... Not getting way into that bc thats what a sticky should be for. In short you wanna lighten your rotating mass, improve heat exchange, and retain longevity. The stock units actually the worst in all three categories. There are several two piece rotors on the market, start there. Then there are face considerations (Slotted, drilled) If you all season your car, I would avoid drilled. If you drive your car very hard, Id avoid drilled. Actually Id always avoid drilled lol. (tbh there is some value sorry guys). Adams, ECS, Stoptech, all have very affordable improvements. Start there. Then look into pads. Akebono, and the ST pads are pretty great. Hawk I've heard good things about, but never ran them, as well as pagid.

Then comes so much more...

Hope this helps. I should write the sticky.

Please do, we have stickies already for wheels, suspension, exhaust and engine mods, so it makes perfect sense to put together a sticky for brakes. With so many people improving performance and making their cars faster, it's important to make sure your brakes can keep up with the added performance.

I think it would be nice to have some sort of brake down of oem size aftermarket options that you can run with existing calipers for A/S/RS. Then BBK options as well as wheel fitment issues that come up with BBKs. Honestly brakes are something I know the least about so I would find this extremely helpful.

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[SR7D1]

Another thing. Start following the B8 S4 forum. That forum is much more tailored to performance than the A5/S5 forum. (I think the setup should have been A4/A5 and S4/S5 forums, the cars are pretty much identical anyway?)

[Sweep]

Another thing. Start following the B8 S4 forum. That forum is much more tailored to performance than the A5/S5 forum. (I think the setup should have been A4/A5 and S4/S5 forums, the cars are pretty much identical anyway?)

Yeah I've been checking out their classifieds for used BBKs as S4s are a lot more common and hence more active classifieds section. Can anyone confirm that all B8 platform kits will fit using the same hardware?

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[ParadigmTony]

Yeah I've been checking out their classifieds for used BBKs as S4s are a lot more common and hence more active classifieds section. Can anyone confirm that all B8 platform kits will fit using the same hardware?

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Yes, they will.

[Sweep]

Yes, they will.

Thanks, Tony. Can you offer any guidance on figuring out fitment for different wheel sizes and offsets and various kits?

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[QuattroRS3]

Okay, I'm learning that BRAKES are not my thing...So I ended up getting the StopTech Street Axle Pack - Drilled-Front and Rear rotors and my mechanic was like they sent you two Left side Front rotors. This entire time I thought it was a mistake, but just called StopTech and they told me its how the S5 is calibrated. Can anybody be more clear, because I'm still lost?