Upgrading to A8 brakes
#1
11-03-2009, 10:55 PM
Upgrading to A8 brakes
So, I've been looking around, searched here, did a little googling, and stuff like that, and I have a few questions about upgrading to A8 brakes. As I understand it, you need the rotors from an A8 (but what size, from what year) and carriers from the TT (again, what year). But what about the calipers? This doesn't seem like a very big "upgrade." It just sounds like you have the same amount of stopping pressure on the same size brake pads, with a bigger chunk or metal between the pads. Am I missing something here?
Not a huge rush on this, I'm just trying to get my list together, do a little comparison shopping, and figure out what I'm going to do for this little "Project 350." (Yeah, that's what I'm calling it now. The wife laughs at me, a lot
)
Not a huge rush on this, I'm just trying to get my list together, do a little comparison shopping, and figure out what I'm going to do for this little "Project 350." (Yeah, that's what I'm calling it now. The wife laughs at me, a lot
)
#2
11-03-2009, 11:09 PM
#3
11-03-2009, 11:11 PM
I assume you're asking about the years of the donor cars because you're going to look for the parts at a salvage yard. If not, get the kit at ECS Tuning (they're in Ohio and will arrive quickly). It comes with the proper carriers and rotors for the car.
The reason it works better is partially due to the larger rotors' having more metal to dissipate heat, but the main reason is the torque-arm effect of moving the caliper outward, farther from the centerline of the axle. Doing so gives the caliper more leverage basically, and although an increase of only half an inch in radius doesn't seem like a lot, the result on the street is dramatic. Pair up the A8 brakes with some good pads and you'll be amazed at how much better the car stops.
The reason it works better is partially due to the larger rotors' having more metal to dissipate heat, but the main reason is the torque-arm effect of moving the caliper outward, farther from the centerline of the axle. Doing so gives the caliper more leverage basically, and although an increase of only half an inch in radius doesn't seem like a lot, the result on the street is dramatic. Pair up the A8 brakes with some good pads and you'll be amazed at how much better the car stops.
#10
11-04-2009, 01:17 PM
I don't know offhand but check ECS. If they list the same part number for the A4 and A6 rotor then there's a good chance you could do the A8 upgrade. Last time I was in the wheelwell of an A6 the caliper assembly looked just like the A4 caliper, although I couldn't swear it's the same.