RS5 brakes

A5/S5/RS5
#1

So my Carbotech brake pads arrived today. So this weekend I will be swapping out the pads with the 1521 bobcat street compounds (and bedding them in). I have my first track day coming up next month at the Ridge motorsports park.

A point of immense frustration that I have when I ordered the car is the lack of owners who actually work on their cars… I couldn’t even get a guy to take a wheel off to confirm if there were stock brake ducts… So… I thought I’d offer it up to AR users if they were curious to see anything under the car while I have it up on my jack. I’ll be taking pics of the brake ducts that the car comes with (NACA ducts near the same location where I had a shop fab them on my B8 S4) and an opening through the wheel liner. The dust shield is ‘scooped’ to utilize the airflow.

I’ll be taking other pics that I find curious and as always, love to share what I see/find. Not so much a build thread (I don’t really care for that), just sharing where I can. The best part about being an enthusiast is getting to know your own car… ;D

Carbotech pads:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-sKyMxMvLOUg/Uw1VhXxgaJI/AAAAAAAAEDw/hxl85y4BvjE/w1128-h835-no/IMG_20140225_182150.jpg

RP2 is the endurance compound. Had great success with it on the B8 S4. Lasted a whole season. The rear is the XP10 which should last the season too. Both are pre-bedded for my convenience (swap em on and run with it). Will report on wear. I’ll probably look around for any ‘titanium’ shims to run behind the track pads. Do you guys know of any? Saki? Stoptech might make something, I’ll ask my local shop too. I had the silicon dust boots turn to crisps on me on the B8 S4. Since I street the car, I need to try and preserve it as much as possible… :stuck_out_tongue:

I have thermal paint for the rotor. Will see how hot it gets… :slight_smile: Contemplating putting a heat sticker on the RS caliper too (though scrubbing that SOB off is a PITA!!!) Will do that for the upcoming track day at the end of next month…

I need to find quality SS brake lines. Stoptech doesn’t have any for the fronts (blergh). Local shop carries Stoptech and I like to support them when I can (all about local business lol).

Street pads for the fronts:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-QafgmRgbyiM/Uw1VhfGh3oI/AAAAAAAAEDw/dn3ZlzRgoFk/w1128-h835-no/IMG_20140225_182715.jpg

lol I totally forgot about front wear sensors… Good thing Carbotech ‘remembered’ for me. 4 pads per caliper is something new to me…

In other news… I just washed my car lol. I have a good and efficient process going now… :stuck_out_tongue:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-QWmKR1mzONY/Uw1Vhfe1FXI/AAAAAAAAEDw/nNvSOMPJOdo/w1128-h835-no/IMG_20140225_175356.jpg

And yes, I left the right side mirror flipped forward when I took the pic (I do that so water drains out)…

Rear shot (why not):

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4QjO3j9wRGs/Uw1VhfH69CI/AAAAAAAAEDw/ZI-rCedD-tg/w1128-h835-no/IMG_20140225_181051.jpg

#2

PsYk: definitely share any and all pics you take. AR could definitely use more info for the RS5.

And good lord, that is one awesome looking ride!

#3

Thanks man! :smiley:

Yeah, I’ll take a bunch of pics. Documentation never hurts. Plus at least this RS5 owner will do some wrenching… 8)

#4

That thing is jaw dropping good looking. Whatever BMW or Mercedes have doesn’t even come close in the three door market. Great stuff!

#5

Thanks! I love the car. And I get compliments all the time. :slight_smile:

#6

It is retardedly great looking.

#7

Why do those trees have waists?

#8

Those trees double as a buffet line for the pesky deer… :-[

Haha! Good eye though!

#9

Scott, Car looks awesome man! Sepang is a great color, so glad I went with it on my RS…

#10

Thanks Ron! It is a great color! I’m quite happy with the choice as well!

#11

I just finished working on the car. Really took my time to figure things out (I should have it down like clock work when I swap the pads out for a track day). Biggest thing that caught me off guard was the rear right side caliper has a brake pad wear sensor. Lol. Busted out the soldering iron and reused the stock sensor harness - it just needs to complete a circuit right?

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/03/emu9y8yr.jpg

Man I missed tinkering around.

I’ll write up a full post with pics later tonight.

In the meantime, here’s a pic of the front left brake:

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/03/dy3ubeta.jpg

#12

right

the front pads are nice and easy too change, assuming they’re a similar 8 piston Brembo setup that the B7 RS4 had.

#13

Yah I just used a butt connector with my old sensor plug when I put in my brembos. Complete the circuit like you said. You know what you’re doing.

Kinda confused, in the top pic you show two front wear sensors, there are two up front and one in back then? Compared to only one front on the b8 s4. Serious stuff in that car!

