RS3/TT RS brake setup on A3 3.2 - spongy pedal can anyone help please

Hi All,

Firstly thanks in advance for looking at this and any advice / guidance provide - apologies for the long post!!

In February a set of RS3 front calipers with mintex pads (not sure what mintex pads they are) were fitted to my A3 3.2 Quattro, these calipers were fully refurbished and powercoated and came with the brakets to fit 350mm Mercedes ML discs.

At the same time braided lines were fitted all round and the system bled and replaced with brembo dot 5.1 fluid.

I knew having a bigger caliper with 4 pots instead of 1 on the standard caliper would mean the pedal would start biting more towards the floor but there is a lack of feel to the pedal and most of the time it feels quite spongy.

Once the brakes have been properly warmed up they stop really well but then can go spongy again with continued use.

Just wondering what people might think could be the issue, the options I can see could be:

*Replaced mintex pads for better ones, DS2500, Pagid 'Blues' - any advice on best fast road pads?
*Brakes are getting too hot - I am going to fit brake cooling ducts and remove the front fog lights to see if this helps
*Air in the system - brakes need to be bled again
*Replace master cyclinder for RS3 unit (and maybe brake booster too) - has anyone done this, not sure if it is a direct fit

Just after any advice from someone who has fitted these as I'm doing a Europe road trip in 3 weeks and the brake pedal just doesn't give me confidence most of the time.

The car is only running 250bhp but I do drive the car hard, harder than normal fast road but not as much as you would do on a track.

Thanks again for any help or advice.

Hi Dave, thanks for your reply.

What setup are you running pads and disc wise? Have you got your standard master cyclinder and have no problems?

Rob C said:

Am I right in thinking the 3.2 and S3 have the same brake setup as standard from the factory?

I have the TTRS setup on my S3 consisting of TTRS/RS3 Calipers, TTRS Discs, EBC Redstuff Pads, HEL Braided Line and Motul RBF 660 fluid. The pedal feels just like it did with the standard S3 brakes. I did have DS2500 pads and the pedal was a lot firmer but removed them due to the brake squeal.

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Hi Rob,

Yes the S3 / A3 3.2 / Mk5 Golf R32 brake setup are all the same I believe. The S3 just had an S3 badge on the front caliper.

Sounds like they might need bleeding again if the pedals feels the same and you haven't changed the master cyclinder.

Would you rate the DS2500 pads then? My mintex pads do sometimes squeal at low speed.

Rob C said:

Nope, the master cylinder is the standard S3 one.

I really like the DS2500 pads in terms of performance, perhaps the pedal may have been a little to firm for my liking but I soon got used to it. I would still have them if it wasn't for the bad squeal the produced at low speeds.

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Ok that's really good to know you have a firm pedal similar to the S3 setup but with a standard master cyclinder.

Will try and get the brakes re-bled and look into upgrading to DS2500 pads as well as fitting cold air ducts for the brakes. Hopefully that should sort all the issues

swatchuk said:

I fitted these brakes not so long ago. I'd definitely say they need RE bleeding. Do the inside nipple first then the outer. My pedal is the same as standard feel. I've got the ds2500 pads fitted also fitted with a stainless steel shim and no brake squeak at all at any speed.

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That's great definitely looks like they need re bleeding then, also seems most people go for the DS2500's so might need to invest in a set of them as well.

Thanks for the tip of inside nipple first then outer