Andy (Portland, OR)

The stock brakes/pads on my '02 S6 are very grabby and difficult to modulate. (In talking to S4 owners, I'm not the only one who feels this way -- they complain of difficulty heel and toeing due to the high sensitivity. I can't even imagine trying to heel and toe this brake! Interestingly, oversensitive brakes may be an Audi family trait. This from the latest Road & Track review of the RS6: "Initial [brake] feel is quite touchy and braking effort for even hard stops is significantly lighter than for the other cars [in the comparison test]...")

Part of the problem is undoubtedly excessive boost. The high initial bite and grabbiness is also due to the pad compound. (High initial coefficient of friction -- "bite" -- which rises rather than stabilizes during the stop.) I KNOW pads make a difference in brake feel from swapping out the pads on my '99 A6 Avant. The dealer replaced the OEM pads under warranty when I complained about constant low speed squeal. Audi supplied some approved Japanese pads (the service manager does not know what brand) that solved the squeal problem and had much better feel -- less initial bite and more foot pressure required.

So, in response to recommendations from others here, I switched to Mintex "Red Box." Very little dust and only minimal low speed squeal. However, the feel is just as bad as the stock pads, which was my primary motivation for switching. If you like the feel and hate the dust of the OEM pads, you will like the Mintex. If, like me, you hate the feel of the OEMs, you will be disappointed in the Mintex (although I certainly don't miss the dust).

It appears there are very few pads available for the S6 brake (which is the same as the S4 brake). Has anyone found a pad that is less touchy/grabby with better modulation characteristics? How about the EBC Green Stuff pad? Also, anyone know a cheaper source for EBC than Tire Rack? (Tire Rack wants $130 for the fronts, whereas I paid $95 for Mintex from APR.)

Thanks, Andy

jzkbbi

Why do you want to "modulate" the S4 brakes?

Turncoat

Effective modulation allows for varying degrees of braking force.

MingsS4

I too find S4 brakes tricky to modulate.
I have considered SS brake lines, but have gotten mixed reviews. Some say they improve modulation, while others say it made no difference.

Ming

AlanL

I never really had a problem with the factory brakes having too much initial bite whatever when I still had them on and I use heel and toe for every downshift I have ever done with my car. My only complaint about the OEM brakes lies in their inability to function in conditions requiring repeated use such as might be encountered on a track.

The only pad I find to have too much initial bite for daily driving are Pagid Orange's on my Stoptech calipers and they are still totally workable for advanced engine rev matching shifts with a manual transmission.

Bruce M

My OEM S4 pads were horrible.....first very little bite, than panic stop when applying 1% more pedal

nyet

maybe because sudden weight transfer = off track excursion?

jzkbbi

Modulation is for non abs guys.

We are supposed to smoothly apply the brakes, then pound them to the floor. Anything else is a waste of time. If you aren't absing in almost every turn, then you are braking to early and not enough.

At blackhawk there is one area, before turn 3 where I brake from 80 or so down to 60, so it is really quick and no abs, but other than that either you are braking hard or not at all.

But, in any event, stock S4 brake pads have no business on the track anyway.

jzkbbi

I agree, be smooth, but in a straight line, I don't see hard braking causing an "off track experience."

When would you be braking and turning at the same time?

Turncoat

Without effective modulation every application of the brakes would be pounding them to the floor.

Do you trail brake?

<edit>I guess you do if you're speaking of ABSing into the turn.</edit>