Audi A3 Brake Upgrade Question

[Berk1224]

Hey guys,

My front brakes are coming due for replacement soon. I am looking at adding the 340MM brakes from the S3/GTI PP/Golf R cause I want more bite. I am trying to find the calipers at a reasonable price but they are all a little more than I'd like to spend in all honesty. I found some new GLI brake calipers for a great deal and they are also 340MM. I just want to make sure these would fit on my A3. I would obviously do the 340MM accompanied rotors. I assume they would fit but want to know for certain. Any insight on this would be appreciated. And yes I know a lot of people upgrade to the brembo porsche calipers but I am trying to stick to a specific budget. Thanks!

[Chaoscreature]

If you aren't overheating your pads, you don't need a BBK, you just need some slightly more aggressive pads to give you better bite. A brake fluid flush with fresh fluid is also a good idea. You don't need fancy racing fluids since you aren't boiling what you got.
I will let some others give advice on decent pads for the A3, my sporty pad experience is all a bit dated and I am sure there are better compounds out now compared to what I used to use.

[Berk1224]

If you aren't overheating your pads, you don't need a BBK, you just need some slightly more aggressive pads to give you better bite. A brake fluid flush with fresh fluid is also a good idea. You don't need fancy racing fluids since you aren't boiling what you got.
I will let some others give advice on decent pads for the A3, my sporty pad experience is all a bit dated and I am sure there are better compounds out now compared to what I used to use.

I don’t plan on tracking my car but I may do APRs new turbo kit. So I want to be able to stop when I have 400hp roughly lol. I have EBC red stuff on the rears currently. I just figure if I need to replace rotors and pads, doing bigger, better brakes overall would help!


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[BKozS3]

I don’t plan on tracking my car but I may do APRs new turbo kit. So I want to be able to stop when I have 400hp roughly lol. I have EBC red stuff on the rears currently. I just figure if I need to replace rotors and pads, doing bigger, better brakes overall would help!


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Aggressive pads and better fluid would more than likely be all you need, maybe getting a set of PP/Golf R/S3 calipers wouldn't be a bad idea. No use spending 2k+ on larger calipers, they may bite more on similar pads to due having a larger service area to clamp down but they are mostly for heat dissipation and would be wasted on a street car.

Maybe look at something like the Hawk HPS for street or the more aggressive HP+.

[Berk1224]

I just want to be certain those calipers from the GLI would work. I don't see why they wouldn't being a VAG part and the same brakes as the PP GTI/S3. I had a GTI with the PP brakes (340MM) prior to my A3 and I feel like the brakes were way better. Confirmation that the GLI brakes would fit is really what I am looking for!

[Chaoscreature]

Hmmmm, that's a definite maybe. I know the lower controls arms and most of the suspension are essentially the same, but no clue on the brakes. Seems like a lot of work and tinkering for a very modest improvement and increased unsprung mass.
Hawk HPS or Porterfield R4S and a flush would get you where you want to be and you could spend the money saved on something that would make a real difference, like tires or a driving event with instructors. The Hawk HP+ are also great, but noisy. I ran the HP+ with ATE fluid on my Jetta with otherwise stock brakes at Fontana. 130mph down to almost zero coming out of the Roval into the infield with no fade (but you could smell them!) over dozens of laps.

Sorry, I never really answered your question still... pads are just so easy and relatively cheap. You can always try it out, and if you still want/need more braking, then go nuts.

[Berk1224]

Hmmmm, that's a definite maybe. I know the lower controls arms and most of the suspension are essentially the same, but no clue on the brakes. Seems like a lot of work and tinkering for a very modest improvement and increased unsprung mass.
Hawk HPS or Porterfield R4S and a flush would get you where you want to be and you could spend the money saved on something that would make a real difference, like tires or a driving event with instructors. The Hawk HP+ are also great, but noisy. I ran the HP+ with ATE fluid on my Jetta with otherwise stock brakes at Fontana. 130mph down to almost zero coming out of the Roval into the infield with no fade (but you could smell them!) over dozens of laps.

Sorry, I never really answered your question still... pads are just so easy and relatively cheap. You can always try it out, and if you still want/need more braking, then go nuts.

You're good! I appreciate the feedback. Yeah it would be cheaper for just a good set of pads which I would do EBC reds to match my rears. I just figured since they are one time rotors, that if I could upgrade for $300 overall more I would do it for more bite. I found calipers for a great price. So I figure why not do the small upgrade for that price.

