Recommendation for Brake pads and rotors

[Arelax]

Need a recommendation for a good Brake pad/rotor setup. Regular/non-ceramic brakes

RS3

'spirited' street driving with the occasional mountain runs.

I've searched the forum and Facebook groups but there doesnt seem to be a consensus.

Thanks in advance

[Porra46]

The OEM pads do a hell of a good job as is. You can look at Brembo pads as they seem to be slightly cheaper than the OEM ones at Audi.

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[Arelax]

The OEM pads do a hell of a good job as is. You can look at Brembo pads as they seem to be slightly cheaper than the OEM ones at Audi.

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

https://www.urotuning.com/products/f...39606695100609

these brembo pads are super cheap. not sure if its a mistake or what.
anyone have experience with them?

[arulrs3]

Carbotech 1521 with OEM rotor or Neuspeed 2 piece all around.

[Nartard]

Little fast wearing, but super happy with Ferrodo DS2500 pads. Quiet, good initial bite, never had a hint of fade. Street and drag use only, no circle track.

[andru1313]

Just replaced mine. Girodisc 2 piece rotors with Carbotech 1521 pads. No noise (had to really bed them in) low dust great pedal feel.

[Arelax]

Just replaced mine. Girodisc 2 piece rotors with Carbotech 1521 pads. No noise (had to really bed them in) low dust great pedal feel.

this is the setup im leaning towards at the moment

[S3DUDE]

I got a great deal on Neuspeed 2 piece rotors and I also did Carbotech 1521. I saved 7lbs per corner on the rotors plus another 7lbs per wheel(Neuspeed RS-10) = 14lbs per corner. Nothing compared to the weight savings of the carbon-ceramic rotors though.

[Arelax]

I got a great deal on Neuspeed 2 piece rotors and I also did Carbotech 1521. I saved 7lbs per corner on the rotors plus another 7lbs per wheel(Neuspeed RS-10) = 14lbs per corner. Nothing compared to the weight savings of the carbon-ceramic rotors though.

where you buying the carbotech pads from?

[Sho Off]

I haven't put my pads in yet but have a set of Porterfield R4S I plan to run. Currently on stock brake setup, will see how HPDE school goes this weekend on stock brakes.

[henhead]

My brake light just came on as well. I'm currently leaning toward Neuspeed rotors, simply for money 250-300ish savings over girodisc since I doubt i'll see any track time.

Anyone have experience with the stoptech sports (309)? I've been debating these and the 1521's.

[JOBJOB]

Speaker of brake light, my light is not always on. Is this normal? I haven’t physically check the wear yet.

[sleepy_rs3]

Speaker of brake light, my light is not always on. Is this normal? I haven’t physically check the wear yet.

my experience was that it would be on briefly and then off, and eventually it was on full time. basically you have to fully wear through the sensor before the light will remain on full time.

[Skunkwerx]

Neuspeed 2 piece fronts. Solid performance.

[S3DUDE]

Arelax,

Paul@supremepower but there are also a couple of other places to buy as well.

[Arelax]

Arelax,

Paul@supremepower but there are also a couple of other places to buy as well.

thank you

[Porra46]

I see Revo has a 2 piece disc/rotor available for our cars as well. And their rotors are made by Alcon. They are also 10mm larger in size and a direct replacement.

https://www.onlyrevo.com/product-det...v-disc-upgrade

Anyone here know how they compete with the Neuspeeds?

I see 034Motorsport also make replacements.

https://store.034motorsport.com/2-pi...-8v-5-rs3.html


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[Roadtrippn]

Anyone consider the ESC rotors?

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ecs-part...00036ecs02akt/

[Josey12453]

I am currently running Neuspeed 2 piece in the front with EBC Yellowstuff pads and have been happy with the performance. They have good initial bite on the street and never ran into any fade at a HPDE.

[PeteJ]

I am currently running Neuspeed 2 piece in the front with EBC Yellowstuff pads and have been happy with the performance. They have good initial bite on the street and never ran into any fade at a HPDE.

