I am getting close to replacing my front rotors and pads in my '01 A4 2.8Q, and was curious if I could purcahse a 2001 S4 caliper, rotor and pad set and have the front brakes be S4 brakes? I am not sure of the bolt patterns of where the caliper bolts in? Just looking to increase responsiveness and reduce break time.

 

Not sure how changing to S4 brakes will decrease braking time? That is mainly depepndent on the friction of the brake pad, and the friction of the tyres. Why don't you just buy good discs, good fast road pads, good brake fluid, good tyres, and braid your brake lines. Probably be cheaper in the long run. Bigger discs don't really mean better braking, just less force applied to the brake pedal. Some people argue about the bigger discs mean better cooling, but on a road car its pretty negligible, (unless you are going to be doing a lot of trackdays). Some people even make the mistake of getting racing pads for their car, but they are ony effective when they are 47 times hotter than the sun! Not much use for a pootle down to the shops!

 

...funny.. people normally argue for ages about whether big brakes are such a big difference on a car...

 

like toffee said bigger disks doesnt mean youll have better performance.

I have crossdrilled brembo's with mintex pads and im loving it!

Awesome performance brakes! Especially in the rain, they stop you dean in your tracks!

 

So it would not stand to reason that if you increase the surface of the rotor, and increase the size of the pad, that more surface area would create more friction, therefore increasing your stop time? If it not based on size, then why would Audi but larger brakes on the S4?

 

the s4, I believe, weighs a little more than the a4, bc of the v6(may be wrong, if I am, sorry). And if you could swap out the s4 caliper and rotor with your a4 caliper and rotor, you would see a litttle difference. But what these guys are trying to tell you is that it would be a lot more cost efficient to get...say a brembo rotor/pad set and better fluid and lines everything you would need to get s4 brakes. And for some reason, I believe you actually have to buy the s4 hub to do that, but I could be wrong there also...... Hope that helps a little.
Josh

 

Not i the slightest. To brake, all you have to do is create enough friction on the disc to stop the car. If you can lock up your brakes, then you have enough stopping power. The only thing that will improve braking is...
1. Better, more sticky tyres
2. Better friction pads
3. better designed discs.
4. Braid hoses, so as to stop any elastic damping
5. Good brake fluid...

The only benefit having bigger discs on a car is cooling, (marginal on a road car), and you put less pressure on your brake pedal. Little rule of thumb is that if you can lock your brakes, then you have enough force on your brakes. The only limiting factor is the adhesion btween tyre and the road.
Hope that helps. The reason race cars, performance cars have larger brakes is that it looks good, the salesman can blurb about big brakes, and if you do go and absolutely hammer your brakes on a track, or something, they will cool slightly better, (although this is marginal), and your foot isn't pressing as hard...

Hope this makes sense...

 

Awsome. Thanks for all the help. Do you know where I could purchase a set of durable and long lasting pads and rotors? Also, should I change the brake lines to steel? Is there a certain type of brake fluid I should be using other than a standard DOT 3 or 4? Once again, thanks for all of the help guys!!

 

I've not been here long enough to know where, and how much, etc, but i'm sure someone will know which to buy. Normally brembo, AP racing, EBC, Black diamond, and red dto are the main ones, but there will be others that will sort you out. Steel braided hoses are the way to go. As for brake fluid, I believe dot 5 has a higher boiling point than the others, so you are less likely to have brake fade, (which is mainly caused by boiling brake flid, rather than anything to do with the brake pads), and does not absorb water as readily as the others . Just make sure you completely bleed the old fluid out, as it may be 3 or 4, and mixing is not compatible.

 

http://www.awe-tuning.com/pages/shar...kes&IL=a4combo

Awe do replacement parts. 500 of your well earned bucks for discs, pads, fluid, and hoses...