[BKozS3]

Hmmmm, that's a definite maybe. I know the lower controls arms and most of the suspension are essentially the same, but no clue on the brakes. Seems like a lot of work and tinkering for a very modest improvement and increased unsprung mass.
Hawk HPS or Porterfield R4S and a flush would get you where you want to be and you could spend the money saved on something that would make a real difference, like tires or a driving event with instructors. The Hawk HP+ are also great, but noisy. I ran the HP+ with ATE fluid on my Jetta with otherwise stock brakes at Fontana. 130mph down to almost zero coming out of the Roval into the infield with no fade (but you could smell them!) over dozens of laps.

Sorry, I never really answered your question still... pads are just so easy and relatively cheap. You can always try it out, and if you still want/need more braking, then go nuts.

Better tires is a really good suggestion, all the brake in the world will do little more for you if you don't have sticky tires.

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[Berk1224]

Better tires is a really good suggestion, all the brake in the world will do little more for you if you don't have sticky tires.

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Oh yeah I don’t cheapen out on tires. I have conti extreme contact DWS 06s that I am very happy with!


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[Chaoscreature]

Living in Tempe you could probably get away with summer tires all year long, I know I can in San Diego. All Seasons are really compromise tires, they are "okay" at everything but not really great at anything.

[BKozS3]

Living in Tempe you could probably get away with summer tires all year long, I know I can in San Diego. All Seasons are really compromise tires, they are "okay" at everything but not really great at anything.

This, DWS are maybe a 300tw? If you're in a hot climate why not run PSS, or R888s, or the like.

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[Berk1224]

This, DWS are maybe a 300tw? If you're in a hot climate why not run PSS, or R888s, or the like.

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I go to flagstaff every winter in Arizona and snowboard. So having all seasons are great for that. They kill it up there! I’d love to run summers tho, they just wear so fast lol


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[MNAudi101]

The cheapest way for a BBK that has been found and done is to go with Q5 Brembos which are 345mm and you can use either MK6 R32 rotors or some have been running S3 rotors which are 340mm fine. You can get the calipers either new for around 240-250 a piece or you can go the route I went and got them from a local wrecking yard for 60 a piece. Typically I see them for around $60-120 range.

What you will need to complete the install:

Q5 345mm Brembo Calipers
S3 or R32 340mm or 345mm Rotors
Your choice of Pads
Custom Brake Lines - you can use stock Porsche Maccan lines, but for cheaper you can email techna-fit which is what I did and they cost me $50 shipped.

If you have any questions feel free to reach out, I can give you the insight of what I followed to get information/part numbers for everything.

[BKozS3]

Here is a turn key setup I would think, https://www.golfmk7.com/forums/index...r-sale.396104/

[Berk1224]

Here is a turn key setup I would think, https://www.golfmk7.com/forums/index...r-sale.396104/

So I ordered the GLI calipers that are 340MM. They were $250 for both so honestly a steal. The rotors and pads will be around the same as going with what the car has on it now. I think this will be a great solution for me as I am not tracking the car. Thanks for all the feedback. I can update the thread after install.

[BKozS3]

So I ordered the GLI calipers that are 340MM. They were $250 for both so honestly a steal. The rotors and pads will be around the same as going with what the car has on it now. I think this will be a great solution for me as I am not tracking the car. Thanks for all the feedback. I can update the thread after install.

Were the GLI calipers the PP calipers or the same as the R/S3? Otherwise I would think you just got similar calipers to what's on your car minus that they can run the larger rotors.

[spacecase]

I went with the porsche macan setup MNAudi101 brought up and they weren't too expensive and I really do enjoy the improved braking and look. I would check those out as you can get the calipers for around 250 each.

[Berk1224]

Were the GLI calipers the PP calipers or the same as the R/S3? Otherwise I would think you just got similar calipers to what's on your car minus that they can run the larger rotors.

340MM same as GTI PP/S3/Golf R.

[A4 Centaur]

https://www.killerbrakes.com/

Aftermarket calipers would sure look good and depending on the caliper, you could have easier pad swaps as well.

https://www.killerbrakes.com/product...ig-brake-kits/

[Berk1224]

I got the calipers and they will work for sure! Do you guys know if I can use my stock brake lines for them? Again they are just S3 brakes.