I would be very cautious running EBC yellow pads hard on a track. There have multiple failures of those pads when pushed.

[Josey12453]

I would be very cautious running EBC yellow pads hard on a track. There have multiple failures of those pads when pushed.

Thanks for the heads up. I don’t push my brakes as hard as a lot of people on the track. My goal is to drive the car home, so I take it pretty easy.

[Chris F]

I really like the Essex/AP Racing front rotors with Ferodo DS2500 combo I have on my car. Very linear with great pedal feel and the DS2500 still works in sub zero Canadian winter.

They are pricier than the other options but the performance/value is there IMO. You also have the option to add the AP Racing calipers later which save another 6-7lbs per corner and bring the whole braking package to the next level.

[CdnaudiS4]

9400 miles... Light came on. Dealership claims the fronts have 2mm left. How much longer I'm I able to safely drive? Thinking of changing them to neuspeed 2 piece and carbotech 1521 but don't think they will arrive for a week or so but also need a vehicle to get around.

[o1turbo30v]

9400 miles... Light came on. Dealership claims the fronts have 2mm left. How much longer I'm I able to safely drive? Thinking of changing them to neuspeed 2 piece and carbotech 1521 but don't think they will arrive for a week or so but also need a vehicle to get around.

You Can probably go another 1000 miles without issue, for me I just changed the pads, rotors are very robust, it’s just the pos Brembo pads that come with the car.

[S3DUDE]

Anyone consider the ESC rotors?

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ecs-part...00036ecs02akt/

Yes, I considered them.

[StannisthMannis]

I'm currently leaning towards the Neuspeed 2 piece front rotors over Girodisc just because they use stronger 7075 aluminum for the hat (vs 6061).

For pads I'm leaning towards Hawk HPS 5.0 front and rear. FCP Euro has the front set for RS4, so that means lifetime replacements. If I got these I would cut the wear sensor pigtails off my OEM front pads and make my own bypass adapters so it's fully reversible.

For the rear rotors I might go with something like the StopTech slotted rotors, since they are also available on FCP Euro.

[CdnaudiS4]

You Can probably go another 1000 miles without issue, for me I just changed the pads, rotors are very robust, it’s just the pos Brembo pads that come with the car.

So for my very first brake change I can just do pads and leave the rotors for next time? What did you end up using for pads? I was told that I had to change both rotors AND pads regardless of when I need breaks done.

[sinfab]

No, you typically do not need to replace rotors. They last much longer than pads. I've got 30k on mine and rotors have tons of life in them.
If you drive very aggressively, you could get damage from hot spots or warping that requires replacement before the rotor material is worn down, but not from typical street use.

[chi_marketing]

I have the Neuspeed 2 piece front and rear and RSL 29 pads. I can stop on a dime. No shutter slowing down from 140-60. They are noisy when they are broken in.
https://www.pagidracing.com/en/produ...sl/rsl-29.html

New light-weight rotors will help with 1/4 times. Ran an 11.9 1/4 over the weekend. Full weight plus a full tank of pump gas. Good times.

[steven5210]

Has anyone ordered from here https://www.europaparts.com/brake-pa...0698151m.html? I saw someone mention this and said it was OEM pads also. The pricing is the cheapest I've seen lol.

[o1turbo30v]

Has anyone ordered from here https://www.europaparts.com/brake-pa...0698151m.html? I saw someone mention this and said it was OEM pads also. The pricing is the cheapest I've seen lol.

Yes I’ve bought a lot of parts from those guys, absolutely a go to place. That being said, if you are handy, our cars use the same front pads as a b7 rs4, wear sensors are the only difference, way more options for the rs4 and way cheaper.

[Potatohead_RS3]

Has anyone ordered from here https://www.europaparts.com/brake-pa...0698151m.html? I saw someone mention this and said it was OEM pads also. The pricing is the cheapest I've seen lol.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...438675&jsn=844

[JOBJOB]

Yeah I’m thinking of buying these. The OEM are fine for my needs and the main reason I am drifting away from buying ECBs is the bedding process. I don’t have time for this!

