B7 S4 Front Brakes on B7 A4 DIY?

**fesmail** · 09-28-2009 09:23 PM

Hi All,

I've searched and not found a DIY on upgrading the front brakes on my B7 A4 to B7 S4 brakes. I have all the parts need and from some reading it seems to be a direct "bolt-on" swap, is this correct?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

p.s. I may have an extra pair of front S4 Carriers after :)

**B6JoeS4** · 09-28-2009 09:31 PM

correct me if im wrong, but aren't the b7 s4 and b7 a4 brakes the EXACT same thing.

**Greg9** · 09-28-2009 09:55 PM

The caliper is the same but the S4 uses a longer carrier which fits a larger rotor, 345m on the S4. The stock B7 A4 rotor is 320somthing IIRC.

**05A$SE** · 09-28-2009 10:17 PM

no real point in doing the swap in my oppinion. the b7 has much better brakes then the b6 and besides the 20mm difference is just reaction time or good pads. ur just adding weight. what u have is good enough just dont cheap out on parts to support. get stainless lines. good pads.

**fesmail** · 09-28-2009 10:34 PM

Originally Posted by 05A$SE

no real point in doing the swap in my oppinion. the b7 has much better brakes then the b6 and besides the 20mm difference is just reaction time or good pads. ur just adding weight. what u have is good enough just dont cheap out on parts to support. get stainless lines. good pads.

Fair enough, but I'm due for Full front brakes and acquired a complete B7 S4 front brake kit (rotors, calipers, carriers, pads, etc) with only 5000 miles on them for an extremely good price. The S4 Caliper looks alot better as well and braking will improve........yes you are correct the only downside is that I will be adding a bit of weight with the larger rotor........

but back to my question

**Silververtu** · 09-29-2009 05:17 AM

Do S4 brakes fit into stock 17" rims?

**TheRealtor** · 09-29-2009 08:36 AM

Originally Posted by 05A$SE

no real point in doing the swap in my oppinion. the b7 has much better brakes then the b6 and besides the 20mm difference is just reaction time or good pads. ur just adding weight. what u have is good enough just dont cheap out on parts to support. get stainless lines. good pads.

not true, kinetic energy is transfered into heat by braking. larger brakes can handle more heat and stay efficient longer. thats like saying theres no difference between vented and none vented disks

for the price/upgrade imo its worth it if you have to replace your disks anyways

http://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B7_A4-...ke_OEM/ES6241/

**aaron1085** · 09-29-2009 08:51 AM

so, when installing that kit...you can use the same pads as a B7 A4?

**TheRealtor** · 09-29-2009 09:00 AM

yup ur not changing ur caliper just the carrier to get larger disks. nothing is stopping u from getting some hawk hps or something tho :) might as well at that point.

upgrading carriers and disks were VERY popular on mk4 gen vw golf/jetta people would use the 337/20th setup.

**positiv_rate** · 09-29-2009 02:10 PM

I got a deal on some 345mm S4 rotors & carriers... it's a direct swap for a B7 A4: they both use the same caliper...

Makes for a nice OEM+ upgrade. You increase your braking torque because of the longer arm your same clamping force (same caliper) is acting upon: (345mm - 320mm= 20mm difference in diameter/2= 10mm arm difference. You also benefit from the greater heat absorbing/dissipating capacity of the larger rotor.

Add to that some good fluid (i.e.: Motul RBF600 or Pentosin Racing fluid) and better pads (Hawk HP-PLUS if you don't mind some noise/dust) and you'll have a relatively cheap brake upgrade. Throw in some SS lines for good measure (and better pedal feel!) and your good.

I go lapping on a pretty tight 1.1 mile course (for a 4000 lbs porker that is!) and I still have the stock pads. But as I gain confidence, I can start to overheat them... the modding never ends!!

Cheers!

**fesmail** · 10-01-2009 08:50 PM

So, as I mentioned, has anyone done this upgrade? I am doing it tomorrow along with my 034 HFC, I'm hoping it's a straight swap!!

if anyone can chime in with some experience doing the S4 brake upgrade, I would really appreciate it!!

cheers,

**Quattro** · 10-01-2009 09:06 PM

hmm figured i posted in here...

easy:

remove the caliper, remove the carriers, remove rotor. put new carrier, rotor and stock caliper.

umm, caliper has torx bolts holding it, carrier is like a 13mm bolt, rotor is a hex screw, roughly the same one as the headlight.

Sorry, nothing specific, if yuo need help shoot me a pm with your number I can walk you through it.

-randy

**fesmail** · 10-22-2009 11:27 PM

Originally Posted by Quattro

hmm figured i posted in here...

easy:

remove the caliper, remove the carriers, remove rotor. put new carrier, rotor and stock caliper.

umm, caliper has torx bolts holding it, carrier is like a 13mm bolt, rotor is a hex screw, roughly the same one as the headlight.

Sorry, nothing specific, if yuo need help shoot me a pm with your number I can walk you through it.

-randy

Thanks Quattro,

I think we share a similar interest or style in our cars

it was a straight swap, done in 3 hours (taking my time), thanks for chiming in!!

034 HFC is a great "bang for buck" upgrade, now onto my GSG FMIC

**mgfranz** · 12-04-2016 05:48 PM

I know, old thread, new post... But curious to know, the stock B7 S-line rotor size is ?, and the S4 rotor size is ?. I ask because I am running 19" rims and I want to fill them with as much braking as I can. From what I have been reading the S4 rotors add about 25mm or so while still using the stock B7 calipers, all I need to do is swap out the carriers. But if I want better braking, I need to get the stock S4 calipers as well as the carriers, rotors and associated hardware. (RS4 swap out of the budget at this time...)

