Brake upgrades for Q5 camera car recommendations

[flyboys]

Hi, new to Q5's and Audi in general.

I will need to upgrade my brakes once I get my Q5 due to carrying weight from a Camera Crane on top of the car, carrying 4 people in it and doing high speed precision work.

I know they come with brembo's to start with, what has everyone done for upgrades?

I have the opportunity to get Stop Tech street/track brakes discounted from one of my clients and not sure how they compare to stock Brembos or upgraded Brembos. Or maybe something even better.

They have to be quiet and not squeal for audio work. Know some track brakes can make some noise.

What do you all recommend? Thanks for your help.

[MK2SQ]

I just got BKK upgrade and Mops is having his installed as we speak. I would probably got that direction as the 6 pistons 380mm should give you all the performance needed. I would reach out to Mops for recommendation and for parts as he is a partner with Brembo.

[flyboys]

Thanks for the info. Who is Mops?

[flyboys]

So I thought you meant BBK performance which i just looked up and they dont seem to do brakes as seen by their website.

Now should I assume you meant Big Brake Kit? If so what brand did you go with? Thanks again.

[rusq5]

Mops is a user on the forums. He runs a parts store and has extremely good prices.

The kit SQ5/2018 refers to is the Brembo 380mm GT kit.

[MK2SQ]

So I thought you meant BBK performance which i just looked up and they dont seem to do brakes as seen by their website.

Now should I assume you meant Big Brake Kit? If so what brand did you go with? Thanks again.

sorry yes Big brake kit i got hte Brembo GT 380mm and Mops (Mops@Nemesis) is the forum vendor, mentor, fearless leader to the Q group he will get you sorted on parts needed

[flyboys]

Awesome thank you. Appreciate the help.

[Mops@Nemesis]

Yep, I ran the Brembo GT 380mm big brake kit on my 2016 SQ5, and have another like kit for my B9 SQ5.



Fantastic kit, but so you know, we're talking over $4K. That may be more than you'd like to spend.

You could upgrade pads and rotors to Stoptech, but I'm not sure you'd realize any benefit for your use.

Do you have the 2.0 or 3.0 motor?

[milpitas2.7T]

Looking for good pads for my 2014 TDI which has the 345mm rotors, any suggestions? Was looking for some nice 2 piece rotors, but I'm not ready to spend that yet. I only have 37K miles on my car and don't need to replace the rotor this time around.

[Mops@Nemesis]

Looking for good pads for my 2014 TDI which has the 345mm rotors, any suggestions? Was looking for some nice 2 piece rotors, but I'm not ready to spend that yet. I only have 37K miles on my car and don't need to replace the rotor this time around.

I think my selection would be the Hawk HPS 5.0. Quite a few Q/SQ guys go EBC Red Stuff too. 👍🏼

[rusq5]

Looking for good pads for my 2014 TDI which has the 345mm rotors, any suggestions? Was looking for some nice 2 piece rotors, but I'm not ready to spend that yet. I only have 37K miles on my car and don't need to replace the rotor this time around.

If you're looking looking to upgrade to the SQ 380mm rotors and 4 pot brembos, PM me. This might motivate me to upgrade to the 380mm GT kit. Rotors and pads were just replaced 1K miles, OEM rotors and EBC pads.

[stapan]

So here is my two cents. I actually am not convinced a brake upgrade is the right approach.

The main limiting factor when it comes to braking on the Q is not the brakes. It's the traction/tires. The factory brakes are more than capable of locking up the tires and relying on ABS. Locking up the tires faster with a big brake kit will not improve your stopping distance. In fact it might make it slightly worse as the ABS is calibrated for the factory setup.

I would focus on maximizing traction instead. Run the best, biggest tires you can get with wheels that are not super heavy. I like my 295 DWS06 setup on rotary forged 21x10.5 TSWs, but you may want something even higher performance oriented like Pilot Super Sports or similar.

[MK2SQ]

So here is my two cents. I actually am not convinced a brake upgrade is the right approach.

The main limiting factor when it comes to braking on the Q is not the brakes. It's the traction/tires. The factory brakes are more than capable of locking up the tires and relying on ABS. Locking up the tires faster with a big brake kit will not improve your stopping distance. In fact it might make it slightly worse as the ABS is calibrated for the factory setup.

I would focus on maximizing traction instead. Run the best, biggest tires you can get with wheels that are not super heavy. I like my 295 DWS06 setup on rotary forged 21x10.5 TSWs, but you may want something even higher performance oriented like Pilot Super Sports or similar.

This is only true for a single brake application. One panic stop. Brake fade, feel, wear, and overheating from constant operation under heavy load will need to be addressed by better brakes that are able to transfer the kinetic energy to heat more efficiently then OEM.

[Pittdawg]

If you're looking looking to upgrade to the SQ 380mm rotors and 4 pot brembos, PM me. This might motivate me to upgrade to the 380mm GT kit. Rotors and pads were just replaced 1K miles, OEM rotors and EBC pads.

I thought the TDI/3.0T had 4 pot Brembo calipers while the SQ5 had 2 pot Brembo calipers?

[flyboys]

That may be true as well but we will be hard on the brakes and would like to put off overheating the brakes and fade. Bigger slotted brakes will help with that. Appreciate the help though.