As for the person asking for rotor I was too told that rotor last for long. I bought a digital caliper form $15 just to check. Min thickness is 32.4mm and new is 34mm.

[itr325]

I would be very cautious running EBC yellow pads hard on a track. There have multiple failures of those pads when pushed.

I second this!!! Burnt a setup on a B8 S4 in about 45 minutes at Road America. They are not track pads, you'll want to run the Blues for track days.

[pnice1p]

https://www.urotuning.com/products/f...39606695100609

these brembo pads are super cheap. not sure if its a mistake or what.
anyone have experience with them?

I have em. Same pad no Audi stamp. Exact fit and characteristics.


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[RichJ]

I have em. Same pad no Audi stamp. Exact fit and characteristics.


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I tried ordering the cheap Brembo OEM replacements from Urotuning and they messaged me back asking if Zimmerman brand was okay? I was unsure and canceled the order. Do you have Zimmerman pads? I just want to retain the sensor connector and OEM look for warranty reasons. Just street driving, so no need for additional performance/dust.

[JOBJOB]

Same thing for me RichJ haha! Also RockAuto doesn’t have them anymore on the date of this post. So I ended up ordering the pads for the RS4 2008 from RockAuto along with a plug with for the sensor. I’m too dumb to splice wires and stuff like that. I’m gonna check my pads on tire change / rotation anyways.

[pnice1p]

I tried ordering the cheap Brembo OEM replacements from Urotuning and they messaged me back asking if Zimmerman brand was okay? I was unsure and canceled the order. Do you have Zimmerman pads? I just want to retain the sensor connector and OEM look for warranty reasons. Just street driving, so no need for additional performance/dust.

I got Brembo when I ordered. I ordered three sets cause it was a great price image-2021-05-29-20:19:09-427.jpg
image-2021-05-29-20:19:20-924.jpg
image-2021-05-29-20:19:33-286.jpg


2020 RS3 - Stage 2 Ecu 93 Stage 2 TCUfrom my iPhone using Audizine Forum

[UNFUXWITHABLE]

Found these on eBay

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Brembo-Fron....m46890.l49286


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[sleepy_rs3]

I got Brembo when I ordered. I ordered three sets cause it was a great price image-2021-05-29-20:19:09-427.jpg
image-2021-05-29-20:19:20-924.jpg
image-2021-05-29-20:19:33-286.jpg


2020 RS3 - Stage 2 Ecu 93 Stage 2 TCUfrom my iPhone using Audizine Forum

How long have you been running those? I ask because the Audi pads have two little round nubs on the back of the plate (see photo). I installed some Porterfield R4S which were said to be a fit on the porterfield website https://www.porterfield-brakes.com/P...field%20Brakes and appeared exactly as the OEM (i changed the pads myself) but without those two little round things. I ordered them because I was pressed for time ahead of a road trip and I wanted an OEM-like pad but for a better price.

They worked great, then after 8,000 miles I started getting a clunking sound which I thought was a suspension component issue. Audi diagnosed for free and told me it may be due to aftermarket brake pads shifting around in the caliper. I would have sworn that it was a broken strut mount bushing or something (from NYC potholes) but I decided to have them put in the OEM pads, that way if it was a suspension component I would have a shot at a warranty claim. Sure enough it was the pads moving around...I was shocked. The only difference I could tell between the $250 Porterfield R4S' that I used was those two round things on the back. Maybe the pads I used just had poor tolerance, but considering I did lots of high speed driving/braking in the 8,000 miles I had them, I would be suprised if that was the case...my theory is that it's those stupid little nubs.

Anyway...keep us posted on how those brembo pads work out for you over time. If you hear a clunking in 8,000 miles time at least this post will tell you what it may be. If not, you may have discovered a low cost OEM replacement.

OEM brembo pads.jpg