Aftermarket Brake Pads?

[BrockDM]

Ever since I put on my new wheels I noticed the amount of brake dust that accumulates in very little time. I was wondering if anyone has swapped out the pads and if so what did you go with?

I saw someone on the FB group recommend semi metallic from Centric. Any reviews or other recommendations?

Not looking for an ultra high performance or anything. Less brake dust and a better bite is all I need.


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[CreoSTi]

I have Power Stop brake pads (Z16) installed on my M3, and I plan to install them on my S4 as well. For daily driving, they've been great (much less brake dust), decent pedal feel, and they're not too expensive.

https://www.powerstop.com/products/#...&mk=AUDI&mo=S4

[BrockDM]

I have Power Stop brake pads (Z16) installed on my M3, and I plan to install them on my S4 as well. For daily driving, they've been great (much less brake dust), decent pedal feel, and they're not too expensive.

https://www.powerstop.com/products/#...&mk=AUDI&mo=S4

Thanks I will look into them! Any noise? The OE can be fairly noisy at times

[CreoSTi]

Thanks I will look into them! Any noise? The OE can be fairly noisy at times

I get some noise (granted this is on my M3) when backing up out of my driveway in the morning when the car/brakes are cold. This is more pronounced when the ambient temp is low. However, it goes away and remains noise free for the rest of the day.

[Nez136]

I’d be curious to hear more reviews on those pads, they are very reasonably priced !


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[Mops@Nemesis]

Those look pretty good! Stoptech should have options out very soon too. They already have drilled, slotted and drilled/slotted rotors out for the B9 S4. I think some drilled ones would compliment our beautiful calipers nicely.

[CreoSTi]

I’d be curious to hear more reviews on those pads, they are very reasonably priced !


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Here are some reviews from the F8X forums on Bimmerpost;

https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1224360

I should have the Z16s installed on Wednesday, and then I will report back. I would have gone with the more sport-oriented Z23, but they only make the rears for now.

[BrockDM]

Here are some reviews from the F8X forums on Bimmerpost;

https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1224360

I should have the Z16s installed on Wednesday, and then I will report back. I would have gone with the more sport-oriented Z23, but they only make the rears for now.

Interested to hear your review. It appears a lot of the BMW guys are claiming bad squeaking from the Z16 and Z23.

[CreoSTi]

Interested to hear your review. It appears a lot of the BMW guys are claiming bad squeaking from the Z16 and Z23.

Could be how they were bedded in, but I never had any noise out of mine except when backing up first thing in the morning when cold.

I'll report back once they are installed on Wednesday.

[SMI77]

Could be how they were bedded in, but I never had any noise out of mine except when backing up first thing in the morning when cold.

I'll report back once they are installed on Wednesday.

Who did you buy them through?

[CreoSTi]

Fronts are installed, but the shop I go to needs to update their system to access the electronic parking brake on the 2018s (so the rears aren't on yet). No issues with the fronts, though, and much less brake dust like I experienced with the F80 M3.

My wife's 2016 Acura RDX was also in need of new pads, so I purchased and installed similar pads (Z17) on that vehicle over the weekend.

Who did you buy them through?

I purchased the brake pads from RockAuto as they had the best price;

https://www.rockauto.com/

[SiRay6]

Fronts are installed, but the shop I go to needs to update their system to access the electronic parking brake on the 2018s (so the rears aren't on yet). No issues with the fronts, though, and much less brake dust like I experienced with the F80 M3.

My wife's 2016 Acura RDX was also in need of new pads, so I purchased and installed similar pads (Z17) on that vehicle over the weekend.



I purchased the brake pads from RockAuto as they had the best price;

https://www.rockauto.com/

Thanks for sharing. Can you provide more details about the rears once installed? I would like to change my own pads later so i would appreciate any info on what needs to be done or how to approach the install regarding any electronic tools and/or programs needed.

[CreoSTi]

Can you provide more details about the rears once installed? I would like to change my own pads later so i would appreciate any info on what needs to be done or how to approach the install regarding any electronic tools and/or programs needed.

Not sure if I can provide any other information as I am having a shop install them, but typically you need a VCDS or similar system to "open" the rear electronic parking brake when changing the rear brake pads.

[Southern]

I put mine on last week. They are definitely not as thick as the stock pads, but they do an excellent job of drastically reducing the amount of brake dust. Not as much bite either, but there's enough to make the tradeoff worth it to me.

[BrockDM]

How is the noise? If you could report back after 500 miles or so that'd be great.

Noise is my biggest concern

[wam22]

I installed EBC yellowstuff and brake performance slotted rotors and both of them were great until I warped the rotors and melted the pads at the track. So now I am back to stock.

[Nez136]

Less brake dust is never a good trade off for less bite.

I want all the bite I can have.


