Mageus

'08 A5 3.2QM S-line, Stasis rear sway, Michelin Pilot Sport A/S

Went to my first track event, plan on doing more. I noticed horrible fade at the end of the day and want to address that. I have VAG-COM and do my own work, so cost for me is just parts. I have a couple of options:


== pads ==

Fronts are at 5mm, rears are 6-7mm (pad itself not including backing)

1) Hawk HPS or EBC yellowstuff
- Are they good enough for beginner/intermediate track use?

2) Hawk/EBC rear, ceramic street pads front. Swap fronts to Carbotech XP10 for the track days.
- Issue - I would keep the front street pads ceramic for compatibility with the Carbotechs. Are there reasonably priced ceramic street pads with performance

equal to HPS/EBC? (Bobcats are too $$$)


== rotors ==

Stock fronts are at 29mm (minimum is 28mm), no warping

1) Can I get away with keeping the stock rotors for another round (and just sanding the surface)?

2) If not, get new rotors. Would get Zimms or PowerSlots, but are the OEMs just as good?


== lines ==

1) StopTech SS
- More people seem to prefer these.
2) Goodridge SS
- Almost as well liked. Are they plastic coated?


== fluid ==

1) I already run ATE super blue. Good enough for track use?

2) Do I need Motul 600 if I'm a beginner/intermediate at the track?



I don't want to start a BBK discussion. I'm really just looking at reasonably priced upgrades to alleviate the fade issue I felt at the track.

TIA.

Stuttgartrob

I don't having any experience tracking Audis but I do have over 8 years of racing expereince and have used all the products you list above except the ATE Super blue fluid. If you are noticing fade, I would look for a pad and fluid that has a higher heat range. I personally hate the EBC brake pads and I have had the best luck with Hawk pads myself.

When I first started out I used the Hawk Ceramics since they weren't to rough on the stock rotors. The carbotech's that you listed above ate my rotors up. I also used just the regualr Motul 5.1 and now these days only run the Motul 600.

Just Me

Pads. Neither most EBCs nor HPSs are track pads. If you are fading "toward the end of the day" we can safely presume its not fluid, but pads. You need hotter pads.

Lines - SS is a waste of money, has zero impact on fade, and may fail more often too since they are more susceptible to external abrasion. What problem are you trying to solve?

ATE fluid. If using Super200 or its blue dyed version - it should be fine for anyone but a pro.

Rotors - should be fine to sand. Audi's limit is IMO, stupid tight. Sand - dont turn!

Change your fluid every year before track days. Bleed before every event.

On my P-car (far mroe brake/pound than an audi) i can get away with upgraded OEM pads. Real track pads, IMO are things like Pagid yellow, not HPS (which means high performance street, that's street, nto track)

That said, part of your problem is the 5mm thickness. New is around 12. At 5mm they are pretty dead and wont last another 2 days, at least not in the front.

YMMV

G

ChipB

Good advice from JustMe. Only thing I would add is that you may find choices limited for tack pads - at least that's what I have found for the S5. I've used Carbotech XP10's on the fronts for my last four track events, and have been quite happy with them. The only downside is that Carbotech insists that you use different rotors that are exposed only to CT brake pads. So I bought a second set of stock rotors from the dealer, and change both rotors and pads before & after each HPDE weekend, at least for the fronts. On the rears I decided to go with EBC Yellowstuff which I leave on all summer, so as to avoid the PITA of changing rear pads and/or rotors. After I switched from using stock pads to this set up, and also started using ATE Superblue brake fluid, I've had no problem with brake fade whatsoever.

Mageus

Thanx for all of the advice. I wanted to post an update.

I ordered the EBC yellow pads, but the supplier only had the fronts. At the track, the brakes did great the 1st and 2nd run. By the end of the 2nd run they started to fade. By the 3rd run the fade was interfering with driving about 2/3 into the run. I was jumping into other groups' runs, so brakes didn't get a proper cool down. On the last two runs the breaks were well nigh useless. (I completely lost the brakes going into a turn and had to use the grass as run-off) At that point, since the tires were also gone, I just started throwing the car around for fun, power sliding and all. With full stability control enabled, this car is idiot-proof.

Bottom line - EBC yellows were better than stock, but still didn't cut it. I'm going to swallow the 4 clams and get Carbotech fronts with their own rotors, and Hawk HPS for the rear.