Again sorry for digging up an old thread but I am late to the game in upgrading my B8.5 S4 with RS5 8-pot brakes. I just got my hands on both a 2014 RS5 and 2011 B8 S4 master cylinders + brake boosters. There is a lot of differing information in this thread so I thought it was best to completely disassemble both sets of components, compare the internals and share my findings.
Part numbers used:
2011 S4 Brake Booster (TRW B8 - 8K0-612-103K) (confirmed in ETKA as a legacy B8 S4 booster part number)
2014 RS5 Brake Booster (TRW RS5 - 8T0-612-103A)
2011 S4 Master Cylinder (TRW 6458 9513)
2014 RS5 Master Cylinder (TRW 6458 0764)
Major take away:
Master Cylinder:
-The master cylinders between the RS5 and the S4 externally look almost identical. However internally the RS5 has a bigger piston and bore (circa 25.5mm vs 27mm).
-The top, externally visible parts of the piston have the same stroke and diameter.
-The RS5 master cylinder has 2 holes for reservoir feed channel and the S4 has 1 hole. I am not sure if this is a design revision to over come a flaw, or if it has functionality in allowing larger fluid volume.
-Functionally the RS5 master cylinder should create more fluid pressure with the same stroke which makes sense to support actuation of a larger caliper piston area.
Brake Boosters:
-The brake boosters are externally dimensionally exactly the same.
-The RS5 brake booster is made of Aluminium while the S4 brake booster is made out of a ferrous metal.
-Due to the metallic composition of the RS5 brake booster, it is much lighter than the S4 one.
-The output and input shafts, pistons, springs, and boots are exactly the same.
-Internally the S4 brake booster has a differing part number for the secondary, output side diaphragm.
-Internally the S4 brake booster has additional holes on the secondary, output side diaphragm support plate. I am not sure what function these holes play as they appear to be blocked off by the secondary, output side diaphragm when the brake booster is assembled. They may either serve as pressure ports to reduce brake pressure assistance or were there to allow the same component to be used in different brake boosters across the TRW line.
-Functionally the RS5 brake booster *may* provide slightly more brake pressure assistance, regardless it does look nicer and is lighter weight.
I am personally going to utilize the RS5 Brake Booster + Master Cylinder combination to upgrade my B8.5 S4. I have high confidence that the RS5 brake booster does NOT require additional input vacuum pressure from my analysis. Typically the master cylinder, booster, calipers, and ABS system are matched components. At worse; if the booster was designed with a higher input vacuum pressure it would in turn only offer less pressure assistance and would lead to a heaver pedal feel.
If interested please review the photos I took through the disassembly and analysis:
Brake Boosters:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/3uXwDUK9zrTJboTz9
Master Cylinders:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/cQESxESSJNBtekoJ7
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