Trying to ditch Akebono....

[JWreck]

I swapped my front brakes with Akebono pads and ECS slotted rotors a little while ago. My rear pads are low now so I've been thinking...perhaps I can get only new pads on the rears and new pads up front too, and not have to replace rotors. I've got 40k miles...what are the chances that my rear robots even need replacing anyway?

I don't like the significant loss of initial bite from the Akebono pads (I assume it's really just the pads causing this).

[JoshDub]

You can really only know what needs to be replaced based on measuring. Brake wear is highly dependant on driving style.

Provided your front rotors aren't worn, there is no reason you couldn't just replace the pads.

Akebonos don't have great initial bite, but I'd also be weary of the rotors. Personally I've never had success with ECS branded parts.

[Dr GP]

Seeing the Akebonos are ceramic, I would expect more rotor wear than OEM pads. Not likely you will be able to get buy without new rotors.

[P1Racer]

ECS rotors have proven to be trash in my experience and another members. They give out at higher than street temps. Don't waste your money on them, just spend he extra $120 for the front and get StopTech.


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[sunsation]

Have anyone of you tried Adams Rotors I've seen them advertising on here?


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[wangshuo1989]

I have akebono pads and Zimmerman rotors, braking force is linear and as strong as OEM if not stronger. I'll ditch ECS rotors first and see.

[rushwilliams]

Have anyone of you tried Adams Rotors I've seen them advertising on here?


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I had Adams on my 3.2L A4. No issues what so ever. Also had Hawk ceramics. Will buy both again for my new S4 when the time is needed


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[stereojorge]

Love my Akebono's, would never run anything else...


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[Johnnycash]

Have anyone of you tried Adams Rotors I've seen them advertising on here?


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adams rotors are just chinese blanks with custom slotted/drilled patterns in them, if i am wrong someone can correct me.

[MrFunk]

If your pads are worn you might as well do the rotors. If your rear rotors have 40k on them then yes replace them.

[JWreck]

Seeing the Akebonos are ceramic, I would expect more rotor wear than OEM pads. Not likely you will be able to get buy without new rotors.

I've only had the front rotors and pads for maybe 15k miles max.


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[JWreck]

ECS rotors have proven to be trash in my experience and another members. They give out at higher than street temps. Don't waste your money on them, just spend he extra $120 for the front and get StopTech.


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Interesting point on the ECS. I think several people recommended them back when I was looking. I almost went with StopTech but decided to give ECS a shot since they're all over.


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[JWreck]

ECS rotors have proven to be trash in my experience and another members. They give out at higher than street temps. Don't waste your money on them, just spend he extra $120 for the front and get StopTech.


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That's $120 per wheel


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[JWreck]

Are slotted rotors proving anything of value in street driving? All I've noticed with my ECS slotted rotors is a slight whirring


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[onlyaudis]

akebonos and zimmerman here as well. Very excellent street brakes

[JoshDub]

adams rotors are just chinese blanks with custom slotted/drilled patterns in them, if i am wrong someone can correct me.

They used to be. Not sure if they still are but I wouldn't be surprised. He also ranks pretty poor when it comes to customer service.

Are slotted rotors proving anything of value in street driving? All I've noticed with my ECS slotted rotors is a slight whirring


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No, slotted rotors won't really do much for your street driving.

[JWreck]

With only 12-15k on my front rotors I think I may try some StopTech pads on the existing ECS rotors. Only concern is if the rotors will allow proper bedding having had a different (ceramic) pad material previously.


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[JoshDub]

Yes they will bed. I swap out my pads for track days and use the same rotors. Just following proper bedding procedure and you'll be fine.

At 15k your rotors are probably fine.

[JWreck]

I'll probably try out Hawk HPS street or HPS performance street 5.0 pads on the front.

Reading people's opinions on brakes is as fun as banging my head against my counters.


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[administerturbo]

I have been hammering on the ECS front slotted rotors. They have been awesome. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

- - - Updated - - -

They used to be. Not sure if they still are but I wouldn't be surprised. He also ranks pretty poor when it comes to customer service.



No, slotted rotors won't really do much for your street driving.

I think they help increases initial bite a little.

- - - Updated - - -

They used to be. Not sure if they still are but I wouldn't be surprised. He also ranks pretty poor when it comes to customer service.



No, slotted rotors won't really do much for your street driving.

I think they help increases initial bite a little.

[MVR 155]

I recently replaced my front brakes with Akebono pads and Zimmerman rotors. I bedded them despite the instructions saying they don't necessarily need it. Regardless of instructions, it never hurts to properly bed a set of new brakes. Initially I felt they were lacking on initial bite as the stock pads are quite aggressive on initial bite. After driving a few hundred miles and giving them a couple of weeks I'm quite happy with them. Initial bite is definitely reduced but they clamp up pretty good when you lay into the pedal a bit. I have thrown some triple digit stops on them with zero drama. There is next to zero dust and zero noise/squeal in cold temps.

[JWreck]

For those of you who have replaced the caliper bolts per Audi's specification, do you have the part numbers? I didn't think they were all the same size, and there are two options on ECS' website for caliper bolts (a long and a short). I will be replacing the front and the back.