[flyboys]

Thanks for your help. Yeah i figured it wouldn't be cheap.

Tough to tell just how much abuse Ill be putting on the brakes right now. We go from slow and crawling to chasing race cars (at a reduced speeds for them). Will try stock for a bit but know ill have to upgrade.

Man I test drove a Q5 today and it had really warped rotors on the back. About shook the car apart.

Anyone know of someone selling a 2013-15 Q5 with a 3.0?
Thanks again.

[MK2SQ]

That may be true as well but we will be hard on the brakes and would like to put off overheating the brakes and fade. Bigger slotted brakes will help with that. Appreciate the help though.

Slots have nothing if not the negative affect on heat transfer, they are designed to allow for release of gas under hard braking. but we understand what you are looking for.

[rusq5]

I thought the TDI/3.0T had 4 pot Brembo calipers while the SQ5 had 2 pot Brembo calipers?

You're right, I keep forgetting they're floating calipers.

[elijahallen]

I'll be tracking my SQ5 with stock brakes and race brake pads this spring to see what the stock caliper/rotors can handle, if they don't hold up I will go with the GT brembo kit, I had it on my S4 and never looked back.

[Mops@Nemesis]

I'll be tracking my SQ5 with stock brakes and race brake pads this spring to see what the stock caliper/rotors can handle, if they don't hold up I will go with the GT brembo kit, I had it on my S4 and never looked back.

Well, congrats on the incoming GT kit. 😁 Trust me. The stock system cannot hang if you really push them. Hell, the B9 system is improved, and still cannot take too much of beating. I hot spotted the discs on my B9 S4 last weekend. In the end, these heavy pigs need the more advanced braking system than say a S4/5.

[MK2SQ]

Well, congrats on the incoming GT kit. 😁 Trust me. The stock system cannot hang if you really push them. Hell, the B9 system is improved, and still cannot take too much of beating. I hot spotted the discs on my B9 S4 last weekend. In the end, these heavy pigs need the more advanced braking system than say a S4/5.

You get a GT kit, you get a GT kit, EVERYBODY GETS A GT KIT!!! 😂🤣😂

[SQive]

I'll be tracking my SQ5 with stock brakes and race brake pads this spring to see what the stock caliper/rotors can handle, if they don't hold up I will go with the GT brembo kit, I had it on my S4 and never looked back.

I've tracked two SQ5's, both with completely stock brakes. I never had any fade or other issues. I was rather impressed with their resiliency.

[elijahallen]

Well, congrats on the incoming GT kit. 😁 Trust me. The stock system cannot hang if you really push them. Hell, the B9 system is improved, and still cannot take too much of beating. I hot spotted the discs on my B9 S4 last weekend. In the end, these heavy pigs need the more advanced braking system than say a S4/5.

I agree stock Audi brakes suck, I have always upgraded to Brembo or Alcons because brakes are the most important part of the equation, That being said, the brakes on the SQ5 have the girth to have potential but from what I have seen not many have pushed them and with a dedicated track pad they might do better than expected. I'll find out, I push my cars and although this will be a first for me driving a crossover auto on the track I have a pretty good feeling it will be easy to push, other than the stupid traction control that can't be turned off!

[Mops@Nemesis]

I agree stock Audi brakes suck, I have always upgraded to Brembo or Alcons because brakes are the most important part of the equation, That being said, the brakes on the SQ5 have the girth to have potential but from what I have seen not many have pushed them and with a dedicated track pad they might do better than expected. I'll find out, I push my cars and although this will be a first for me driving a crossover auto on the track I have a pretty good feeling it will be easy to push, other than the stupid traction control that can't be turned off!

You may be okay. On the track, you'll have cooling periods. On the roads I drive, you're standing on the brake pedal as much as every 2-3 seconds, so they rarely have a moment to cool, and only become hotter than hotter. Providing you have enough rubber on the road, you'll be shocked by how well the SQ will do. I only became more and more confident over time, and really went nuts with it. I think the 295s helped a lot though. But once I pulled the BBK, I no longer had the confidence to really go hard.

[elijahallen]

You may be okay. On the track, you'll have cooling periods. On the roads I drive, you're standing on the brake pedal as much as every 2-3 seconds, so they rarely have a moment to cool, and only become hotter than hotter. Providing you have enough rubber on the road, you'll be shocked by how well the SQ will do. I only became more and more confident over time, and really went nuts with it. I think the 295s helped a lot though. But once I pulled the BBK, I no longer had the confidence to really go hard.

Track pads are a whole other animal. You could never get brakes as hot on the road as you will on track. I just wonder how stable the rotors are and if they will warp or crack like my brembo rotors tended to do after 5-6 track days. Also high temp brake fluid so it doesn’t boil is a must.

[Mops@Nemesis]

Track pads are a whole other animal. You could never get brakes as hot on the road as you will on track. I just wonder how stable the rotors are and if they will warp or crack like my brembo rotors tended to do after 5-6 track days. Also high temp brake fluid so it doesn’t boil is a must.

I look forward to hearing how well they hold up for you. I never bothered to supplement the stock setup. Do report back.


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