Options for better looking brake callipers...

[PNH80]

Alright folks...

Basically i want to either swap or smarten up the brake callipers on my A3. I haven't had it long so i'm slowly getting around to all these little details!

They're currently just dull silver grey, standard callipers. So what are my options? Obviously i could break out the old red or black calliper paint but are there replacement cases? Or is the best bet on the long term to just buy a new set of brakes e.g. from an S3?

Paul.

 

[JamS3]

Depends what you want....

Do you want better brakes that stop you better or something that just looks better?

It will all boil down to money at the end of the day and how much you are willing to spend.

If you only want looks go for the caliper paint as I have heard the case things are crap.

If you want better brakes then go for either a S3 set up or a Brembo 4 pot set up similar to what was on the previous Leon Cupra R. I had them on my old S3 and they were excellent, stopped well and looked the business.

 

[PNH80]

Depends what you want....

Do you want better brakes that stop you better or something that just looks better?

It will all boil down to money at the end of the day and how much you are willing to spend.

If you only want looks go for the caliper paint as I have heard the case things are crap.

If you want better brakes then go for either a S3 set up or a Brembo 4 pot set up similar to what was on the previous Leon Cupra R. I had them on my old S3 and they were excellent, stopped well and looked the business.

I want them to look better and if i gain more stopping power then brilliant. Do the new Leon Cupra's not have brembo's as well? Am i right in presuming that they'd just fit straight onto an 07 A3?
I am thinking of some multispoke 19's so the calipers are going to be exposed and if they look naff it's not a great look!

 

[N8]

This is what you want

ECS Kit. 6 Pots get them here

 

[PNH80]

N8KOW: They do look awesome...and not TOO badly priced either. Have you considered some yourself??

 

[N8]

I can get them for £1500 fitted. I would love them, could probably afford them BUT not really necessary for a mapped 140bhp Diesel. If I had a big turbo new S3 then yeh, or if I win the lottery then I will. By the way, those are on my cousin's Big Turbo TT !!

 

[PNH80]

I can get them for £1500 fitted. I would love them, could probably afford them BUT not really necessary for a mapped 140bhp Diesel. If I had a big turbo new S3 then yeh, or if I win the lottery then I will. By the way, those are on my cousin's Big Turbo TT !!

I think i've seen photos of that car on here before...It looks insane! Especially with the porky brakes, black CH's and 300+ horses. Very nice mate!

As faras my brakes go, those might be a little extreme. Don't think a 200bhp A3 needs breaks that big! The Brembo GT's might be good enough though and at just over a grand fitted, not too expensive...and look good. Better than standard brakes anyway.

Paul.

 

[phantom]

I want them to look better and if i gain more stopping power then brilliant. Do the new Leon Cupra's not have brembo's as well? Am i right in presuming that they'd just fit straight onto an 07 A3?
I am thinking of some multispoke 19's so the calipers are going to be exposed and if they look naff it's not a great look!

The Mk2 Cupra brakes are the same as the S3/Mk v R32.

What size wheels are you running? i think the S3 brakes would look silly under anything less than 18's, the disc's alone are 13in

By the time you've added ( S3 ) new brakes , discs , and pads, and fitted, it will be a pretty sum , so if it's just for looks i'd just paint the caliper.

p

 

[hatmeow]

I fitted mine with the same ones on the TT but without the floating discs. I had them re painted in a matt dark grey with silver Audi logo. I will post a pic tomorrow.

If you are in for a remap like I did, i would highly recommend a front caliper / disc upgrade. It felt very scary on the stock brakes after my first run with the remap!

Watch out for your wheel offset as the big calipers might not clear your wheels. It happed to mine and I need 10mm spacers for them to fit.

Brembo GTs are good as they have good modulation for the streets. APs IMO are too aggressive and are good for the tracks.

Hope it helps!

 

[N8]

I think i've seen photos of that car on here before...It looks insane! Especially with the porky brakes, black CH's and 300+ horses. Very nice mate!

As faras my brakes go, those might be a little extreme. Don't think a 200bhp A3 needs breaks that big! The Brembo GT's might be good enough though and at just over a grand fitted, not too expensive...and look good. Better than standard brakes anyway.

Paul.

