Complete brake refresh (rotors, pads, lines, fluid) & rear sway-bar

[ven0m]

I managed to install a couple of treats recently. (also a couple parts from JHM - this was my second order from US imported to the EU)
- AP Racing front rotors (from UK)
- JHM rear rotors (from US)
- Ferodo DS2500 pads (from Germany)
- HEL Braided stainless steel brake lines (from Slovenia)
- Motul RBF600 brake fluid (from Slovenia)
- Hotchkis rear sway-bar (from US)
- 034 sway-bar spherical end-links (from US)

Cleaned up & re-greased the guide pins and brake pistons. I used dedicated ATE grease for this job (did a lot of research on which grease to use):
ATE Plastilube - for the guide pins
ATE Bremszylinderpaste (I love German!) - for brake pistons

For the sway bar end-link bolts I used Loctite 243 - which is some new updated formula, it's grease resistant and has better thermal capabilities than the old formulas.























AP racing managed to forget one bobbin clip, but they shipped the spare parts directly to my address the next day. Good customer care!







The sway bar was repainted in blue so it matches the braided brake lines.

















Conclusion: The pads are amazing, the bite is far better than before on OEM rotors/pads. The brake pedal feel is a lot better. Also after bleeding the clutch it feels much better, more direct (I had occasional issues with a sticky clutch - now as it seems it's gone). The sway-bar makes a huge difference in countering body roll and pushing with the rear out of the corners!

[bluebull]

Curious what bar diameter you went with and what the characteristics are like now that its installed (from OEM to your size). Very close to buying a rear bar with 034 end links.

034 = 25.4mm diameter
Hotchkis = 29mm diameter

[dufferdude]

Im using the Hotchkis rsb and 034 endlinks on the stiffest setting. Huge difference. Imo

[bluebull]

Im using the Hotchkis rsb and 034 endlinks on the stiffest setting. Huge difference. Imo

thx!

[WinterRunner]

I had the 034 bar and endlinks with mid setting, was fantastic.

[ven0m]

Curious what bar diameter you went with and what the characteristics are like now that its installed (from OEM to your size). Very close to buying a rear bar with 034 end links.

034 = 25.4mm diameter
Hotchkis = 29mm diameter

The OEM I had before was the smallest that came with the car, 18mm (options were 20mm and 22mm per ETKA).

I went with Hotchkis 29mm, set at the stiffest setting (+300%). It's awesome!
After I was done beading-in the Ferodo pads, I did a couple of fast corners.

On the 1st fast corner, I thought "What the hell, it's a new car!"
On the 2nd fast corner, I thought "Worth.every.penny."
On the 3rd tight corner, I thought "HAH! It does push more from the back! I have a wannabe M3." :D

[bbeast]

Hey ven0m - was just looking at picking up some HEL SS brake lines as I'm about to do a mild brake refresh. Any issues with install or performance which you've encountered? Thanks in advance....

[zachf88]

Hey ven0m - was just looking at picking up some HEL SS brake lines as I'm about to do a mild brake refresh. Any issues with install or performance which you've encountered? Thanks in advance....

x2! Why did you not do front sway bar?

[ven0m]

Hey ven0m - was just looking at picking up some HEL SS brake lines as I'm about to do a mild brake refresh. Any issues with install or performance which you've encountered? Thanks in advance....

Performance and the end result is awesome. Brake pedal is less "spongy" under heavy braking, pedal feel is much better.

During the install make sure that your brake fluid reservoir doesn't run empty when you disconnect the brake line you're working on. If your reservoir runs empty your in the shit and will have to pressure bleed the complete system with the OEM VAG brake bleeder at the dealer.

When bleeding the brakes also do the clutch slave. Bleed 4x250ml per calliper (the front callipers are 125ml inside and 125ml outside) and 100ml on the clutch slave to fully flush the complete system. I recommend pressure bleeding as you can do it alone and is the quickest, the order for bleeding with a pressure bleeder is not important.


Note: I received long banjo bolts that didn't fit for the back brake lines. After calling the supplier he told that they changed the RS4 material spec. in that time and he promptly send me 2 short ones so I could fit the lines. So one point would be to double check with them, that they supply the SHORT banjo bolts for the rear lines. Just in case so you don't loose time like me.
But the supplier was correct and apologised for the mistake. He picked up the phone on a Sunday evening and I had the bolts Monday morning.

Why did you not do front sway bar?

I read a couple of reviews in regards with the sway bars on our cars where it was mentioned that our cars in OEM state are front biased regarding stability and with stiffening the rear sway you make the car neutral or even more rear biased (tail happy). This is the reason why I only went with a thicker rear bar (the end links I got for the front and rear).
The end result was exactly as described. Whenever I turned sharp into a corner and pushed hard out of it, I felt the rear pushing more and moving the way it should move!

It was stated many times that this is the most cost-effective mod for handling on our cars. And I can only confirm that!

[MattboyR32]

I agree with Ven0m regarding the sway bars. I have only upgraded my rear to the stiffest one and it's now very nice and neutral.

[who.am.i]

Nice update on brakes. Didnt find what size are brakes.

VAG Familia

[ven0m]

Nice update on brakes. Didnt find what size are brakes.

VAG Familia

Yea on the RS forums I never write measurements for standard parts as we all know each others cars. :))

- AP Racing front rotors - 365x34
- JHM rear rotors - 324x22

[bbeast]

Thanks ven0m - I ordered myself a set this past w/e. I'll keep my eye out for the banjo bolts when they arrive.

[NYC_Legacy]

Ferodo DS2500 pads (from Germany) FTW!
Do you have a site you got them off of?
i got mine from poland

that brake setup is so gooood! i love mine

I found www.bestbrakes.com to be a great supplier of Ferodo pads and other hard to find pads as well.

[ven0m]

@Mc Suly, I got them at sandtler24.de

2x front FCP1664 (details from manufacturer http://ecat.ferodoracing.com/car-rac...e-pads/FCP1664)
1x rear FCP1655 (details from manufacturer http://ecat.ferodoracing.com/car-rac...e-pads/FCP1655)

In total it was 545€ (including 20€ shipping) - that is 615$ at the current exchange rate.

The shop that NYC_Legacy linked is a far better option I think as the price is the same as the EU price but you don't have to bother about shipping and import!


@bbeast, I just found some pictures from when I was doing the install and messaged the supplier. Here are the two banjo bolts (short & long version). The long version which I received initially didn't fit and was replaced with the short version the next day.

[bbeast]

@Mc Suly, I got them at sandtler24.de

2x front FCP1664 (details from manufacturer http://ecat.ferodoracing.com/car-rac...e-pads/FCP1664)
1x rear FCP1655 (details from manufacturer http://ecat.ferodoracing.com/car-rac...e-pads/FCP1655)

In total it was 545€ (including 20€ shipping) - that is 615$ at the current exchange rate.

The shop that NYC_Legacy linked is a far better option I think as the price is the same as the EU price but you don't have to bother about shipping and import!


@bbeast, I just found some pictures from when I was doing the install and messaged the supplier. Here are the two banjo bolts (short & long version). The long version which I received initially didn't fit and was replaced with the short version the next day.

Thanks again vem0n - that should be a big help!