Big Brake Conversion

S3 SAF

S3 SAF

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are there any for the current S3? If yes then has anyone here done it?
 
thats realy good price for them brakes! ive got brembo gt upgrade on my current S3 and the difference is emence... and just look quality!
 
So what are the standard brakes like then?
 
S3 SAF said:
So what are the standard brakes like then?
Click to expand...

If you are coming from an S3 8L with standard brakes, to an S3 8P with its standard brakes, you will be very pleased. The difference in braking between the two standard cars is amazing. IMO. The S3 8P has *so* much stopping power in comparison. The S3 8L brakes always felt soggy and easily started to fade after a few roundabouts. The S3 8P brakes are much better.

I'm not sure how good the S3 8P brakes are round a track, but for the road, I'm more than happy with them.

Some folk will probably disagree with me, but that's my opinion.

AL
 
AL_B said:
I'm not sure how good the S3 8P brakes are round a track, but for the road, I'm more than happy with them.
Click to expand...

The weakest link on the OEM brakes is certainly represented by the brake pads.

I have slightly upgraded the brakes of my 8P S3 with Goodridge braided hoses, Motul RBF600 fluid and EBC redstuff pads.
In this configuration they behaved perfectly on the track with standard tyres.

With upgraded tyres (Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Spec) the EBC redstuff showed their limits, nothing worrying, just suffering a bit to do their job with the increased grip from the tyres...
The next compulsory upgrade is to go for EBC yellowstuff pads.

After this I can think about upgraded discs (slotted) in the same size of the OEM ones.

I'll try this solutions before opting for upgraded calipers.
 
Hi

I have run Millteks S3 with EBC Yellowstuff on trackdays all day with no problems. Standard discs and calipers are more than man enough.

I don't doubt that a bigger set-up would be an improvement but you probably wouldn't see massive gains on road tyres?

Cheers Shaun.
 
Macs (or Shaun!), what are the redstuff pads like to live with on a daily basis?I've just ordered some for my coupe (and some replacement standard discs). I've heard mixed reviews. some say noisey, some say quiet. Some said they are great, others complained that they trashed stadnard discs.

J.
 
Macs said:
I have slightly upgraded the brakes of my 8P S3 with Goodridge braided hoses, Motul RBF600 fluid and EBC redstuff pads.
After this I can think about upgraded discs (slotted) in the same size of the OEM ones.
Click to expand...

I was thinking about this same set up when i need to buy new discs and pads , and get the Goodridge as well.

The Red stuff mainly for there low dust , what are they like stopping power on the road? do they squeak any? ( and there red and match the caliper S3 sticker ) any pics of the pads on?

Thanks

p
 
my experience of EBC products is that they are poor, after trying many different brands on other vehicles ferrodo and pagid would be my choice time and time again.

I would always go for standard discs aswell unless upgrading to 2 piece items.
 
Sohrob said:
my experience of EBC products is that they are poor, after trying many different brands on other vehicles ferrodo and pagid would be my choice time and time again.

I would always go for standard discs aswell unless upgrading to 2 piece items.
Click to expand...

When i had the Clio ( 182 ) i went with a fast road set up/odd track day.

Goodridge lines , Brembo grooved discs and EBC Greenstuff and TBH. it was great, good stopping power , no squeaking , low dust , and easy on the pocket.

Agree that there are better pads out there though.:icon_thumright:

p
 
The older EBC stuff had a bad reputation from a few years ago but most of the reviews over the last year or so seem to be mainly positive.

J.
 
I'm not sure you can get upgraded disc for the S3 yet - I've emailed brembo about straight swap grooved/drilled sports discs and they implied there was no beenfit for doing so. They are to large and to get a performance advantage you would need a 2-piece rotor. Expensive!!!
 
jamiekip said:
I'm not sure you can get upgraded disc for the S3 yet - I've emailed brembo about straight swap grooved/drilled sports discs and they implied there was no beenfit for doing so. They are to large and to get a performance advantage you would need a 2-piece rotor. Expensive!!!
Click to expand...

You would think Brembo or whoever would make them as theres a lot of owners in the market , S3 , mkV R32 , Cupra ( not sure on the ED30 ) all with the same brake set up.

They may start making them now as IIRC the TT-S has the set up as well, and we all know the tuners love the TT.:)

p
 
marriedblonde said:
Macs (or Shaun!), what are the redstuff pads like to live with on a daily basis?I've just ordered some for my coupe (and some replacement standard discs). I've heard mixed reviews. some say noisey, some say quiet. Some said they are great, others complained that they trashed stadnard discs.

J.
Click to expand...

phantom said:
I was thinking about this same set up when i need to buy new discs and pads , and get the Goodridge as well.

The Red stuff mainly for there low dust , what are they like stopping power on the road? do they squeak any? ( and there red and match the caliper S3 sticker ) any pics of the pads on?

Thanks

p
Click to expand...

