8E0 Rear Brake Upgrade

[s2avant]

@Paul,

Be strong, it's always hardest to go first with these projects. It doesn't help that you have to work on the drive and no one else is around for inspiration.

Maybe we should gather a team together for a project weekend to work it all through and sort out the cables or look into it next time you over this side of the water. If we had it in the air we could have a clear view of what's best and whipping the exhaust off would be a quick job.

@Twoqu

Electromechanical calipers don't have cables as they have electric handbrake mechanisms (which I'm sure you knew already ). Would be a lot of work to convert to them though as they have a control unit that works out pad wear etc to keep the pistons in the right place. Also have to be put into service position via diagnostics computer ( or VAG-COM) to change pads etc as you cannot manually wind back the pistons.

The release is very slow on them as well. My boss has a new Passat and it can take 5-10 seconds for the handbrake to release after you push the button.


Ben

[S2 Ant]

Calipers 8E0 615 423C & 8E0 615 424C
Disc 2 x 8E0 615 601R
Carrier 2 x 8E0 615 425B
Pads 4B3 698 451
Hoses 2 x 8E0 611 775H

By my reckoning, these parts come to £764.25 Retail.
Altho, also by reckoning, knowing the right people could almost half that price.
Obviously this is assuming all are purchased from a main stealer.

[Jamo]

@Paul,

Be strong, it's always hardest to go first with these projects. It doesn't help that you have to work on the drive and no one else is around for inspiration.

Maybe we should gather a team together for a project weekend to work it all through and sort out the cables or look into it next time you over this side of the water. If we had it in the air we could have a clear view of what's best and whipping the exhaust off would be a quick job.

Ben

I would have thought this would be ideal especially if you two could arrange to meet at Lions Garage?

[twoqu]

Ben!
Yep you're right
Ok, lets just throw ideas at this. I have a couple.
First, basically we need to turn the cable through 90degrees. So one way for this to happen would be a pulley/quadrent arrangement. So try and visualise an L shaped bracket with the cable abutment/run in the usual position and a pulley (for arguments sake) took the inner cable around and up to the caliper. Would still need to muck about with a cable. We would need to get one of the right inner length and somehow shorten the outer to fit. The inner would be more plyable.
Don't ask me about the geometry etc, I'm an ideas man! I was thinking about things that change direction. (Flamesuit on!)
Or, laterally thinking, are there any alternative calipers of that type that fit those brackets and are for vented discs that pull from the side. Perhaps A8? They would be ideal.

[S2central.net]

Robin - you must have some sort of mind meld with me LOL...

I too have investigated that 90 degree option and have some scribbles of an L-bracket to prove it. Trouble is that it requires a fair bit of fabrication and lots of messing with a cable in order to get the right amount of inner cable available - which rules out the stock Coupe cable of course.

Must admit I hadn't though of newer A8/S8 calipers if that disc dimension is used there because that would imply a side pull handbrake (unless they changed it).
Need a resident parts man to comment on that...

Paul

[S2central.net]

Mmmm - this link gives some hope... I can't run the family album on Mac yet...

There is a 310x22mm disc option on the A8 MY03 onwards. If the caliper for that beastie has side handbrake actuation then its game on for the Coupe.

http://www.drivewire.com/audiparts/c...rakerotor.html

Paul

[S2central.net]

Further search tells me its on 'BFM' engined A8 (L) made 2003 onwards... There's a prize for anyone who can secure a photograph !

Paul

[Jamo]

Part numbers

4D0 615 323 E - Left
4D0 615 324 E - Right

[S2central.net]

Ta - whats the sticker price ?

[90quattrocoupe]

Further search tells me its on 'BFM' engined A8 (L) made 2003 onwards... There's a prize for anyone who can secure a photograph !

Paul

Family album should show whether this is a front or side pull caliper.

Greg W.

[twoqu]

Greg,
The etka illustrations are unrelaible.
The good news is that in an earlier thread I posted a link for the pad. it lists three fitments. The RS6, S4 and A8q 03 on. So we know the S4 is botom pull. If the RS6 has the same p/n then thats out. The only hope is if Audi for some reason had the foresight to use a different arrangement for the handbrake. If the part numbers given by Jamo are correct then they are not the Lucas alloy S8 ones.

[twoqu]

The W12 Phaeton is another possibility if I have read the info correctly. Supposed to be commonality!
It's a risky business!

[S2central.net]

Well I found the EBC brake catalog. Their D1249 disc for the A8 310x22 application is listed with a hat height of 42mm. Versus the 40mm dimension on the 8E0 (neu S4) and S2.

Can't find photos anywhere of these A8 rear calipers to see if they will bolt onto the 8E0 carriers. Gonna just have to buy the darn things to find out...

Paul

[S2central.net]

I'm finding various articles telling me the electro-mechanical handbrake was launched on the A8 circa 2002/2003 so this A8 caliper may be a non stopper... In which case I'll be back to the drawing board !

Paul

[twoqu]

Paul,
I guess an enquiry about the price will tell you. If its megamoney then I guess its going to be the electro. If its more in line with with the retail of the S4 then we might be onto something. It looks as those the E designation is used on the A8 platform. Mark H's were E, although a different design.
I can find anything either. The p/n doesen't come up on Google either.
Will have to wait for a parts guru to speak up.