The TT is insane! So much fun to drive, just had a stage 3+ sports clutch fitted so it should be now!! The brembo GTs are a lovely option though, and look classy as hell behind the wheel! Get those and I'll be

 

[Oli.]

Nate - How does your cousin get on with the brakes - I know they are awesome for stopping power, but I nearly brought a MKV R32 that had these on and they squealed like a baby pig in normal driving and it really put me off them.

PHN - If you are just after better looking brakes, then why not give something like this a go -
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HIGH-QUALITY-...ryZ23013QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Surely there is no point putting uprated brakes on and the expense of it, if its purely for looks :icon_thumright:

 

[N8]

Nate - How does your cousin get on with the brakes - I know they are awesome for stopping power, but I nearly brought a MKV R32 that had these on and they squealed like a baby pig in normal driving and it really put me off them.

They look great! They have unreal stopping power, and they don't make any noise whatsoever, couldn't recommend them highly enough!

 

[phantom]

Nate - How does your cousin get on with the brakes - I know they are awesome for stopping power, but I nearly brought a MKV R32 that had these on and they squealed like a baby pig in normal driving and it really put me off them.

PHN - If you are just after better looking brakes, then why not give something like this a go -
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HIGH-QUALITY-...ryZ23013QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Surely there is no point putting uprated brakes on and the expense of it, if its purely for looks :icon_thumright:

May have had some crazy race/track pads on? Carbon lorrain's or Pagid blues or something.

p

 

[PNH80]

After a bit of research i'm thinking the Brembos are a good shout. Not ridiculously big or expensive. Just over £1K fitted at some places. Considering my car is an S-line, not an S3, it needs to look 'classy' and i think the Brembo's achieve that.
Tell you what though.... Tar-ox make some awesome looking brake kits. Well OTT for most road cars though!

 

[N8]

After a bit of research i'm thinking the Brembos are a good shout. Not ridiculously big or expensive. Just over £1K fitted at some places. Considering my car is an S-line, not an S3, it needs to look 'classy' and i think the Brembo's achieve that.
Tell you what though.... Tar-ox make some awesome looking brake kits. Well OTT for most road cars though!

Good move, where are you gonna get yours from, have the 2.0T and 2.0TDI got the same brake set up? Tar-Ox brakes are ***** my other friend has a big turbo TT and his 10 pot brakes, squeak like hell, and the stopping power is quite considerably POOR seeing as they are 10 pot!! But then its all about the size of the pistons, they maybe 10 pot but I've seen the caliper in awesome's showroom and they pistons are the size a penny!!!

Ta Nath

 

[PNH80]

Good move, where are you gonna get yours from, have the 2.0T and 2.0TDI got the same brake set up? Tar-Ox brakes are ***** my other friend has a big turbo TT and his 10 pot brakes, squeak like hell, and the stopping power is quite considerably POOR seeing as they are 10 pot!! But then its all about the size of the pistons, they maybe 10 pot but I've seen the caliper in awesome's showroom and they pistons are the size a penny!!!

Ta Nath

No idea where i'm planning on getting them from. Any recommendations?
Never heard any reviews of Tar-Ox brakes but if they're that bad i'll steer clear. I think the anodised finish to the calipers looks a bit cheap anyway. They'd look more at home on a mountain bike.

 

[N8]

I completley agree. You just can't go wrong with Brembos!

 

[marriedblonde]

Jesus brakes are a lot cheaper for your cars than mine

 

[N8]

Married blonde, what do you drive? A Z4 or a golf?? I'm very confused...

 

[ADEY]

All i did with mine was paint with silver hammerite

not brilliant but better than before

 

[ADEY]

Oooooops - sorry mods for the picture size
Amend if you need to

 

[N8]

Where did you buy it from Adey? Gotta do this on my bros 330ci

 

[SteveTDCi]

I picked some dark grey up off ebay, I didn't want black or red, its just the right colour - similar to lava grey. I have been thinking about getting some of those stickers off ebay for the calpiers, either the RS logo or the S Line one.

 

[ADEY]

Where did you buy it from Adey? Gotta do this on my bros 330ci

most hardware/d.i.y stores like b and q should stock Hammerite

 

[I'mRonBurgundy?]

