The latest view on S4 Brake upgrades?

[jasper.s]

Hi folks - I have 2015 S4, and am due to replace front and rear discs and pads....

I have in mind to do MRC SII in december...

There’s tons of info on the forum! (Thank you!) But sometimes it’s hard to know what the current view is, I’ve avidly followed folks build threads in recent weeks... that were completed years ago!

I think options are:

1. Pay Audi roughly 1200 to replace like with like
2. Order parts to fit from eurocarparts - selecting Brembo pads and discs - and adding labour to fit - the cost comes in around GBP 500-600 (including labour 250).
3. BBK Upgrade! Is the best course for fast road (no track) the Macan 4pot? The RS5 setup seems a lot more ie MRC quote GBP 2.3k on their site. So Macan set up seems middle ground? I’ve been quoted GBP520 for the Calipers from Porsche. Are the B9’s S4 brakes a better option? I would love to buy the FCP 4pot kit but they don’t ship to UK.

I’m in North London - any garages that folks would recommend?


Loads of qns - welcome any views or thoughts!

Thanks in advance!

Jas

 

[mercules]

Hi folks - I have 2015 S4, and am due to replace front and rear discs and pads....

I have in mind to do MRC SII in december...

There’s tons of info on the forum! (Thank you!) But sometimes it’s hard to know what the current view is, I’ve avidly followed folks build threads in recent weeks... that were completed years ago!

I think options are:

1. Pay Audi roughly 1200 to replace like with like
2. Order parts to fit from eurocarparts - selecting Brembo pads and discs - and adding labour to fit - the cost comes in around GBP 500-600 (including labour 250).
3. BBK Upgrade! Is the best course for fast road (no track) the Macan 4pot? The RS5 setup seems a lot more ie MRC quote GBP 2.3k on their site. So Macan set up seems middle ground? I’ve been quoted GBP520 for the Calipers from Porsche. Are the B9’s S4 brakes a better option? I would love to buy the FCP 4pot kit but they don’t ship to UK.

I’m in North London - any garages that folks would recommend?


Loads of qns - welcome any views or thoughts!

Thanks in advance!

Jas

Jas

I'm North London ish too. MRC stage 2 with the RS brake upgrade. More than welcome to meet up on a weekend and test them. I bought the calipers on eBay for 500 and then discs from eurocarparts and pads. Fitted myself not too hard if you don't mind working on your car instead of a garage.

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[Flowrider99]

I went with Brembo discs and pads for the rear of my S5, approx. £240 fitted. I will be going with Brembo again for the fronts when the time comes. Unless you intend using the car for track days I see no point spending £1,000's, as the standard brakes are up to the job IMO but its up to you what you spend.

 

[Simon]

As the previous poster says, what is your use case for the brakes, occasional fast road use the standard setup is probably fine with some uprated pads, track work or seriously pushing the car frequently then better calipers and discs is worth doing.

though that said if I found a set of RS calipers for £500 I would certainly get them fitted!

 

[Cerbera9]

If your going stage 2 then invest in a BBK you won't regret it as the standard brakes are woefully inadequate regardless of which discs and pads are used. No point paying money to go faster if you can't stop!

 

[jasper.s]

Jas

I'm North London ish too. MRC stage 2 with the RS brake upgrade. More than welcome to meet up on a weekend and test them. I bought the calipers on eBay for 500 and then discs from eurocarparts and pads. Fitted myself not too hard if you don't mind working on your car instead of a garage.

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Jas

I'm North London ish too. MRC stage 2 with the RS brake upgrade. More than welcome to meet up on a weekend and test them. I bought the calipers on eBay for 500 and then discs from eurocarparts and pads. Fitted myself not too hard if you don't mind working on your car instead of a garage.

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Cheers for that - it would be great to take you up on that once things normalise a bit! There’s nothing like seeing exactly what the final product is like in the metal! I presume you recommend the RS set up for brakes.

My challenge is extremely limited practical skills so wouldn’t attempt to do a job like this - so need to rely on a garage. I guess it’s also a risk buying the Calipers used - on eBay it looks like the pair are going for 1k ish but from visual inspection I couldn’t tell for sure it is all in good condition. £500 is fantastic, well done! For 1k just for Calipers - the MRC price for full kit starts to look more reasonable... but it’s still a lot!

 

[jasper.s]

I went with Brembo discs and pads for the rear of my S5, approx. £240 fitted. I will be going with Brembo again for the fronts when the time comes. Unless you intend using the car for track days I see no point spending £1,000's, as the standard brakes are up to the job IMO but its up to you what you spend.

Thanks - appreciate the perspective and good to know folks don’t universally beat on them!

 

[jasper.s]

If your going stage 2 then invest in a BBK you won't regret it as the standard brakes are woefully inadequate regardless of which discs and pads are used. No point paying money to go faster if you can't stop!

Thank you - I think this is where I got to mentally but I’m just trying to work our the best solution. I think the bottom line is - for someone who has to rely on a garage - what’s the most cost effective BBK. I wish there was a reasonable kit for sale similar to fcp euro’s Brembo 4pot. Trawling the web I don’t fancy spending k’s On a brand I don’t know plus i wonder whether RS brakes are better from a residual perspective - though after remap I should perhaps kiss those worries goodbye! Cheers!

 

[mercules]

Sure just shoot me a pm and we can arrange to meet in better times.

They do come up I can see a fresh painted pair for £800 at the mo so quite a bit more but saves you the couple days prep and painting.