Wonder if that shield will fit the s4. I run shieldless with the brembos, but it’s one way to go with factory components at least. Hey didn’t you get those neat looking custom shields? Still got em…? :slight_smile:

#14

They indeed are the same. Very simple. Tap out two pins, removing retaining clips (I like cleaning everything too but that’s just me lol), swap pads out and the reverse. It was a breeze!

Haha! Yeah about that, for some reason, Carbotech included two wear sensors for the front pad (there’s two sensors total: 1 on the front left, one on the rear right). I’m going to email them about that (and let them know for future reference that the car has a wear sensor in the back). I ended up cutting off a wear sensor from the other pad and using it on the rear. The rear sensor plug, I soldered it to keep it handy once I get the track pads in there - I’ll just plug it into the front.

I actually ended up running shieldless on the B8 S4. I had a NACA duct on the underside (lol which ended up being similar to how the RS5 has it) and cutting a hole through the wheel liner.

B8 S4 content:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-PyUlh4QTNMk/T5tg_aRVNTI/AAAAAAAABus/qSqKxI_LFfc/s640/IMG_0292.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3vJVRpXcoso/T5tg_srbjfI/AAAAAAAABu0/zgkimc9EQww/s640/IMG_0293.JPG

#15

Long post, lots of pics ahead… ;D And only on AR. :slight_smile:

Wheel bolts are shorter than B8 S4’s bolts (obviously since different offset):

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-mshLzHFJ8OI/UxP0h6rzsHI/AAAAAAAAEJo/3NhW46zoEI4/w719-h479-no/IMG_2000.JPG

Speaking of offset, stock is ET26 and wheel dimensions are 9x20 inches (stock tire dimensions are 275/35/R20).

The RS5 has ancillary radiators on BOTH sides (hence no fog lights). Unlike the B8 S4 however, the radiators are vented through the wheel liner. On the pic below, the NACA duct’s outlet is on the left, and the radiator’s outlet is on the right (pardon my layman’s terminology lol).

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KiZmqkcA030/UxP0jPJlNnI/AAAAAAAAEKA/8okPyl0oQis/w719-h479-no/IMG_2003.JPG

Here’s a view looking up from the brakes:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-n8mAQZ_AEFo/UxP0knatQPI/AAAAAAAAEKU/nGvfabkNm6U/w719-h479-no/IMG_2008.JPG

View of the brake duct pointing to the brakes:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-IdUIMfsbCX8/UxP0nwqo7mI/AAAAAAAAELY/h6t_joSOGTA/w719-h479-no/IMG_2004.JPG

Top view of the rotors (they’re thick!). YOu can also see the openings in the stock dust shield to let air into the rotors. It’s sculpted a bit up front to guide air in:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-fID-XtlbMdc/UxP0jovxSTI/AAAAAAAAEKE/hGq5MrZz5kk/w719-h479-no/IMG_2005.JPG

View of the caliper side (sorry flash washed out the logo):

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9crdv2uelfU/UxP0lQLBsRI/AAAAAAAAEKg/R3NCY1tr88k/w319-h479-no/IMG_2009.JPG

Top view of the caliper (shows the retention clips and the pins holding them in):

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ebC-LjwAyWk/UxP0kYtguwI/AAAAAAAAEKQ/YZt0cLX8WeI/w319-h479-no/IMG_2006.JPG

Pic of two brake pistons:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-osgnn5m9egA/UxP0ozHvl5I/AAAAAAAAELg/aKzwJwM6wds/w319-h479-no/IMG_2020.JPG

Stock pads are made by Pagid:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3dRfuxAxP1g/UxP0xniB49I/AAAAAAAAEN4/CE7vRVLYqqw/w719-h479-no/IMG_2046.JPG

Also looks like there is a shim that’s riveted on (all 8 pads)

Switching to the other side…

Underneath the car (past the front lip):

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j7NiDDdjA7Q/UxP0vNdNZRI/AAAAAAAAENE/vB7QUkDZiCE/w719-h479-no/IMG_2037.JPG

You can see the NACA duct on this side. Close to where I had it on the B8 S4 (I think it was a little further to the rear on the S4).

Pic below shows the covered up under tray (where the sub frame chassis brace went) and the lower suspension arm + steering + drive shaft:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wuI1iSos2Oo/UxP0v7JVseI/AAAAAAAAENQ/Rq1whW-Ght0/w719-h479-no/IMG_2038.JPG

Here’s a pic I took with the camera sitting at the brake duct opening:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9WSO4KCQsJE/UxP0w0lD2iI/AAAAAAAAENo/5WPq-xgXDYs/w719-h479-no/IMG_2044.JPG

(Yes, I already disconnected the pad sensor connector - which is why it’s hanging down in this pic)

You can see that the stock dust shield has multiple openings to allow air in. The leading/front edge is bent inwards slightly to capture air.

