Porsche Macan Calipers on B8 B8.5 A4

[Nano909]

I've been getting countless PM's about where to buy and what part numbers I used to get the calipers, and what brakes/rotors to use. I've been mean and not replying to anyone because it took me a long time of searching and looking though this forum and the S4 forum, along with other websites for information so I wouldn't make a mistake of buying the wrong stuff, to just give that information out to a bunch of lazy people. So instead of replying to everyone one by one, I've decided to make this thread.

This is NOT a DIY. But you will have to search for Porsche sites yourself to buy the calipers if the site I used is out of stock. Please do not ask me to look for you, I will verbally destroy you.

The reason why I think the Macan/Q5 calipers are the best upgrade for us instead of the bigger 6 piston calipers, is because you get a bigger rotor, 4 piston calipers, and you can use it to their full extent WITHOUT swapping the brake master cylinder. Macan/Q5 uses the same BMC as ours, as does the S4. For this reason alone I didn't go for the bigger 6 piston calipers, because you won't have the full benefit without swapping the brake cylinder and booster, which I was NOT planning to do.

Yes 3.0T Q5 calipers are the same as Macan. The reason people are going Macan calipers is because they're half the price, so you'd be a fool to buy Q5 calipers.

You will have to buy bigger rotors (345mm) You can use either 2015-2019 Macan (trims in attached image), 2012-2017 3.0T Q5 rotors, or 2010-2016 S4 rotors. I recommend S4 rotors because they are muuuch easier to find and have lots of options.

For brake pads, you have to buy 2015-2019 Macan brake pads, 2012-2017 3.0T Q5 brake pads. Those have a sensor slot, but you don't HAVE to use it. I zip tied mine to the side. I think ECS makes a delete kit, but zip ties are a lot cheaper. Alternatively, you can use 2010 Subaru STI brake pads, so you have lots of brake pad options there. I went with EBC Red Stuff so I ordered them for a 3.0T Q5.

I reused my brake lines because there was nothing wrong with them. I don’t track the car so SS lines weren't needed. Yes they're a little stronger I guess, but if they broke internally there would be no way of knowing you have an issue with them versus the stock rubber ones that you can see when something is wrong. I've never used SS lines in my other cars, including my old track built car. But YMMV.

I bought the calipers off https://www.harperautoparts.com
I believe they were $247 each last time I checked. I bought the rest of the stuff off ECS. They didn't have the ducts, clamps, and shields in stock so they had to source it elsewhere. You might be able to source them faster (and cheaper).

Driver side Macan part number: 95B-615-123-F
Passenger side Macan caliper: 95B-615-124-F
Driver side Macan dust shield: 95B615311E
Passenger side Macan dust shield: 95B615312G
Driver side Macan brake air duct: 95B615447B
Passenger side Macan brake air duct: 95B615448B
Macan brake air duct clamp: 95B699011B (you'll need two)

You don’t need to change the dust shield, the bigger rotors will fit without modifications (I checked by mounting them before taking them off). I did because I wanted to use the air ducts. You don't have to use the air ducts either. The reason you have to use the Macan dust shields if you want to use the air ducts is because they have an open area where the stock ones are fully closed. So it would be pointless to use the air ducts with the stock shields.

The upgrade is night and day difference. Take this advice though, they feel incomplete. What I mean is, yes they felt great, way better than stock, but the difference wasn't as big until I also swapped to S4/S5 rear calipers. Now THAT was a huge difference. Like going from stock tuning to stage 2. Think about doing that as well. I didn't do them at the same time so if you decide to wait on the rears then that's okay.

I think that about covers it. If I forgot some stuff I'll edit in the future.

[djnuge]

Nice. Great info.

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[Grouch]

Great write up. I wonder why the Macan calipers are so much cheaper than the Q5's? I picked up the Q5 set from ECS because I'm freaking lazy. But damn, 25% off the calipers is a decent amount of savings (going by ECS prices for both parts).

[FlyPenFly]

should be a sticky

[Traptalk]

I ended up just ditching the dust shields all together when I did mine.

