Sweet, I am doing this

Just ordered everything from ECS, should be here Tuesday. Thanks for the DIY dude

If you can't tell, I am stoked to do this mod!

 

kind of a :facepalm:/:lol: at ECS though...

I called personally as I wanted to get recommendations and make sure my vehicle is compatible...

So I order the big brake upgrade, and I say "I'm gonna need the rear pads as well".

I get the package and what's missing?

My bad for assuming that front pads would be included in the kit, but damn...wouldn't you ask me, especially since I ordered rear pads "as well"

No matter, they got the pads coming my way in time for the weekend. :thu:

 

well sons of bitches...

No one frickin told me the S-line comes with the big brakes standard again, I should have been a nag when I called, and gone over every single detail I guess...

Should probably rename that upgrade from "A8 disc, TT carriers" to "S4 upgrade" I guess? :idk:

Got the front driverside all torn down, go to get the disc and it's the exact same size, go to look at the carrier, exact fricking same part. The new pads fit anyway...whoopdy doo.

After all that dicking around, only got the fronts done tonight. Get up tomorrow and do the backs, go get some oil and plugs, as I'm due. Probably give her a wash after that...then call ECS as see what their return policy is...that 60lb package gonna be a bitch on shipping fees though.

 

Heh, that sucks...

 

It's all good, you know what, I decided the rotors needed replacing anyway. I'll prolly send back the caliper carriers only.

You want to know what sucks, trying to get the back right caliper (the one with all the ebrake mechanics on it) compressed, I used the wrong tools for the job and ended up cutting the boot. Thought I was gonna have to buy a new caliper for $300, but the parts guy said I could get the boot for something like $30 + plus whatever the shop is going to charge to put the boot on the caliper.

You want to know what REALLY sucks? About 6 weeks back I went in for a rotate/balance to a tire shop I been using for a good while now. They stripped a bolt, and subsequently the hub. They were kind enough to fix it all for the cost of the hub @ $500.

Tonight, I'm getting the wheel off to replace the back left pads so that all I'll have to do later is put that repaired caliper on and be done with it.

One of the bolts really doesn't ever want to break loose. Once I have the bolts out, I have to beat the wheel off the hub with a mallet.

I look in there, and that hub is still stripped, they just jammed a replacement bolt in there, charged me $500 for the part they didn't replace, and sent me on my way.

Somebody's ear is gonna get a beating from my mouth when they open up in the morning

 

Ha ha, man... that's a run of bad luck!

 

no kidding

It turns out that it looks like this was not the same wheel as was originally worked on, I am gonna start a new thread, but really would like your opinion...

Is it common for the aluminum bolts in conjunction with the steel wheel hubs, to corrode so badly to the point of fusion? Such that when the bolt is removed, the whole thing is stripped out toast?

 

I wouldn't think they should strip. At least, not if they've been removed regularly for tire rotation or new tire installation. Do you know when the last time the bolts were taken off was?

 

that link you provided is a link for the B5 A8/TT BBK. maybe that's why you got confused

 

I've been pretty regular ~5k rotation...10k would be maximum I'd have to guess

I did a little research on this site, and have seen a couple threads where dudes have run into exactly this issue, although not as prevalent as I would think, considering my experience and some of the other information I have garnered...

i.e. and correct me if I'm wrong on this, but one of the techs mentioned specifically that the lug bolts are aluminum, while the wheel hub is steel. The laws of nature dictate that this is a recipe for certain failure, and it baffles me that a manufacturer would use such a combination of parts, especially in a high torque and critical component.

I still really don't know...I'll be taking it to the local dealer for a full evaluation once I get the brakes wrapped up. will certainly report back here.

yeh, once I got to the front and saw the springs and caliper bolts were different, I expected it not to be an exact match to the DIY, but didn't recall seeing the B5 designation, only A4...as stated earlier, if I was a bit sharper of a tool, I could have put together that the S-line designates S4 components, and certainly would expect them to already be larger in nature no matter though, I'm still stoked about doing this myself