Buckeye96

I got the obligatory quote from the dealer that my 18 S4 w/ 25k miles on it was "red" with rear brakes and "yellow" on front brakes. Dealer wanted $1500 for rears. No thanks.
ECS seems to have 10 or 15 different rotor choices for replacements, what does anyone recommend for rotors. FCP Euro didn't have any real choices.
And, does it makes sense just to do front and back at the same time?

thanks in advance

VintageCab

Adding on to this, my wife's 2019 A5 Sportback's brakes are incredible, my favorite part is there is almost zero brake dust. My new-to-me 2018 S4 makes tons of dust. Can we put whatever they use on A5 Sportbacks on S4s?

SMac770

B9 338x30 fronts:
1LE, unpainted, pads 8W0 698 151 BB, caliper gaskets 8W0 698 471
1LH, red paint, pads 8W0 698 151 BB, caliper gaskets 8W0 698 471
1LF, unpainted, pads 8W0 698 151 BC, caliper gaskets 8W0 698 471 A

B9 350x34 fronts:
1ZA, unpainted, pads 8W0 698 151 BD, caliper gaskets 4M0 615 507
1LJ, red paint, pads 8W0 698 151 BD, caliper gaskets 4M0 615 507
1ZK, unpainted, pads 8W0 698 151 BE, caliper gaskets 4M0 615 507 A

So we see there's the standard (presumably semi-metallic) pads, which are always used on the red calipers. And then the optional (presumably ceramic) pads for lower noise and dust, but not on the red calipers. The same was seen on B8, where these optional pads seem to have been introduced. Guess AoA and other markets demanded a more "owner approved" noise/dust pad option as standard, instead of owners just going Akebono on their own. This has always been my speculation; Audi has never published anything to explain these pad variants.

I don't understand why the gaskets are different on these fixed calipers for the two different pad sets. This is not the case for the floating piston brakes (314x25 floating 1LA/1LB, e.g.) Because the caliper includes the gaskets, the calipers themselves are even different part numbers for say 1ZA vs 1ZK. Maybe in fact the pistons themselves are different and thus why the gaskets are different. No one has ever explained the what/why here. Do the different gaskets match to the different pads, or do the different gaskets match to the different calipers. Who is the chicken and who is the egg.

Check the PR codes on the A5SB, is it 1LE or 1LF. Your S4 should be 1ZA or 1LJ.

VintageCab

Great stuff, thank you. How/where do I find PR code? And what is a PR code? Sorry/thanks/Happy Easter

SMac770

PR codes are production codes, how the factory built that vehicle. The parts catalog references them heavily to identify the relevant part for a particular vehicle.

An abbreviated list of PR codes can be found inside the maintenance booklet, or starting with B9 apparently, inside the owner's manual. There's usually another copy slapped somewhere (really, could be anywhere) around the spare tire / battery well in the rear. The brake codes always make the abbreviated list, that I've seen. But for the complete list of 140+ codes for a VIN, you'd need to get on partslink24.com (the official website for the online ETKA resource; but it takes money) or just contact AoA or your dealership and ask them to provide it. I asked AoA and they sent me a text file with the full list for my VIN.

awdjunkies

Once you find your PR Codes, Plug each one Here: PlanetVAG.com - VW & Audi PR Code Search (Yes a ton of boxes but once you do? said codes will explain to you how the Sedan/Coupe/Avant/SUV was configured at the factory.

Here's a quick example of your sticker with PR codes:





As SMac770 mentioned, my sticker was in the trunk, as well as in my owner's manual.

TJay74

I dont get it, people buy a performance related model and then hate the performance related brakes that use performance related pads.

With that I went with the 034 Motorsports 2 piece front and rear rotor set with EBC Red stuff pads.Cars stops amazingly with zero issues, brake dust is better/less than stock. On top of that I dropped around 25lbs of weight from the vehicle with the swap.

pleedell

From ECS the Zimmerman rear rotors are $128 for the pair, front rotors are $212 for the pair, and Hawk HPS pads are about $170 for either. I'm a big fan of the HPS pads, almost no dust and good bite/wear. And the rotors are as good quality as you'll find in an oem replacement.

So you're looking at about $300 all in for the rears and a couple hours of your time. No real need to do the fronts along with the rears unless they need replacement. I'd probably throw in brake fluid flush as well if it's older than a couple of years.

Cheers

TT-S4

Hi.
Just a quick note on your brakes.

Your S4 has a different brake system compared to your wife's A5.
The S4 is comparable to the S5, not the A5.

The brakes on the S4/S5 are performance oriented, and they have greater friction between pad and rotor, which leads to greater, faster, wear.

I like ceramic pads, and when my S4 needs new pads and rotors I will be putting on ceramic pads.
I have 35K on my 2018 S4 and my pads are still good, but I expect to need replacing by this fall.
My driving area is on flat and straight roads, so not much need to use the brakes as often as a driver on hilly and curvy terrain and roads.
Also, I do not track my S4.

HCGxKaLiBeR

My dealer quoted me $1000+ per wheel for rotor and pads.
I figured I do it myself for half of that.

Got this from ECS:


Looks cool. Everything is alright but with just one slightly cosmetic issue...

The rear rotor surface towards the inside is not coated like the OEM one.
The brake pads are not scraping on it, therefore surface rust is forming. A far isn't a big deal, but up-close it a bit ugly.

OEM rear rotor:


ECS Performance rear rotor: