Pelican Pete

Okay, I know that this has been discussed ad-naseum in the archives. But I have a reasonably quick question or two, and don't have time to search the archives. So I apologize in advance.

Since Spring is here and Summer is around the corner, I am washing my car a lot more often. And it is time to get rid of the dusty stock brake pads. I was thinking of Mintex Red Box. But as long as I am spending the money, I might want to go a step beyond and get the Mintex C-Tech 1144 pads.
And as long as I am spending the money on pads & labor, it might not be so bad to upgrade my rotors either.

So question #1 -- How good are the C-Tech pads ?
As compared with Red Box ? As compared with other brands ?
Question #2 -- What is the largest rotor I can use with the stock calipers, and OEM 16" 7-spoke wheels ?
(I plan to get 17" wheels, but the 16" will be for my snow tires.)

Thanks a bunch !
-- Peter
98.5 1.8tqms GIAC 1 bar, Neuspeed shifter

Reggie3

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/AudiWorldPics/2000/Brake%20Job1.gif"></center><p>This means they will squeal untill warm - very warm.

DBA slotted and cross-drilled rotors are fine and you can get them from Gary.

Reggie

98.5 2.8QMS<ul><li><a href="http://www.dba.com.au/">DBA Rotors</a></li></ul>

stanj

I used to have Rebox pads, which simply evaporated on the track. Then I switched to C-Tech, front and rear, and they are great. They survived four track events, and for those who don't know me I am probably quite unnecessarily hard on brakes.

After the fronts were gone at Laguna Seca, I installed Porsche brakes in the front, but the rear are still the C-tech and are happy and alive. I would highly recommend them, over Redbox.

And no, they did not squeal at all for me (until they were completely trashed, then they squealed =))

The largest rotor you can use in 16" is 12", but you can't use just any caliper because the 7-spokers are not wide enough. So your choices may be quite limited - with my 13" Porsche I am limited to a very select number of 17" rims that can clear the huge brakes.<p>Stan

<a href=http://rescomp.stanford.edu/~stanj/Audi/>98.5 A4 30vQMSX</a> <a href=http://rescomp.stanford.edu/~stanj/Audi/Mods/><i>(modified)</i></a>
98.5 A6 V6-TDI-Q (Euro)
<a href=http://rescomp.stanford.edu/~stanj/Travel/>My other hobby</a>

Rich L.

My experience is a little different from Stan's. I used the RedBox fronts for about 4 months of street and track driving. They were quiet, made no dust and improved my wet braking problem. But the track destroyed them.

I moved to C-Tech pads which squeal horribly. I hear a sqeak-sqeak-squeak... all the time on the street. It gets old. But they have held up to track use much better. The brakes still fade and boil SuperBlue fluid, but the pads live on.

As for rotors, check out Hoppen's site. They sell the A8 (12.4") rotor and a caliper bracket to use the stock A4 caliper. That's the biggest you'll fit under 16" wheels. There's a FAQ on the upgrade.

Good luck,
Rich L.<ul><li><a href="http://www.hoppenmotorsport.com/a4tuning.htm">http://www.hoppenmotorsport.com/a4tuning.htm</a</li></ul>

Rich L.

Oh, and the C-Tech's make as much dust as the stock pads.

stanj

I used to have Zimmerman drilled rotors, maybe that has an influence on the squeal, or the lack thereof (in my case).

I must disagree though about the dust: the C-Tech are still substantially less dusty than the stock pads.<p>Stan

<a href=http://rescomp.stanford.edu/~stanj/Audi/>98.5 A4 30vQMSX</a> <a href=http://rescomp.stanford.edu/~stanj/Audi/Mods/><i>(modified)</i></a>
98.5 A6 V6-TDI-Q (Euro)
<a href=http://rescomp.stanford.edu/~stanj/Travel/>My other hobby</a>

Rich L.

Mine never get up to temperature on the street, so that may be why they squeak so much. On the track they get warm and don't make any noise.

Yeah, the dust might be better than the stock pads. But worse than the RedBoxes.

Rich