A3 Sportback, brakes suck...any ideas?

[chuck_ster]

We've just got a Sportback. The brakes are pretty terrible to use. No feedback, no feel and feel way over servo-ed(SP). I've encountered the first 2 problems before in our old S4 and S3, and know how to get around it..but does anyone have any ideas about how to get around the over-assisted action? Because our other cars have such brilliant brakes driving the Audi is a bit of an adventure LOL
Cheers
Cman

[pentoman]

Welcome to Audi.

You could try another car if you really think your car is wrong.. I have driven many Mk 4 Golfs, and some brake fine while certain ones always catch me out with their very snatchy over servoed brakes.

Russ
'86 190E, '62 Elan

[marx]

I've seen that AMD offer Porsche 911 brake upgrades for Audi/VW - but these are ~£1500 - and should you really need to do this for a new car? My V6 Golf brakes are awful too - overservoed & grabby. Frightening in the wet when nothing happens before they eventually bite & grab..

[edc]

marx said:

I've seen that AMD offer Porsche 911 brake upgrades for Audi/VW - but these are ~£1500 - and should you really need to do this for a new car? My V6 Golf brakes are awful too - overservoed & grabby. Frightening in the wet when nothing happens before they eventually bite & grab..

If you're considering Porsche brakes look at the Brembos from the SEAT Leon R, much cheaper.

[chuck_ster]

Thanks folks. I'll try another car, really hope it's just my Friday afternoon special brakes and an easy fix is available from Audi. I have a funny feeling that this is just how the brakes are though...as posted above it's the nothing, nothing, bang! grabby action that grates.
I had an Impreza WRX (bugeye vintage) for a very short time...It's brakes were similar in action and I ended up sticking some 330m Alcons on it...sadly it was still grabby as hell..there is a big market in uprating the brakes on Scoobs though, so selling the brake kit on wasn't a problem( and I reused the discs on my other Scoob). Methinks A3's generally attract a less hardcore following though..so I don't wanna be lumbered with a £1.5k track ready brake conversion I can't sell on without massive losses.
Rgds
C

[edc]

You could sell on to Golf/Leon owners, even the new Ibiza Cupra comes with 5 stud 312mm APs

[yertis]

That was the first thing I noticed when I drove the new A3 3.0 quattro - nothing, then your head goes out through the windscreen. In fact that's my overwhelming impression of that car - wierd "binary" brakes.

I was told they're meant to be that way...

[catso]

I think it may be what you're used to, my A3 3.2 brakes feel good enough to me, I have no problem feeling how much braking there is etc, not noticed any fade and they are certainly not lacking in power - don't know if they're the same brakes though as I have seen 'smaller' A3's with smaller front discs.
I agree that they are very heavily servo'd though, but you just need a sensitive foot.

[tuffer]

I have had a couple of close shave in my A4 when coming up to the back of a Q, brake, brake, brake (actualy not much braking is happening) then STOP. Best brakes I have had where in an old Astra 16v, you could stand that thing on its nose.