The Redstuff squealed at the beginning, after a proper break-in and, most important, a proper bed-in, no squeals but still a bit of noise (sort of a UUUUUUUUU!!!!) when you brake at low speeds.
They emit very little dust, but to compensate this are a bit more aggressive on the disc (minor scratches, but trust me, nothing to be worried about, the discs are in perfect health).
Stopping power is very good when they are cold and becomes eccellent after they warms up. As said I never experienced any significative problem even in track-day use.

No pics of the pad on at the moment, maybe I'll take some on the next days, but do not expect a great aesthetic effect, on the back the pads are black and you see the red only on the borders.

I really like them and whn time comes for a replacement I'd propably go for the Yellowstuff that can give a better service at the track without sacrificing too much every-day use. The only downside will be the amount of dust that the Yellowstuff produce...
 
Phantom, I'll post a pic up this afternoon of the pads. They've been delivered to the office just not got as far as my desk yet.

J.
 
All EBC stuff is terrible in my experience.. The pads destroy the discs and they fade almost as quickly as the OE pads..

I would recommend Ferrodo DS2500 or Pagid RS19 for road/track
 
jonnyc said:
All EBC stuff is terrible in my experience.. The pads destroy the discs and they fade almost as quickly as the OE pads..

I would recommend Ferrodo DS2500 or Pagid RS19 for road/track
Click to expand...

They are better pads agreed , but one squeals like a baby pig and gives silly amounts dust while the other squeals like a big fat warthog thats been stabbed in the eye! :)

p
 
jonnyc said:
All EBC stuff is terrible in my experience.. The pads destroy the discs and they fade almost as quickly as the OE pads..

I would recommend Ferrodo DS2500 or Pagid RS19 for road/track
Click to expand...

Is there any chance that you tried the "old" EBCs? Recently a lots of things changed at EBC and the quality of their products increased significantly. At last this is what I have heard.
I cannot confirm given that I installed for the first time a set of EBC pads on last february...

phantom said:
They are better pads agreed , but one squeals like a baby pig and gives silly amounts dust while the other squeals like a big fat warthog thats been stabbed in the eye! :)

p
Click to expand...
Squeals are not an issue for me, in fact, if they existed for S3, i would have installed Carbon Lorraine pads... Now, that is squealing... But gosh if they brake!
 
Macs said:
Is there any chance that you tried the "old" EBCs? Recently a lots of things changed at EBC and the quality of their products increased significantly. At last this is what I have heard.
I cannot confirm given that I installed for the first time a set of EBC pads on last february...
Click to expand...

Last time I tried a set was around a year ago.. So could have been the old type EBC pads for sure..

phantom said:
They are better pads agreed , but one squeals like a baby pig and gives silly amounts dust while the other squeals like a big fat warthog thats been stabbed in the eye! :)

p
Click to expand...

Lol.. Did it take you long to think that up?
 
Sorry bit late in posting this up. My discs and redstuff pads were delivered last thursday. I opted for EBC's standard replacement disc, not cheap compared to some of the alternativees but hoepfully you get what you pay for.

I fitted the discs and pads thursday night and so far have done about 600 miles with them. Bed them in nice and gently and got some squealling for the first 10 miles or so when the pads were warm, from cold they were silent.

Since them they have been nice and quiet in use, pad bite from cold is great, no worse than the OEM pads. When hot they are proving to be amazing, they just seem to get better and better. On my favourite back road blast of approx 20 miles of B roads the OEM pads used to fade but the new ones show no such signs.

To early to tell about the dust.


Pics of the pads for phantom.

redstuff.jpg
 
Thanks MB , there not like the old style ones , they were all the same colour on the back , ie red = redstuff, green = greenstuff.

Sound good though.

p
 
Did this to my A3 using the 6 pot Brembo caliper from a 997 GT2 and 345mm discs from a ML55 (at least that what my mechanic told me) I was told that this set up does not require an adaptor or the added expense of a floting disc.

Fits like a glove...Stops on a dime... Should be able to fit on the S3...

IMG_2083_resize.jpg

CopyofIMG_1005crop.jpg
 
The S3 already has decent brakes for fast road/odd track day , even better with a change of pads and discs.

Upgrading the full system is over kill ( and cost ) unless your a track day monster.

p
 
I thought the site read "mk 1 S3"....so that is the 8L instead of the 8P?
 
Yes, the site says "mk 1 S3" (8L) but now they have a new kit for the 8P.
 
I ran EBC Redstuff pads on my old setup. I thought they were great, never got brake fade, never squeeked and the grip had perfect feel.
I'm not sure if you'll see any benefit over the S3 brakes (8P) I thought they felt sharper the Porsche setup as I believe the S3 has a 14 or 16 inch brake servo. Saying that, I haven't pushed an S3 to it's limits yet!
370729170_e992b5b78c.jpg
 
very nice hatmeow. i think thats the sort of set up im after.. is their any cahnce of anyone posting up pics of the standard brakes?
 
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