Hi my brake warning light has just come up on my 2016 rs3 being honest I think the oe pads are crap does anyone know if EBC have done any to fit the 8v or any other options for front pads need to change them soonish
2016 RS3 8v front brake pads ?
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Both Red and Yellow stuff are available from EBC for the RS3 (8v) calipers.
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I have got a set of EBC Redstuff pads sat in my study waiting to be fitted along with a set of Alcon discs which will hopefully turn up sometime this week. Will update what they are like when I manage to get them on the car.
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The caliper on the FL car is the same as the PFL but I would not recommend fitting Redstuff to an RS3.
I had a bad experience with the Redstuff pads on my PFL car (they glazed and overheated the Alcon disc upgrade I had fitted) and replaced them with Ferodo DS Performance or Ferodo Premier pads (I tried both and they were way better than Redstuff).
I was at a track day at Castle Coombe in the UK last year (Audi Driver International event) where two RS3's were running Redstuff pads with stock discs. Both cars ****** their pads, overheated the discs and boiled the brake fluid after 4 or 5 laps. The same two cars attended this years event at the same track but had new discs but with Ferodo pads (one with DS2500) and had no brake problems this time.
You will find people on various forums who have used the Redstuff with no issues but try finding a leading tuning company who will recommend fitting Redstuff pads as an upgrade on an RS3.
My FL car is running 500+ bhp and so I have again upgraded the stock discs and pads (see pic below). The Revo/Alcon discs do not fit the FL car (alloy bell housing is different offset - Revo are apparently working on this) so I have opted to have some two piece floating 380mm x 34mm grooved and directional vane discs made. Currently running them with the Ferodo DS Performance pads but will shortly be swapping them for the DS2500 pads.
Why do people track Redstuff when they are a street pad not for track , EBC's minimum entry is Yellowstuff for track , then Bluestuff followed by track only Orangestuff .
DS Performance is low dust apparently , expect quite a bit of dust with the DS2500 .
DS Performance is low dust apparently , expect quite a bit of dust with the DS2500 .
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Yes I agree with the range and use of the various specs of EBC pads, I have friends who have used the Yellows/Blues on Golf R's as well as RS3's at track sessions (the pads tend to disintegrate/flake apart but are apparently designed to do that according to EBC)
However, the Redstuff pads and Alcon disc combo on my PFL car was not tracked. I was out with Doug from MRC Tuning doing some 'on the road' live data logging on my car and after the third hard stop the brakes were making some horrible noises and the pedal had gone soft - the onset of brake fade. Data logging session was abandoned and the car went back to the MRC Tuning workshop to find the discs were blue and the pads were smoking. Doug asked why I had fitted Redstuff pads to my car and produced a box of Ferodo Premier pads to try (a cheaper but high quality pad but apparently stands up to some abuse). Because the Ferodo's were cheaper than expected I naturally thought they would be rubbish but was proven wrong. I have subsequently progressed onto the DS Performance pads and have them on my FL car (which now have the OEM Audi connectors for the brake sensor) and will be trying the the DS2500 with my brake disc upgrade soon.
As mentioned in my post above, some people will find the Redstuff pads to be OK for them. However, brakes are a very personal thing on a car and what feels great for one person may not be so good for someone else depending on how you drive the car. My response to ANiiMel's question above is that after trying the Redstuff pads I personally can't recommend fitting them and have provided some background as to why.
I have DS performance pads aswell. Great on the road and survived one track session at castle coombe last month 
Redstuff are garbage.......
Had them on my 8P RS3, fine for a while then started getting horrendous vibration upon applying brakes, which was only cured by jet washing the residue off the discs, they also completely lost their 'bite' so much so it was a scary experience when braking at higher speeds.
On the 8V its the same, as several owners have told me recently how they too found the Redstuff rubbish at any sort of speed (not tracked either)
On my PFL RS3 Ferodo DS were superb, they were silent the whole time i had the car and actually got better the more they were used.
On the FL car it's been a mixed bag really, OEM perfect until around 5K then started being noisy, in went DS Ferodo pads and all quiet for 1.5K miles.
