The Ring & brakes!

[S3 Big Andy]

Hi I am thinking about putting my baby round the Ring, couple of questions

1. Do I need to update the brakes?
2. Which ones would you recommend?
3. Will I go through a set of tyres?
4. Is it fun?
5. Are you still reading?
6. Still?

Your help has been good so far..

 

[Staz]

Yay another Nurburgring thread Looking forward to my first trip in the S3.

S3_Big_Andy

1. No you don't need to uprate the brakes. Standard brakes are plenty good enough. Most people do 1 lap at a time and have a rest in between (you have to stop in between to queue for the next lap anyway) so your brakes will have time to cool then.
2. I'd recommend standard brakes.
3. You certainly won't go through a set of tyres. The track has a normal tarmac surface, not like some other tracks which are very rough, so doing a lap of it is like doing the same distance on a normal road, albeit at a very fast speed.
4. Yes it is fun. A great trip and very worth the cost.
5. Yes.
6. No.

:thumbsup:

 

[pedders]

Andy,

The car as it is will be fine. with 77 bends per lap fun is an understatement.

The one thing to remember is go there to have fun NOT race. I have been 4 times now and am getting quicker each time but have also returned each time with no problems. Try and follow one of the school cars around for your first lap to get used to the flow of the track. Then enjoy. the track is forgiving providing your not pusshing too hard. If you are smooth you can have the car sliding and be loving it. Enjoy.

 

[warren_S5]

Ten laps at Castle Combe and I was starting to get a juddery pedal, but that said I didn't notice any significant drop off in brake performance. My personal opinion is that they are perfectly good brakes, and no worse than the Brembo's on my old LCR.

Milltek upgraded their S3 brakes to RS4's as they were doing a fair bit of track work, but if you're doing the odd lap they're fine.

I'd recommend taking a set of Ferodo DS2000's in your boot just in case you wear the pads out. A very basic toolkit of pipe repair tape, a jubilee clip or two as spares, a couple of screwdrivers, a spare DV (take an OE one if you have uprated yours), a litre bottle of oil. The only other thing I'd consider taking, but it would require more tools is a set of spark plugs. If you do any long term high speed runs a few people have suffered and needed to change them well inside the required service life).

I'd rather have a bit of extra weight and be driving back rather than taking the low loader option home!

Tyres will not be badly affected (although obviously being pushed they will wear quicker than normal road use).

 

[Staz]

Ten laps at Castle Combe and I was starting to get a juddery pedal, but that said I didn't notice any significant drop off in brake performance. My personal opinion is that they are perfectly good brakes, and no worse than the Brembo's on my old LCR.

Milltek upgraded their S3 brakes to RS4's as they were doing a fair bit of track work, but if you're doing the odd lap they're fine.

I'd recommend taking a set of Ferodo DS2000's in your boot just in case you wear the pads out. A very basic toolkit of pipe repair tape, a jubilee clip or two as spares, a couple of screwdrivers, a spare DV (take an OE one if you have uprated yours), a litre bottle of oil. The only other thing I'd consider taking, but it would require more tools is a set of spark plugs. If you do any long term high speed runs a few people have suffered and needed to change them well inside the required service life).

I'd rather have a bit of extra weight and be driving back rather than taking the low loader option home!

Tyres will not be badly affected (although obviously being pushed they will wear quicker than normal road use).

To be honest I think that's a bit of overkill Warren. In a new car you're very unlikely to suffer with any problems with the car. If the existing pads are fine then they'll still be fine after many laps of the ring. DV? Only if others have experienced problems after hard use but with a decent one there should be no problems. Plugs are supposed to last 20,000 miles or so so unless you're getting close to them being changed anyway then you won't need them.

I'm not saying you're wrong to be prepared (in my job I have to be very prepared) but with a new, solidly built car like the S3 you're not going to have problems. And even if you do there are plenty of garages around that'll sort you out.

 

[Olynth]

What you guys think about Stainless Steel Brake Lines ?

