D all over

I hear the S4's stock brakes will absolutely destroy themselves if you run the car on the track. The track is certainly a place I want to spend some time, but we all know that brake kits aren't exactly cheap. So what is the weak link in the stock brakes anyway? Is there anything you can do to make them live on after the track without resorting to something like a Stoptech system?

DrSmile

Real Pads, Porterfield R4Ss on the street, R4Es on the track

Nogaro

Then there is the warping problem due to over heating of the rotors. You might try brake ducting.. but after all that.. you might just end up with a stoptech kit.

George @ BostonAudi

Some drivers kill their brakes. Those that do like to blame the stock brakes ;-)

Der Kimbo

Its been nearly 3 weeks since my last track event. I thought I had totally warped the rotors and severly glazed the pads. Well now after about 1000 miles they have little to no vibration. Could I have just glazed everything but now after use have removed it all?????

x-ricer

this is very true....my stock brakes lasted 3 track events w/ no probs....

Nogaro

It was obvious warped on one session, but the next session the brakes were fine.

Yossarian

Be religious about the cooldown lap. Get on the brakes and then get off; don't trail them.
I had 2 times where they started to fade at Thunderhill, but both were at the very end of a session. That was on the stock chip setting, and I have the feeling that when I start running chipped on the track I'll be getting alot more fade.
Alot depends on your driving style - if you're not doing alot of accelerating in the straights don't worry about it. If you really want to see how fast you can go, get some porterfield pads. I've got the money for the stoptechs, so I've ordered them.

Boogie777

I am attending the BMW Car Control Clinic this Sunday. And will probably attend a couple BMW track events, since I have a couple friends that do them. And Quattro club events, so I know that brakes could (will) become an issue.

I will probably go with the full StopTech kit, depending on how "into" tracking I get, but I here it's like a drug once you start.

Paul C

than warping of the rotors. At least that's how it starts. When the pads overheat they melt, or smear onto the rotors.

Then 'high spots' develop that result in uneven cooling, and the metallurgy of the rotors changes and develops hard spots that won't go away. These hard spots attract pad material and the cycle goes on.

Hard braking will overheat the stock pads, no question about it.