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[SMI77]

I purchased the brake pads from RockAuto as they had the best price; https://www.rockauto.com/

Went online and also bought front & rear pads. As you said very cheap, including the shipping to Land of Oz, which is normally horrendous.
Many thanks CreoSTi.

I actually contacted ECS Tuning, who sell them. Suffice to say I was v-e-r-y disappointed.

[CreoSTi]

Went online and also bought front & rear pads. As you said very cheap, including the shipping to Land of Oz, which is normally horrendous.
Many thanks CreoSTi.

No problem!

I haven't had a chance to go back to the shop and have the rear Power Stop pads installed yet, but 200+ miles on the front pads and no noise + much less brake dust.

[SMI77]

Less brake dust is never a good trade off for less bite.

Depends if your talking about initial bite or throughout the braking.
I really hate the S4's initial bite, that tries to send one through the windscreen, preferring a smooth progressive feel, but still performing if one has to stomp on the anchors.

[BrockDM]

I pulled the trigger on PowerStop z16 pads and wanted to give my initial impressions.

I can't comment on the install process, I had a shop put them on. They were done pretty quickly so I presume it should be like any other brake pads.

The initial bite/grab is less aggressive. In my opinion it feels how it should have from the factory. The factory pads have a much harder initial bite so I didn't mind getting rid of it. The overall stopping power feels very smooth and effective. I haven't had to smash the brakes but they seem very reliable.

Brake dust seems to have decreased quite a bit. My wheels were slightly dirty when I put them on but haven't gotten any dirtier. I can update this once I get the chance to clean them.

Lastly, I have experienced no noise. Pulling out of the garage when the car is cold, slow speeds, coming to a stop, nothing.

Overall I am very pleased!

[Southern]

No noise after well over 500 miles on these pads

[BrockDM]

No noise after well over 500 miles on these pads

Same for me. I am noticing hardly any brake dust either!

[BoostEasy]

I pulled the trigger on PowerStop z16 pads and wanted to give my initial impressions.

I can't comment on the install process, I had a shop put them on. They were done pretty quickly so I presume it should be like any other brake pads.

The initial bite/grab is less aggressive. In my opinion it feels how it should have from the factory. The factory pads have a much harder initial bite so I didn't mind getting rid of it. The overall stopping power feels very smooth and effective. I haven't had to smash the brakes but they seem very reliable.

Brake dust seems to have decreased quite a bit. My wheels were slightly dirty when I put them on but haven't gotten any dirtier. I can update this once I get the chance to clean them.

Lastly, I have experienced no noise. Pulling out of the garage when the car is cold, slow speeds, coming to a stop, nothing.

Overall I am very pleased!

This is what most people want unless they track a car.

I like my Akebonos. Less initial bite but the brakes were a bit touchy stock and all it means is you need a few days to adjust your brain to the new brake curve and you're fine.

The near zero brake dust vs stock getting noticeably dirty in a single short drive was worth it!

Glad you found a nice set to work for you.

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[Nez136]

I must be the only one here that loves a lot of bite in my brakes 🤷🏻*♂️ At least you can still feel the the brakes even with the hard bite, my old Z06 had a lot of bite but the peddle felt like mush with no curve.
I think the OEM pads are great but I think the Rotors suck on all the S cars. Doesn’t take much hard driving to warp these things.
That being said I’d love to find pads similar to oem, dust or not I don’t care since I wash the car weekly anyway. Better rotors are what id REALLY love tho.


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[Southern]

Yep! I wash my car every two weeks and there isn't much brake dust on there at all, especially compared to the OEM. They used to look like gunmetal wheels after 2-3 days.

Same for me. I am noticing hardly any brake dust either!

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[SMI77]

I must be the only one here that loves a lot of bite in my brakes 🤷🏻*♂️ At least you can still feel the the brakes even with the hard bite, my old Z06 had a lot of bite but the peddle felt like mush with no curve.
I think the OEM pads are great but I think the Rotors suck on all the S cars. Doesn’t take much hard driving to warp these things.
That being said I’d love to find pads similar to oem, dust or not I don’t care since I wash the car weekly anyway. Better rotors are what id REALLY love tho.

Perhaps there is a message there.
Not sure how old your Z is/was (2006?), but if it was old and your pedal did not feel smooth & consistent, it may well have been your brake lines. I am told they do flex, as they are designed to, but they do become soft and sometimes break.

Just had installed Goodridge UK s/s braided brakelines. I bought these as they only cost me the price of OEM lines, as a template, and they state they are Australian Design Rule (ADR) compliant.
Contrary to what ECS Tuning said about their lines, we did have an issue trying to bleed the lines. Even though the brake fluid was being added under pressure, the vehicle was asking for a security code, which Audi Aust. would not divulge. Aussie ingenuity won the day. May well be a difference due to an Oz spec wagon.