Top of the front left rotor (and pad sensor wire):

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-bIlokjtq_wk/UxP0utRQW1I/AAAAAAAAEM8/MF22XEBazUM/w319-h479-no/IMG_2035.JPG

Sensor wire is held in place using the bleed nipple’s rubber cap (pretty smart - until I burn it off on a track day):

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-dgzuJv266ec/UxP0xCi45rI/AAAAAAAAENw/trtDmxC4sQE/w719-h479-no/IMG_2045.JPG

Pad comparison (Red = Carbotech):

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZuQBh0oRGQE/UxP0oxluZKI/AAAAAAAAELc/1ftk556XS8E/w719-h479-no/IMG_2021.JPG

#16

Moving on to the rears. I’m more familiar with these since it’s pretty much the same as the B8 S4.

View of the brakes:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-WeDAXXtU3Sw/UxP0rmGBujI/AAAAAAAAEMM/pbmSChnT4rg/w719-h479-no/IMG_2026.JPG

Here’s a pic of the top of the rear caliper (and the rear wear sensor on the rear right):

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Qa4ty0gFV20/UxP0t8-SPmI/AAAAAAAAEMs/Q2SuPXjCnVg/w719-h479-no/IMG_2034.JPG

Looks like the rear caliper is supplied by TRW. I never bothered checking on the B8 S4 but it’s probably the same… :stuck_out_tongue:

As with the front caliper, the sensor wire is held in place using the bleed nipple cover:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-sHKT8tfngG4/UxP0q7Pn3cI/AAAAAAAAEMA/XQ8nl7Cq4BE/w319-h479-no/IMG_2025.JPG

What’s also odd is the screw on the top right of the picture. That screw needs to come off to slide the caliper off, but it’s ‘thick’. I’m not sure why it’s like that. On the B8 S4, it was just a ‘normal’ bolt without the added girth under the bolt head.

Here’s the rear inner brake pad with the sensor clipped in:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-mhNmbRIh5nI/UxP0tLiw9aI/AAAAAAAAEMo/L_Pz6lYXmnw/w719-h479-no/IMG_2030.JPG

Looks like it’s made/supplied by the same company that provided the caliper. Also, both of the ‘inner’ rear pads were notched like this, though only the rear right caliper had a sensor.

Rear pad comparison:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8WkOzfpvozU/UxP01dlfPDI/AAAAAAAAEO4/6_RRds6zwqw/w319-h479-no/IMG_2059.JPG

Left = stock. Right = Carbotech.

For the rear pad sensor, I cut the wires and soldered them together (lol I grabbed a random nearby box in the garage to use as a ‘work bench’ - blender box LOL):

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kFzTpmo4JiY/UxP0yfYEgPI/AAAAAAAAEOI/VQZhbBpkdLM/w719-h479-no/IMG_2048.JPG

After that, I wrapped the soldered joint in some electrical tape, straightened the wire out and put some heat shrink on:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-nVpR8HhsEPI/UxP0y4EtRwI/AAAAAAAAEOU/kbpAhl9aBbg/w719-h479-no/IMG_2051.JPG

Stock rear pad sensor harness:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-G2iZoGzuCBg/UxP00awH3ZI/AAAAAAAAEOo/2lPofO2a1PE/w719-h479-no/IMG_2055.JPG

Updated with a modified harness:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-RpykQlc-3Lg/UxP00Rse2LI/AAAAAAAAEOs/L5xB5L-f4b8/w719-h479-no/IMG_2056.JPG

Which was a little too short… LOL

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NpM5F3ldo7I/UxP028KP3aI/AAAAAAAAEPQ/Tam7ixVlGLU/w719-h479-no/IMG_2066.JPG

Pretty interesting stuff. I’ll create a separate thread as a ‘guide’ on how to swap pads on the RS5.

Pad sizes (on the box) are as below:
Front: 1029 (same as the B7 RS4 I believe)
Rear: 1018 (same as the B8 S4 IIRC)

#17

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/04/7aduqamu.jpg

Bedded the brakes in. Mmm… Lovely smell…

I like the modulation of these pads more than the stock brembo/pagid pads.

#18

+karma

Great writeup

I have those pads on my rs4, the streets. 1521. They’re quite good. Same feel as stock in that you’re not losing initial bite or any stopping power, and they yield probably half the dust. Good fit. They’re also a bargain. I got a whole set (f/r) for 350 I believe. I am not sure if they play nice with other pads… i.e. If you swap to a track pad for a track day. I think they don’t.

#19

Yeah no doubt nice job Scott! + karma for sure…

#20

Thanks guys! I’m glad I could share. :slight_smile:

The Carbotech 1521 is compound compatible with the XP and RP track pads that they make (another reason I stick with them).

I emailed Mike Jr at Carbotech (and referenced this thread). Let him know that the RS5 just has a single front sensor and that there’s also a rear sensor (first car that they know of using rear wear sensors in this pad shape).

I just looked at the price of replacement rotors:

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/04/hu2u9y8a.jpg

I wonder if that’s per piece or for a pair… Lol