A lot of track guys have noted they retain heat and block airflow.

The air ducts and macan shields was a good idea. Haven’t had any issues without them tho

[Traptalk]

Great write up. I wonder why the Macan calipers are so much cheaper than the Q5's? I picked up the Q5 set from ECS because I'm freaking lazy. But damn, 25% off the calipers is a decent amount of savings (going by ECS prices for both parts).

Probably because the Q5 is a known caliper upgrade now that ecs and Fcp sell kits to do the swap. Helps give incentive to just get the full kit

[Nano909]

I ended up just ditching the dust shields all together when I did mine.

A lot of track guys have noted they retain heat and block airflow.

The air ducts and macan shields was a good idea. Haven’t had any issues without them tho

Yeah I wanted to do everything from the start since everything was going to be off. I only tested the stock shields to confirm that they do fit. I personally wouldn't use them with the stock shields though because of the heat like you said.

The part numbers are there for the ducts so you can install them and get that extra air flow 🙂

[schwiz23]

Great write-up! This gives us another option aside from the A6 caliper/rotor upgrade. Thank you.

[Nano909]

Great write-up! This gives us another option aside from the A6 caliper/rotor upgrade. Thank you.

Thanks. None of the credit goes to me though. All I did was do a buttload of research and compiled everything I found together on one thread, along with my experience using them. There's not a complete Porsche Macan caliper upgrade thread anywhere so I decided to make one to help the community.

[ps2cho]

There's not a complete Porsche Macan caliper upgrade thread anywhere so I decided to make one to help the community.

Except in my build thread ;)

[Nano909]

Except in my build thread ;)

Build thread =/= Macan Caliper thread

[itsav8]

I didn’t see you mention if you used your old caliper to housing bolts/nuts etc ?

- - - Updated - - -

I didn’t see you mention if you used your old caliper to housing bolts/nuts etc ?

[ps2cho]

I didn’t see you mention if you used your old caliper to housing bolts/nuts etc ?

- - - Updated - - -

I didn’t see you mention if you used your old caliper to housing bolts/nuts etc ?

As they are TTY you're supposed to replace them. At bare minimum I'd put fresh blue loctite on them.

[Nano909]

I didn’t see you mention if you used your old caliper to housing bolts/nuts etc ?

- - - Updated - - -

I didn’t see you mention if you used your old caliper to housing bolts/nuts etc ?

I reused all bolts. 2 ugga duggas and send it.

[itsav8]

Absolutely. Just wanted to make sure no special bolts/nuts/washers need to be ordered.
I will buy new bolts and won’t reuse the old ones.

[Nano909]

Absolutely. Just wanted to make sure no special bolts/nuts/washers need to be ordered.
I will buy new bolts and won’t reuse the old ones.

Oh, no special parts needed. All plug and play.

[whats77inaname]

Please do not ask me to look for you, I will verbally destroy you.

One of the best things I've read on here since I joined *lol*.

[Nano909]

One of the best things I've read on here since I joined *lol*.

Well I hope that inspired you to do the upgrade 😏

[PJs4Rings]

Just the thread I was looking for! This will work with the Allroad B8.5 too?


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[PJs4Rings]

Just the thread I was looking for! This will work with the Allroad B8.5 too?


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[Nano909]

Just the thread I was looking for! This will work with the Allroad B8.5 too?


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Glad you found it 🙂
Yes it will, so go for it!

[PsorianoPre99A4]

Nano--Will you need bigger carriers or would stock carriers work with this upgrade on the b8 Allroad?

[Nano909]

Nano--Will you need bigger carriers or would stock carriers work with this upgrade on the b8 Allroad?

The Macan caliper is a single unit, you don't use any carriers.

[PJs4Rings]

The Macan caliper is a single unit, you don't use any carriers.

Nano I sent you a PM


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[icon5585]

What else is needed for s4/s5 rears? just the calipers?

[LionKing]

What else is needed for s4/s5 rears? just the calipers?

Just the carriers.

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[SNice]

What else is needed for s4/s5 rears? just the calipers?