Also installed were the PowerStop Z16 ceramic pads. Only done limited kms, but braking around town is there, no thru' the windscreen OEM initial bite (nice and smooth!), no squealing and minimal dust. Yeah!!
Interesting trivia - to install the front pads, one has to remove the entire caliper and insert the pads internally. The mechanic doing the install works on Euro vehicles only, and that was new to him.

The 034 Motorsport rear sway bar went on, 22.5mm solid spring steel against the OEM 18.5mm hollow bar. Around town the rear does feel tighter, but can't wait for some challenging roads.

So the care factor of water usage in your area is nil.

[Aaron@DTP]

Also installed were the PowerStop Z16 ceramic pads. Only done limited kms, but braking around town is there, no thru' the windscreen OEM initial bite (nice and smooth!), no squealing and minimal dust. Yeah!!
Interesting trivia - to install the front pads, one has to remove the entire caliper and insert the pads internally. The mechanic doing the install works on Euro vehicles only, and that was new to him.

This is the only way I have ever replace brake pads on every vehicle I've ever worked on. I'm not sure how you would ever replace the pad with the calipers on.

So I was getting ready to pull the trigger on the Z16s and noticed there is a Premium/OE quality offering from Power Stop. Anyone have experience with the Z231898 pads?

[ywang98]

The standard Brembo brakes (front brakes) are just pins and clips, no removal of calipers. I've replaced brake pads on Porsche Boxster, and also recently replaced pads on my wife's Touareg. Boxster was one pin, and the Touareg was two pins. The rear brake on the Touareg needs removal of the entire caliper, insert the pads, then new bolts back on the carrier (but I guess most people don't replace those).

So, that is why I didn't see any pins on my caliper...

[CreoSTi]

This is the only way I have ever replace brake pads on every vehicle I've ever worked on. I'm not sure how you would ever replace the pad with the calipers on.

So I was getting ready to pull the trigger on the Z16s and noticed there is a Premium/OE quality offering from Power Stop. Anyone have experience with the Z231898 pads?

Go with the Z23 (sport) pads as they are a bit better performing than the Z16s (and you still get the low dust/minimal noise benefits). The Z23s were only available for the rears when I purchased my set, but it looks like they have them available for the front calipers now. I'll switch to the Z23s if I need to replace the brake pads before my lease is up.

[tliu91]

porterfield r4s

[SMI77]

Go with the Z23 (sport) pads as they are a bit better performing than the Z16s (and you still get the low dust/minimal noise benefits). The Z23s were only available for the rears when I purchased my set, but it looks like they have them available for the front calipers now. I'll switch to the Z23s if I need to replace the brake pads before my lease is up.

Recently went to an Audi-Sport track day. All vehicles had to be in 'drive' and no dynamic or individual modes. No scrutineering, so the DTUK trilogy were on. Gave the Z16s a work out, but they got so hot I drove around to cool them down. Will look to Z23s maybe sooner than later.
Have to say the DTUK TCU tuner made a huge difference on the day!! The wagon is on P Zero's & can not wait for Michelin P4S4s'.

[Aaron@DTP]

Go with the Z23 (sport) pads as they are a bit better performing than the Z16s (and you still get the low dust/minimal noise benefits). The Z23s were only available for the rears when I purchased my set, but it looks like they have them available for the front calipers now. I'll switch to the Z23s if I need to replace the brake pads before my lease is up.

I haven't been able to find them for the fronts. Anyone have a link?

[CreoSTi]

I haven't been able to find them for the fronts. Anyone have a link?

I could have sworn I saw the Z23 pads for the fronts when I looked last time, but I just went back to the Power Stop site and it's only showing them for the rears again... or I'm just getting old.

[Aaron@DTP]

I could have sworn I saw the Z23 pads for the fronts when I looked last time, but I just went back to the Power Stop site and it's only showing them for the rears again... or I'm just getting old.

Nah. I called Powerstop and they do not have fronts yet. I would think if they were going to do one or the other, they would have done fronts before the rears.

I still have my 16s sitting on the counter ready to swap, but now I'm dubious after SMI77's post

[S4'ed]

Akebonos are also a low-dust option.

[Aaron@DTP]

Akebonos are also a low-dust option.

I'm more interested in performance than dust, TBH.

[Aaron@DTP]

Just called Audi to get pricing on factory replacements. Geez!!!!!

Fronts with sensor wire, $316 + tax
Rears, 169.26 + tax

wooooowwwwwww

[cheewy16]

Do the z16 come with sensors?

[SMI77]

Akebonos are also a low-dust option.

When I was researching pads Akebono told me they would not be making B9 S4 pads because their tooling will not allow them to make such a large pad. Just saying what they told me.

Those Z16's at the track day, remember I was giving them a fair caning! I have no issues with daily driving, even driving quickly.