 

[Spin140]

I'm going in September as part of a 5 car convoy of various brands, all first timers so a useful thread. Ditto what has been said don't go to race go to have some fast fun and bring yourself and your car back in one piece.

Spin

 

[warren_S5]

To be honest I think that's a bit of overkill Warren. In a new car you're very unlikely to suffer with any problems with the car. If the existing pads are fine then they'll still be fine after many laps of the ring.

If you owned my car you'd take an Audi spares lorry with you.

12,000 miles and I've had:

New clutch
Flywheel
Rear differential
Front OS damper
New plugs (at 9k)
New MAF

I appreciate you should be OK in a new car, but if you were I wouldn't be in the Audi dealership every other week. I'm just pleased for you that your car works.

 

[Staz]

If you owned my car you'd take an Audi spares lorry with you.

12,000 miles and I've had:

New clutch
Flywheel
Rear differential
Front OS damper
New plugs (at 9k)
New MAF

I appreciate you should be OK in a new car, but if you were I wouldn't be in the Audi dealership every other week. I'm just pleased for you that your car works.

Is it modded??

 

[Kris]

I'm all booked and off to the Ring in June. Going for the week, to be honest i get little chance to have a good run in the S3 and always seem to be stuck behind someone doing half the legal speed limt so i'm craving to have a good blast. I want to sell the S3 in a couple of years and have some good memories beyond all the traffic jams i've sat in. I'd also preffer to get say 18mpg thrashing the car than 18mpg in queues

 

[Staz]

I'm all booked and off to the Ring in June. Going for the week, to be honest i get little chance to have a good run in the S3 and always seem to be stuck behind someone doing half the legal speed limt so i'm craving to have a good blast. I want to sell the S3 in a couple of years and have some good memories beyond all the traffic jams i've sat in. I'd also preffer to get say 18mpg thrashing the car than 18mpg in queues

What exactly are you going? I'm looking at going first weekend of June. But we have a long weekend on the second one although some of the lads have plans already. I may even go both! lol

 

[Kris]

I'm setting off Monday 9th June and will be heading back on Friday 13th June so i assume you will have been and gone by then?

 

[Staz]

yes I'll be there for the weeked(s) only.

 

[Teejay]

have a look at www.northloop.co.uk for some good first timer advice.

 

[Beddie]

I'm going back out on the 27th of June for my 3rd trip in the A3, can't wait!! :thumbsup:

I'm still running the original and weedy 288mm brakes, not the best for 'ring use but i drive around them with my god-like ability behind the wheel...

 

[sleep envy]

If the existing pads are fine then they'll still be fine after many laps of the ring.

agreed, the ring isn't a circuit that's particularly heavy on the brakes (unlike Donnington with the Adelaide hairpin which kills brakes)

if you find you are getting brake fade you're not linking the corners together properly/over driving the car and will end up with an armco repair bill

check the fluids and tyre pressures before you go on the circuit, look for the apex dots painted on the aprons, take your time to build up speed and most of all have fun!

one final point, make sure you have insurance - if you do have a spill you will be charged for recovery, armco repairs plus loss of profit from circuit closure (€2.5k/hour)

 

[Staz]

one final point, make sure you have insurance - if you do have a spill you will be charged for recovery, armco repairs plus loss of profit from circuit closure (€2.5k/hour)

The matter of insurance has been discussed extensively here:

http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/showthread.php?t=47998&

I don't bother with insurance. For reasons you'll find in the above post.

 

[Beddie]

agreed, the ring isn't a circuit that's particularly heavy on the brakes

I agree, up to a point.. trouble with mine i find is that being a diesel you really miss the engine braking that a petrol motor gives, couple that with a nose-led heavy engine and relatively small discs makes it.. interesting lol!

Find myself having to give the brakes a go where i wouldnt normally in a petrol car for the same given corner entry speed, whereas my old MKV GTI could be settled on the over-run in a gear for a corner, the A3 runs on and needs a dab of the brakes to compensate for the lack of engine braking, do that over 70-odd corners and the brakes soon cry enough lol!

 

[sleep envy]

not done it in the weasle yet - have too much fun in the track toy