I called the dealer, sat on hold for 15 minutes and came back with nothing.

[JayTeeC]

I put a full set of Stoptech x-drilled cryo treated rotors on my B7 S4, about 3.5 years ago (almost 30k miles) and very pleased, they've held up great. I like the look of x-drilled and do believe it helps with initial bite, cooling and brake-gas venting (or so I've read). Makes me feel better anyway! Of course you'll never know during most commutes, and I've never tracked it.

I also went with Stoptech Street Performance pads. They take a higher heat (also bled/filled with their STR600 hi temp fluid) but they lost some initial bite (they are also lower dust IIRC). Love the rotors but looking for better pads - I am starting to think you cant find the holy grail of pads - good initial bite, hi temp endurance, and low dust. I noticed the same loss of initial bite with Hawk HPS Streets.

[RendyR]

Carbotech Bobcats?
I run them on all of my cars.
Love them, great stopping, long life.

[JWreck]

I put a full set of Stoptech x-drilled cryo treated rotors on my B7 S4, about 3.5 years ago (almost 30k miles) and very pleased, they've held up great. I like the look of x-drilled and do believe it helps with initial bite, cooling and brake-gas venting (or so I've read). Makes me feel better anyway! Of course you'll never know during most commutes, and I've never tracked it.

I also went with Stoptech Street Performance pads. They take a higher heat (also bled/filled with their STR600 hi temp fluid) but they lost some initial bite (they are also lower dust IIRC). Love the rotors but looking for better pads - I am starting to think you cant find the holy grail of pads - good initial bite, hi temp endurance, and low dust. I noticed the same loss of initial bite with Hawk HPS Streets.

I agree there is no holy grail in brakes for all applications. Hopefully these HPS 5.0 performance pads I'm ordering feel better than these Akebono pads.


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[MS203]

I'll probably try out Hawk HPS street or HPS performance street 5.0 pads on the front.

Reading people's opinions on brakes is as fun as banging my head against my counters.


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I just replaced my ECS two-piece tru-float drilled/slotted rotors front and rear. Previously on my last set of these rotors I ran the EBC Redstuff pads. Honestly did not like them much. This time around I paired the new sets with the Hawk 5.0 you mentioned. They are terrific. I would definitely recommend. You will be happy with these.

Hahaha, unfortunately with rotors and pads (pads more so) you will get completely varying opinions across the forums. For example I've seen posts where people love the EBC Redstuff pads, and here I am saying how I was very unpleased with them. So a little trial and error is needed on the brake pad front to really find out what suits your preferences the best. Lucky pads aren't expensive.

[AutoRacer100]

What are you guys talking about the Akebono pads is lacked initial bite? I just put Akebono pads on my car and not noticing any weak biting power with this pad.

[TexasDfwS4]

The OEM was better but the dust was awful. Akebono are ok and no dust. Like JWreck said "there is no holy grail."

[speedy0339]

StopTech slotted with Hawk 5.0 is the best setup I have found for the S4. I got mine on Autoanything for pretty cheap.

[SDV325]

I just replaced my ECS two-piece tru-float drilled/slotted rotors front and rear. Previously on my last set of these rotors I ran the EBC Redstuff pads. Honestly did not like them much. This time around I paired the new sets with the Hawk 5.0 you mentioned. They are terrific. I would definitely recommend. You will be happy with these.

Hahaha, unfortunately with rotors and pads (pads more so) you will get completely varying opinions across the forums. For example I've seen posts where people love the EBC Redstuff pads, and here I am saying how I was very unpleased with them. So a little trial and error is needed on the brake pad front to really find out what suits your preferences the best. Lucky pads aren't expensive.

just curious what was the main difference between these two pads? I've thought about switching to either one of these once my stoptechs wear down.

[MS203]

just curious what was the main difference between these two pads? I've thought about switching to either one of these once my stoptechs wear down.

I can't tell you exactly, all I know is that the pads itself have a different compound I believe. When I ran the EBC's with my ECS rotors, I got this shake/shudder under breaking. It would happen at random times intermittently, under both heavy and light braking, it was horrifying. I asked my buddy about this (who runs a StopTech kit now on his B8.5) and he told me that the materials in the EBC Redstuff (metallic??) have issues with the materials in the ECS rotors. He explained how this accounted for the braking flaws I have been experiencing.

After installing the Hawk 5.0's this problem was completely eliminated, plus I like the feel of them over the EBC's. If you were pleased with the stoptech pads I would get them again, but otherwise id recommend the Hawks.

[DontHait]

I can't tell you exactly, all I know is that the pads itself have a different compound I believe. When I ran the EBC's with my ECS rotors, I got this shake/shudder under breaking. It would happen at random times intermittently, under both heavy and light braking, it was horrifying. I asked my buddy about this (who runs a StopTech kit now on his B8.5) and he told me that the materials in the EBC Redstuff (metallic??) have issues with the materials in the ECS rotors. He explained how this accounted for the braking flaws I have been experiencing.