I have been searching/reading about doing the S4 swap for a while now and am quite interested in doing this, especially since the near disaster at 120mph on the roadway by some dumb ass, but regardless... Has anyone done a DIY of the S4 full brake swap to a B7 yet? If so I have not found it.

**rongeur** · 12-04-2016 05:59 PM

No diy necessary. For front, remove the two slider bolts to remove the caliper. Then remove the two carrier 3/4" bolts to remove the carrier. Remove old rotor with 25 or 30 torx set screw. Place new 345 S4 rotor of choice. Replace carrier with the new S4 carrier in reverse order. Replace new pads and then resecure the slider bolts. Some versions of the A4 calipers need minor grinding to clear the greater diameter rotors, mine didn't

S-line A4 only beefs up the dampners and rear sway bar. No brake differences from normal A4 with 320 rotor.

Rears are same process. The e-brake hardware is compatible and can be straight swapped over without messing the cable beyond unlatching it.

**mgfranz** · 12-04-2016 06:24 PM

Maybe DIY is a wrong choice of words... I can do brakes, done at least a thousand brake jobs. I guess what I should have asked is has anyone done a write-up of the necessary parts needed to do a full front & rear swap from a B7 to a S4 kit? With 19" rims, the rotors just look minuscule.

My stock S-line RSB was like 16 or 18mm, I swapped in a 22mm from a S4 and it feels great.

**Okedokey** · 12-04-2016 07:08 PM

I did it a few weekends ago.

Remove tyre.
Clamp (old) brake lines to prevent leakage (replace with braided is a good way to go here).
Remove caliper bolts (front) or guide pin bolts rear. Remove caliper.
Remove pads and carrier.
Remove rotor.
Clean with brake cleaner and wipe down.
Clean new rotor with brake cleaner and wipe down.
Install new rotor.
Reverse install for new gear.
Bleed brakes.
Break in pads.

**rongeur** · 12-04-2016 09:34 PM

A thousand brake jobs is alot of brake jobs!

Parts list:
S4 rotors x2
S4 caliper carriers x2
S4 shields

Ps, S4 rear sway bar is only 20mm, S-line is 18 and stock is 16mm. RS4 is 22mm. 034 motorsport is 25.4mm

**Van Black** · 12-05-2016 12:15 AM

Originally Posted by rongeur

S-line A4 only beefs up the dampners and rear sway bar. No brake differences from normal A4 with 320 rotor.

Rears are same process. The e-brake hardware is compatible and can be straight swapped over without messing the cable beyond unlatching it.

I got the S-line package and the front brakes are bigger, rotors and calipers. Rears are stock B7 though

**mgfranz** · 04-03-2017 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by rongeur

A thousand brake jobs is alot of brake jobs!

Parts list:
S4 rotors x2
S4 caliper carriers x2
S4 shields

Ps, S4 rear sway bar is only 20mm, S-line is 18 and stock is 16mm. RS4 is 22mm. 034 motorsport is 25.4mm

Ok, maybe not a thousand, but well into the hundreds, (I use to be a mechanic and we did probably 4 brake jobs a week, plus my own vehicles for 40 years).

My stock RSB was only 16mm and I have a S-Line, the one I installed is 22mm.

Anyone know if the S4 rear brakes are the same size as the stock B7?

**z_wrecker** · 04-03-2017 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by mgfranz

Anyone know if the S4 rear brakes are the same size as the stock B7?

They are not. They are larger and a popular upgrade for B7 A4's with a big brake kit upfront

**Chris@EPL** · 04-03-2017 01:14 PM

The S4 shields are not needed either. I have been running my set up with the stock B7A4 splash shields for about 200k miles and never had any wet brake issues due to rain/puddles, etc.

**mgfranz** · 04-03-2017 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by Chris@EPL

The S4 shields are not needed either. I have been running my set up with the stock B7A4 splash shields for about 200k miles and never had any wet brake issues due to rain/puddles, etc.

Maybe up front, but it looks like the rear shields are needed if they are swapped for the larger S4 rears.

If I do the rears as well, all I need is the rotors, carriers, calipers and shields right?

**Chris@EPL** · 04-03-2017 01:57 PM

Correct I was just talking about the front S4 brakes

**rongeur** · 04-03-2017 05:11 PM

Originally Posted by mgfranz

Maybe up front, but it looks like the rear shields are needed if they are swapped for the larger S4 rears.

If I do the rears as well, all I need is the rotors, carriers, calipers and shields right?

I have S4 rears on the same A4 shield. Fits fine.

**vce1232000** · 04-03-2017 05:16 PM

Originally Posted by rongeur

I have S4 rears on the same A4 shield. Fits fine.

I was thinking about doing the

rear S4 rear caliper mode with these http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...S4-Rear-Brakes. But wanted to know do you feel a difference with the braking

?

**rongeur** · 04-03-2017 06:14 PM

I am not sure if it is a daily driving perceivable difference but I do feel that the S4 has a more balanced braking setup and to only upgrade the fronts leaves you in the middle of the OEM upgrade. Rear vented rotors over the solid rotors of the A4 is worth it as well as long as you find them for a reasonable price.

**vce1232000** · 04-03-2017 06:21 PM

for the input

**Axis** · 04-03-2017 07:56 PM

Originally Posted by mgfranz

Maybe up front, but it looks like the rear shields are needed if they are swapped for the larger S4 rears.

If I do the rears as well, all I need is the rotors, carriers, calipers and shields right?

Rear S4 dust shield holes wong line up with the holes on an A4. You either mod the S4 shields or keep the A4 dust shields.