Have since tried Ferodo premiers and TRW pads but now nothing cures it, albeit the TRW pads are the quietest up to now.
After a convo with a brake disc specialist i'm convinced it's the OEM discs that are the root cause and like @Beebee-one above I'm going for a set of custom made 2 piece discs.
Had them on my 8P RS3, fine for a while then started getting horrendous vibration upon applying brakes, which was only cured by jet washing the residue off the discs, they also completely lost their 'bite' so much so it was a scary experience when braking at higher speeds.
On the 8V its the same, as several owners have told me recently how they too found the Redstuff rubbish at any sort of speed (not tracked either)
On my PFL RS3 Ferodo DS were superb, they were silent the whole time i had the car and actually got better the more they were used.
On the FL car it's been a mixed bag really, OEM perfect until around 5K then started being noisy, in went DS Ferodo pads and all quiet for 1.5K miles.
Have since tried Ferodo premiers and TRW pads but now nothing cures it, albeit the TRW pads are the quietest up to now.
After a convo with a brake disc specialist i'm convinced it's the OEM discs that are the root cause and like @Beebee-one above I'm going for a set of custom made 2 piece discs.
I’ve just fitted Red Stuff, been on 2 x month now and no squeal.
These are on Audi discs so take note from comment above if looking to pair with something else.
I got mine from EBC direct I believe a 10% off code is avail for new customers that’s still valid if you search google. I paid £225 for front and back. Cheapest I could find.
These are on Audi discs so take note from comment above if looking to pair with something else.
I got mine from EBC direct I believe a 10% off code is avail for new customers that’s still valid if you search google. I paid £225 for front and back. Cheapest I could find.
My car is stage 1 MRC atm but booking in for stage 2 tomorrow morning have you got link for these other pads as I need to purchase some asap. (New to forms and buying pads haha) thanks
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New part number for the Ferodo DS Performance front pads with brake wear sensor (no more soldering cables together) is FDS5023. You will need two sets (one box per caliper). The Ferodo Premier pads are the same ones that they offer for the R8 and RS4 as it uses the same caliper. MRC might actually have some in stock if you ask Doug.
You don’t half ask some stupid questions
Is this because I’m not singing Redstuff ***** praises.
Don't be daft , just wondered if they pooed like some Ferodo DS2500 did once .
For sure Redstuff ain't for heavy duty spanking.
For sure Redstuff ain't for heavy duty spanking.
That’s the problem though they were only ever used on the road and never in any real heavy application.
The build up issue would develop a few daws after washing the car, steering wheel would start vibrating and the only way to stop it was to clean the discs via jet washing.
The most worrying thing though is how they all of a sudden stopped being anywhere as good as they originally where, they didn’t give confidence at all.
I also noticed the Redstuff created ‘mirror’ finish discs which suggested to me the Ceramic particles where ‘polishing’ the discs rather than ‘grabbing’ them.
Never had an issue with DS Performance pads on the PFL car though....
Probably the quality control is a bit hit and miss with EBC .
I personally witnessed Karl ( heavy B8 3.0 tdi Avant ) around Combe with just Redstuff up front he had to pull off after 5 laps , judder , loss of performance and the discs turned blue but the pads didn't fall apart .
The drive home sorted things out .
Sadly no DS Performance application for my new to me non VAG car otherwise I would of got them , I'm all for trying out and had quite a few over the years so another full set of Red received now which will be the third car with full Reds .
For DS Performance to be described as 'low dust' do they contain some ceramic ?
I personally witnessed Karl ( heavy B8 3.0 tdi Avant ) around Combe with just Redstuff up front he had to pull off after 5 laps , judder , loss of performance and the discs turned blue but the pads didn't fall apart .
The drive home sorted things out .
Sadly no DS Performance application for my new to me non VAG car otherwise I would of got them , I'm all for trying out and had quite a few over the years so another full set of Red received now which will be the third car with full Reds .
For DS Performance to be described as 'low dust' do they contain some ceramic ?