After installing the Hawk 5.0's this problem was completely eliminated, plus I like the feel of them over the EBC's. If you were pleased with the stoptech pads I would get them again, but otherwise id recommend the Hawks.

Are you running these on ECS rotors?

[MS203]

Are you running these on ECS rotors?

Yep. I mentioned my rotor setup a few posts above. This combination is great so far.

[P1Racer]

I also had the same issue that MS203 was having. I am running the ECS slotted rotors, and Hawk Street/Race pads. I'm switching my whole setup to Stoptech slotted rotors with Carbotech xp12 pads.


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[s42014DSG]

I have the HPS 5.0 and Zimmermanns. Pretty good stopping power, definite initial bite reduction (which I don't quite like), and minimal dust (which I do). The 5.0 pads improved a lot stopping power wise over the first few thousand miles.

I did not replace caliper bolts nor, apparently, were my pads glued to whatever sits behind them (something which the factory parts have as a matter of course) and now I get awful squeaks as the pads move about in their brackets. Anyone have any tips on where I can find the right compound to keep them in place? Apparently the factory pads come with the glue already on them. Also: what's the downside of using the same caliper bolts as before? Should I get that taken care of ASAP?

Thanks!

[SDV325]

I can't tell you exactly, all I know is that the pads itself have a different compound I believe. When I ran the EBC's with my ECS rotors, I got this shake/shudder under breaking. It would happen at random times intermittently, under both heavy and light braking, it was horrifying. I asked my buddy about this (who runs a StopTech kit now on his B8.5) and he told me that the materials in the EBC Redstuff (metallic??) have issues with the materials in the ECS rotors. He explained how this accounted for the braking flaws I have been experiencing.

After installing the Hawk 5.0's this problem was completely eliminated, plus I like the feel of them over the EBC's. If you were pleased with the stoptech pads I would get them again, but otherwise id recommend the Hawks.

Cool, good to know as i am running the ECS rotors as well and hopefully they will survive a second set of pads unlike the OEM rotors. I like the stoptechs somewhat but in daily driving stop and go, i do wish they had more stopping power when i put my toe into it. Very linear pad which is nice i guess, just doesnt have that huge grab when you dig in when needed.

My rear brakes are pretty much done for, i have ECS/stoptech pads waiting to be installed, maybe that will help improve the grab once those are in. if not i will be switching to the 5.0/HPS pretty soon.

[grovlet]

I put a full set of Stoptech x-drilled cryo treated rotors on my B7 S4, about 3.5 years ago (almost 30k miles) and very pleased, they've held up great. I like the look of x-drilled and do believe it helps with initial bite, cooling and brake-gas venting (or so I've read). Makes me feel better anyway! Of course you'll never know during most commutes, and I've never tracked it.

I also went with Stoptech Street Performance pads. They take a higher heat (also bled/filled with their STR600 hi temp fluid) but they lost some initial bite (they are also lower dust IIRC). Love the rotors but looking for better pads - I am starting to think you cant find the holy grail of pads - good initial bite, hi temp endurance, and low dust. I noticed the same loss of initial bite with Hawk HPS Streets.

Well - The best I've found (on my Legacy GT they are the "Holy Grail") = Porterfield R4-S

The LGT is similar to the Audi - it's a heavier AWD Car - and these pads with Stoptech Steet Rotors are the best I've tried.... Tried Hawks, EBC, and Factory - all less pleasing - also replaced DBA Rotors with StopTechs - as the shop recommended them to play nicely with the R4-S pads.

They are low dust / excellent stopping power with extremely even application feel (Initial Bite through longer pedal press) - the only caveat I will add = I have Stainless lines with ATE 200 Fluid that was added along with this Rotor/Pad Combo....

So while my experience is not directly on the S4 - it will be the setup I go with on the S4 based on the Subaru LGT Platform results (i.e. having both to at least be familiar with the platforms).

[JayTeeC]

Hmm, great reco. I've heard them recommended in the past. Never run them. I found the Stoptech Street Performance and the Hawk HPS to both miss too much initial bite. Good strong braking once they are hot, and good fade resistance tho. Low dust is the icing on the cake, but not the driver of my decision. I was hoping the new HPS 5.0 might be that pad. But i think Porterfield just moved to top of list. And i agree i love the Stoptech cryo rotors. Thanks!

[s42014DSG]

Anyone?

I have the HPS 5.0 and Zimmermanns. Pretty good stopping power, definite initial bite reduction (which I don't quite like), and minimal dust (which I do). The 5.0 pads improved a lot stopping power wise over the first few thousand miles.

I did not replace caliper bolts nor, apparently, were my pads glued to whatever sits behind them (something which the factory parts have as a matter of course) and now I get awful squeaks as the pads move about in their brackets. Anyone have any tips on where I can find the right compound to keep them in place? Apparently the factory pads come with the glue already on them. Also: what's the downside of using the same caliper bolts as before? Should I get that taken care of ASAP?

Thanks!

[JWreck]

Anyone?

I'm sure it's fine, but at $2 a bolt from ECS, of Audi says replace them, replace them.

They're torqued pretty high, so if they stretch, they may not be able to hold at a high torque again?


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