S4 Power Stop Caliper Review

[Gosser]

If anyones thinking of buying the red S4 Power Stop brake calipers from Rockauto or ebay, DONT. They were cheap, red, S4 brackes so I tried them, $91CAD/67usd(with core) bucks for the pair with brackets, whats the worst that could happen right!?

The red had me sold, and I pulled the trigger for my wifes 3.2. Upon unpacking them, the threads to the brake line fitting were so severely corroded/sandblasted apart, I couldnt get a good thread to start. Also the coating was already chipped in places. They replaced them with no issue. These ones came with a bit cleaner threads. So I installed them.

They looked the part(this is October 2018):


First test drive and both calipers leak immediately from the piston! I tried to re-seat the seals and no luck, I end up having to swap the red carrier to the original calipers:


At least they are still red.....for the time being!

Fast forward one winter season(today):

And they look like junk already.

I ended up getting some JY A4 carriers and brackets to power coat properly and swapped them tonight. These are the power stops:


New locally powder coated:

Before and after:



I'll update in a year on how they perform, but I can not imagine they will deteriorate as rapidly as the Power Stops. They seemed to only be painted. I should also note that the Power Stops did not come with a painted spring clip, just a normal silver one. Yes this went from S4 back to A4 rotors, but whatever, its my wifes car, she doesnt need the 345s, my wagon does!!!!

[Charles.waite]

Damn thats some shitty paint. Must just be basic rattle can paint? That's terrible...

That coupled with the messed up threads and leaking piston seal, total garbage. I usually get OEM junkyard calipers on eBay and refurb them myself. But thats more expensive than these. Worth it, IMO.

[Gosser]

Was changing over to winter tires, and figured I would update on the local powder coating. This is with one complete winter season and all summer:


A quick wipe, and they look brand new!