Calipers and carriers - s4/s5 rear rotor is not only bigger (330mm) but it is also thicker (vented).


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[Nano909]

What else is needed for s4/s5 rears? just the calipers?

What Snice said. Calipers, carriers, AND caliper motors. You can reuse your rear brake lines.

[icon5585]

Does anybody have part #'s by chance for the rear equipment? :)

[ps2cho]

Just the carriers.

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100% wrong - future posters do not listen to this post - you will end up getting stuck. You HAVE to get the calipers. You do not need the caliper motors if you're 2014+. There is a cutoff in 2013/2014 and you have to match the motors with the calipers. I.e. if you get teh calipers off a 2011 S4, and you have a 2012 you're good. If you buy calipers off a 2015 S4 and you have a 2012, you can't transplant your motors.

I photographed the differences:

[Nano909]

100% wrong - future posters do not listen to this post - you will end up getting stuck. You HAVE to get the calipers. You do not need the caliper motors if you're 2014+. There is a cutoff in 2013/2014 and you have to match the motors with the calipers. I.e. if you get teh calipers off a 2011 S4, and you have a 2012 you're good. If you buy calipers off a 2015 S4 and you have a 2012, you can't transplant your motors.

I photographed the differences:

Thanks for doing what I didn't. I didn't bother measuring because I wanted to finish already 🤣. But thanks to "The Infiltrator" for being the guinea pig. S4/5 carriers with stock rear calipers will NOT work unless you trim some material off the break pads, essentially shortening their life.

[LionKing]

100% wrong - future posters do not listen to this post - you will end up getting stuck. You HAVE to get the calipers. You do not need the caliper motors if you're 2014+. There is a cutoff in 2013/2014 and you have to match the motors with the calipers. I.e. if you get teh calipers off a 2011 S4, and you have a 2012 you're good. If you buy calipers off a 2015 S4 and you have a 2012, you can't transplant your motors.

I photographed the differences:

I appreciate the correction. I learned wrong as well and just passing off knowledge I thought was right.

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[Nano909]

I appreciate the correction. I learned wrong as well and just passing off knowledge I thought was right.

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No worries bro, we all got fed wrong info regarding brake upgrades.

[icon5585]

Has anyone found an Audi decal to cover the Porsche writing on the caliper?

[Nano909]

Has anyone found an Audi decal to cover the Porsche writing on the caliper?

You'd have to sand down the caliper either way since it comes powder coated, so you won't be able to put a decal on it. Well I mean you could but it won't last very long on there. Lol

[hellovaras]

Hey guys - two dumb questions inbound. Apologies in advance. 1. So in order to paint the caliper I need to sand it down? 2. Will the Macan caliper fit an S4? I ordered the one listed in this thread. It seems it could since the S4 has the larger 345mm rotor. Just checking. I have an S4, not an A4, hence the question. Thanks

[ps2cho]

Hey guys - two dumb questions inbound. Apologies in advance. 1. So in order to paint the caliper I need to sand it down? 2. Will the Macan caliper fit an S4? I ordered the one listed in this thread. It seems it could since the S4 has the larger 345mm rotor. Just checking. I have an S4, not an A4, hence the question. Thanks

Yes and you can re-use your rotor if you'd like to. Just need new pads S4 uses the same mounting points.

[Nano909]

Hey guys - two dumb questions inbound. Apologies in advance. 1. So in order to paint the caliper I need to sand it down? 2. Will the Macan caliper fit an S4? I ordered the one listed in this thread. It seems it could since the S4 has the larger 345mm rotor. Just checking. I have an S4, not an A4, hence the question. Thanks

1. Yes since you want to remove everything down to the metal so the paint will stick.
2. Yes it is a 100% bolt on caliper for the S4. You won't need to change anything.

[hellovaras]

Yes and you can re-use your rotor if you'd like to. Just need new pads S4 uses the same mounting points.

Thank you


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[hellovaras]

1. Yes since you want to remove everything down to the metal so the paint will stick.
2. Yes it is a 100% bolt on caliper for the S4. You won't need to change anything.

Thank you


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