LCP

The AP kit's about $900 less than the B-Types, and for the occasional use I'd put them through on my S4 (8-10 track days/year) they look very inviting. Any experiences or opinions? All I want is a set of brakes that doesn't fade on me during my 20-minute run groups at a track that isn't that tough on brakes (biggest braking point I'll see is 130-70).

Rich L.

I've been struggling between an Alcon H-Type kit from Vortrag and an AP Racing kit from Camra. I have finally decided to go for the Alcons so I'm saving my pennies.

Rich<p><a href="http://registry.audiworld.com/audi/registry/details.asp?car=2007"><img SRC="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/AudiWorldPics/2000/RLets-Signature.jpg"></a>

Cameron

What convinced me to buy the B-types is hard to explain, but one ride in Cathleen's A4 pretty much sums it up. Also, the B-types being the caliper used by AudiSport on the touring cars, being the caliper used by Baer Racing on the Vipers, by Saleen on the GT2 and GTR versions of the Mustang GT2, etc.

AP, an acquired subsidiary of Brembo, makes excellent brakes, but the Alcon resistence to fade and low caliper heat retention convinced me that Alcons were worth the premium.

And, knowing what I know now, even if I settled on AP calipers, I would go with an Alcon rotor if I were on the track for prolonged periods.

What I can tell you is that an A4 with suspension work, B-types in front and H-types in rear, absolutely destroys the best braked Porsches I've driven, in "hypothetical" side by side tests on Redmond Way in the middle of the night. This includes the RSA and C4S.

I just bought my third set of four-piston Alcon calipers, this time for the front of a TT 225QC. They are, until I have a more abrupt ride down from 100mph, the best brakes on Earth.

Cameron

RichD

and the 60-0 averaged about 70 feet. The pads were Pagid blacks, and the average speed before braking was about 65, in order to nullify any speedo inconsistencies, and variances in brake points. Stops from 70 averaged about 85 feet as well. I would like to get some footage of these tests in order to show some proof to the doubters that don't believe that these numbers can be achieved.

RichD<p><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/AudiWorldPics/2000/RichDsig3.jpg" border="0" alt="Waasssssup!"></a>

Spieks

Cameron...why Alcon Rotors? vs. Coleman?

SKS

I'm sure your aware of that, but you have taken the initial question off the street and onto the track. All of these brake calipers will take the A4 to instant ABS all day long, providing rotor metalurgy and the pad compound are setup for this performance window. Not the happiest brakes for a street enviroment. A better comparison would be, unsprung wieght, maintenance, cost of rebuilds, and availibility of parts. Track performance, with track brakes in a race situation, I don't think most of the difference in performance will be a brand issue as much as it will be the drivers ability to save what he has. I watched Galatti's Alcons fade at LRP as the race matured, and the BMW's overtake him. I have to chalk that up to driver influence.

RangeR BoB

<p>99.5 1.8Tqms Laser Red
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S4Del

<p><img SRC="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/AudiWorldPics/2000/sig4.jpg">

Cameron

... then the Alcons with dust and weather seals for the street would be high on the list. The only thing that beats low cost of rebuild is longer dependable period between rebuild.

By your measure: unsprung wieght, maintenance, cost of rebuilds, and availibility of parts, the B-types represent a significant advantage over either the AP or Brembo product in this space.

The question for the consumer is whether the premium is justified by this additional measure of performance.

Cameron

Cameron

The Coleman rotors are good. In fact, I ran the Coleman rotors on my A4, and was very happy. But the Alcons are designed further into the "lifetime part" space and the Colemans are designed around the idea that rotors have to be reliable, disposable, and a replacement needs to be available on race day.

The difference is a philosophical one, and it's reflected in both availability and pricepoint - two things that begin to have a more inverse correlation at the top of the performance curve.

Cameron