I know @Cerbera9 has the S8 calipers using 390mm discs if I remember correctly. Not sure if he still is using them.

There's a few other threads on the options and opinions around here so I'd take a look at them to help you decide.





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[Nathan Hiley]

4 pot brembo Porsche macan calipers are £512 new from Porsche I managed to get 10% off that


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[jasper.s]

4 pot brembo Porsche macan calipers are £512 new from Porsche I managed to get 10% off that


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Nice! Was there any secret to obtaining it... or is it just a case of asking?

Thanks!

 

[Nathan Hiley]

Just ring up ask for parts and when they say about prices just say you a member of Porscheclub gb they don’t ask for proof


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[Nathan Hiley]

Here’s the part numbers

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[ld2130]

You going to replace the Porsche logos? Very tempted by this.

 

[Simon]

Apparently they B9 S4 calipers are pretty much a direct fit as well, looks to be a good potential option.

 

[jasper.s]

@id2130 Personally I was tempted to keep the Porsche logo as a hat tilt to the RS2, but ultimately I will end up going with brembo or S4 logos - trying to keep a more oem feel. Wonder what others think?

@Simon - I was seriously considering the B9 Calipers but I’d need to buy of fleabay and it’s a family car so I just feel better upgrading the Calipers with a new set. There’s a good write up on another (lesser) Audi forum (not sure what rules are), and it’s DIY but seems a lot more involved than the brembo 4pot upgrade. I guess the benefit is that you get bigger rotors/discs though.

it would be amazing if someone had experience on how these options actually compare firsthand

 

[Simon]

The write up I saw seemed fairly bolt on, it was just a case of making sure you have the correct disc. I made a cheeky offer on a set of rs4 8 pots with discs today, it got rejected but the price they came back at is temping... £1250...

 

[ld2130]

And not wanting to open another can of worms, but pad choice?

 

[Nathan Hiley]

And not wanting to open another can of worms, but pad choice?

I went for ds2500 fcp1334h


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[jasper.s]

The write up I saw seemed fairly bolt on, it was just a case of making sure you have the correct disc. I made a cheeky offer on a set of rs4 8 pots with discs today, it got rejected but the price they came back at is temping... £1250...

The write up I saw seemed fairly bolt on, it was just a case of making sure you have the correct disc. I made a cheeky offer on a set of rs4 8 pots with discs today, it got rejected but the price they came back at is temping... £1250...

you got me thinking about the B9 6-pots again. I think you need to grind some material off the knuckle for the Caliper to align properly - that seemed to be the main additional work vs the Macan approach. I couldn’t figure out the right rotors either -on AZ a chap used C7 A6 rotors which I think are 356mm. What are you planning on using? Are you going to DIY it? Does it matter if the brake Calipers are used? Is that something to worry about? (Novice here...)

 

[Simon]

A good set of used Calipers will be fine, just give them a good look over before fitting, a rebuild kit is not expensive generally if it is needed. On my R33 GTS to GTR rebuild I bought a used set of GTR calipers and changed the seals, repainted and fitted them all was fine.

I still haven’t decided which way I am going, I am not supposed to be getting carried away with what is just a runabout to save miles on the GTR and Aston..

 

[jasper.s]

Summarising the comments and the threads I’ve read On front brakes- it seems the options ordered in terms of cost and cost/benefit are. This is based on road use only! It would be great if people who have these set ups could please share their feedback, as the forum has lots of build threads but I couldn’t find Much info on how people actually got on with their upgrades!

1. stock set up - totally works, but I find not confidence inspiring from higher speeds and would prefer more bite. I also note the new S4 has 6-pot Calipers and barely more power. I plan on remap sooooon!
2. stick with stock discs upgrade pads to Ferodo or equivalent - this was recently recommended on another thread
3. Macan upgrade To 4-pot - Calipers from 450 new! Bolt on set up. Arguably this might be The most cost effective upgrade?
4. B9 S4 upgrade - Akebono 6-pots with oem discs. From build threads a little more work is needed than the Macan’s but you get 6-pots. These Calipers cost 1100 from audi(hopefully can get a discount) and retail around 600-750 on eBay.
5.b8 RS brake set up - expensive to buy vs other options but meaningfully bigger discs. I heard that the brembo 8-pots get v hot in this set up though and there’s a bigger risk of warping? Especially when taking hard and then sitting at lights with brake pads clamped on discs in a-tronic. I think the ongoing disc/pad replacement is Alsoquite expensive? On eBay I think front Set is around 1250-1750 ish.

I like option 4 Akebono 6-pot approach but is it really any better than the 4-pot approach?

thanks!

 

[mercules]

It's really hard to advise what would be the best option for a specific driver until they qualify what their budget is and how they drive.

Someone might have an issue with same setup that's been flawless for another driver.

Everyone will tell you get this or that including myself but you should really decide your budget first.

I don't break often hard unless a error from another driver or a hazard and I am thankful that the setup I have is miles better than the stock setup. I play a game called "Guess when to come off the accelerator" which has kept me accident free touch wood since the day I passed my test. Other drivers may brake when going down hill, going round a corner or when they see a car in front of them a mile away so performance can vary.

Calipers are only as good as the rest of the parts that make up the braking system so if you skimp on pads, discs, fluids cooling you only have yourself to blame for not doing enough research.

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[ChrisABZ001]

I went with an easy option; EBC discs w Red Stuff... works better than stock! I would not say i am completely happy; but it was good bang for the buck,