Adey - Did you paint on the car or did you remove the calipers first? Also what preparation was involved (if any)?

Mine look similar now but that's because the car is only 2 months old. Think I'd like to keep 'em silver. Red, yellow and the like look great if you've got a set of Brembo or Porsche calipers to show but if you're running stock and have gone for a bright hue I think the tend to look a little weedy. All my own opinion of course!

 

[N8]

most hardware/d.i.y stores like b and q should stock Hammerite

Thought as much we'll give it a good clean, before we paint! Cheers Adey

 

[Kris]

Make sure you get the hammer smooth not the hammerite, both the same manufacturer but the first is as the title a smooth finish and the latter is a hammered industrial type finish. I've used it on quite a few motorcycle callipers, both black and my last ones gold Brembo's. Prep: full degrease, light flat to key, build up in thin coats and it will withstand heat and last for years to come. I'd personally spray them as opposed to brush, if you didn't want to go through the hassle of taking them off then taking the time to fully mask would be worth doing for best results.

 

[JohnS3]

Why not have a look at the brakes available on the bigger Audis? You may find the offsets are the same or if not have some bell housings machined to suit. Would be a lot cheaper than £1600.

 

[boggysv]

Why no love for stasis/alcon on this forum?

Lighter, better, and 10000X more "coolness"!

 

[PNH80]

Why no love for stasis/alcon on this forum?

Lighter, better, and 10000X more "coolness"!

I'll be honest with you... I've never heard of them. Excuse my ignorance! Might have to give them a look.

MB: Brakes are quite cheap for an A3, infact at least half the price of an A4 which surprised me! (brembos)

 

[Ess_Three]

I think the problem with brakes is that people really don't understand what they want, or are buying.

Many people think they are Red, so they must be better.
More so if they say Brembo.
More again with Porsche on them.

They don't consider master cylinder sizes, and it it will actually screw things up somewhat...
People think the biggest callipers are best - no, not always.
People thing the biggest discs are best - no, not always.
People have heard of Brembo...and know Porsche brakes are good...so they go with them because they must be good (which they generally are)
People think drilled discs must be good because they look good - no, not always (they crack...even the Porsche ones)

If I wanted some trackday brakes, I'd look to Alcon or AP Racing though...
That is if I wanted proper uprated brakes designed for the car, not just a kit lashed together to look good and impress the chaps down the local winebar.

For example:
What do many Porsche GT2/GT3 drivers fit as an upgrade to their Porsche (Brembo) / drilled disc set-ups?
Alcons...with discs like those above, that won't crack.

Makes you think, doesn't it?

 

[PNH80]

I'm the first one to admit i know stuff all about the technicalities of brake set-ups. There's only so much you need for a nice upgrade for an A3 though. Mine will never see a track and the stock set up isn't great compared to even it's sister cars (golf gti and leon cupra R). So i'm just looking for a classy upgrade which looks good and performs btter than the standard setup... without ridiculous expense. The Brembo's just simply fit the bill.

 

[Kris]

They don't consider master cylinder sizes, and it it will actually screw things up somewhat...
People think the biggest callipers are best - no, not always.
People think the biggest discs are best - no, not always.

Agreed ...........

Brakes can be awsome with the right set up but it can also cost a lot of money to get it wrong.

 

[Ess_Three]

I'm the first one to admit i know stuff all about the technicalities of brake set-ups. There's only so much you need for a nice upgrade for an A3 though. Mine will never see a track and the stock set up isn't great compared to even it's sister cars (golf gti and leon cupra R). So i'm just looking for a classy upgrade which looks good and performs btter than the standard setup... without ridiculous expense. The Brembo's just simply fit the bill.

The Brembo kit is a good kit...(well, the 8l kit was, so I can't see the 8P being any difference).
In all honestly, the Brembo GT Jr kit is probably all ANY S3 ever needs, especially if you fit 'better' pads for track work.

 

[Ess_Three]

Agreed ...........

Brakes can be awsome with the right set up but it can also cost a lot of money to get it wrong.

So right...
The amount of time you see people fit brake callipers with pistons too large and loose all feel and modulation...
Or massive discs and callipers that the car just doesn't need, that seriously cripple the suspension by adding massive unsprung weight to the cars weedy suspension...

Personally, I'd want the smallest, lightest, stiffest callipers I can, mounted on the smallest, lightest discs that will dissipate the energy required over a long enough period...and they need to be 'road' callipers not 'race' callipers to make sure they don't sieze up due to lack of dirt seals.

Like you say...get it right, and it's like your eyeballs will pop out...
Get it wrong...and it's an exercise in wallet emptying.

 

[newbiecrg]

For me the standard S3 brakes are more than adequate for the use I give to the car.

95% is road use and for road use they are quite good... Pads are also OK.

Some people think "racing" pads or brake setups are good or better than "road" use ones... well unfortunately that is wrong...

Racing setups work best at higher temperatures, often never used in the road a definitly not when you are doing an emergency stop! My "road" brake setup would normally be more efficient in the road than a "race setup".

Another comment I found interesting was about the size of the Tarox 10 pot, critizised for being to small... well that actually is the point to give excellent modulation... I reckon they were poorly rated because of a race spec in road use...

The upgrade I would do on mine, if is not factory spec would be steel braided brake lines. Pads probably standard or slightly softer compound but for road use. There would be some benefit of installing lighter disks as this can really reduce weight. Drilled, slotted or normal... maybe normal is more than fine for road.

Another thing worth considering is some people go for big calipers/disks and have a really nice setup but then forget to upgrade the brake lines, or the master cylinder...

There is a lot about brakes not just calipers, pads or disks.

Pedro

 

[phantom]

^^^^Right on! , unless for extreme regular track days , the S3 brakes are decent for road use! when i need to replace brake kit , i'm gonna go for good dot4 oil , braided lines , some form of lighter drilled/grooved discs and fast road/occasional track day pads EBC reastuff ( low dust ) or Ferodo Ds pads.

I bet its still works out cheaper than getting OEM oil, discs and pads from the dealer , but a much improved set up!

p

 

[newbiecrg]

About brake oils... some guys go for the latest DOT 5.1 because they think it is best... while it has a higher temperature windows and does not absorb water as much has lower grade ones it is very agressive on the rubber seals...

So unless your car is recommended to use DOT 5.1 use the DOT 4. You don't get any benefit from DOT 5.1 compared to DOT 4 on normal road use..

Pedro

 

[ADEY]

Adey - Did you paint on the car or did you remove the calipers first? Also what preparation was involved (if any)?

Mine look similar now but that's because the car is only 2 months old. Think I'd like to keep 'em silver. Red, yellow and the like look great if you've got a set of Brembo or Porsche calipers to show but if you're running stock and have gone for a bright hue I think the tend to look a little weedy. All my own opinion of course!

Sorry in taking too long to reply - been away for a week
Good point Kris - use Smoothrite!
All i did was wash/clean the caliper to remove any brake dust etc, then using a half inch brush paint the 'face' only (dont overload the brush) taking care not to paint/catch the disc/pads
The whole op took me about an hour and as i said its not brilliant but its got to look better than before

 

[Ess_Three]

^^^^Right on! , unless for extreme regular track days , the S3 brakes are decent for road use! when i need to replace brake kit , i'm gonna go for good dot4 oil , braided lines , some form of lighter drilled/grooved discs and fast road/occasional track day pads EBC reastuff ( low dust ) or Ferodo Ds pads.

I bet its still works out cheaper than getting OEM oil, discs and pads from the dealer , but a much improved set up!

p

I'd save your money on the braided hoses...if you are pressing the pedal *that* hard that you are bulging the hoses, your pad choice is wrong 'cos your pads are ******!

Drilled discs will crack, if used hard. They all do...cheap ones more so than the Porsche type which at least have cast-in strong points for the holes...but they still crack.
Go with grooved if you feel you need the benefits of getting rid of the gas layer.

EBC Redstuff are crap...I've tried them in several cars...and they aren't good.
I actually liked Greenstuff as it had a bit of bite...but they overheat and fall apart. Shame, as they were very clean with little dust.

I'd go for Ferodo DS2500 - they are epic!
Lots of bite from cold...and even more when hot.
A little noisy perhaps, compared to standard, but very streetable...but messy!