torga
Autocross Champion
So a few days ago, I impulse bought a set of TT-RS front brakes. I fully intended to keep it simple and do a full R32 upgrade, but one night I just idly asked FB Marketplace if there were any TT-RS calipers in town.... and there were... for an absolute bargain. Especially in the condition they're in. They're practically flawless. I bought them from a guy who intended to put them on his B5 S4 but just never got around to it. Saw them on Sunday night, had them in my hands Monday after work.
Here are some photos.
Here are a few photos of them next to the R32 fronts I originally was going to use. The R32 calipers look CHUNKY compared to the TT-RS clamps.
For anyone curious about weights....
The TT-RS front caliper/carrier comes in at an even 9 lbs. and the R32 front caliper/carrier weighs 16.6 lbs. That's a huge difference! Almost a factor of two!
With my original R32 plan, I planned on doing StopTech slotted rotors all the way around. With the TT-RS fronts, the way I see it, I have three options:
Option 1: The Medium-Full Send
I stick with the solid StopTech slotted for the rear and I buy the crazy, 2pc full-floating Girodisc rotors for the front. I absolutely do not need these. But hot damn, are the Girodisc rotors sexy. Just eye-candy. Just imagine that setup behind the wheel. The full-send version of this plan would be buying the R32 2pc semi-floating rotors that ECS sells, for the rear.
Option 2: The Frugal Boy
I stick with the solid StopTech slotted for the rear and I buy OE rotor replacements for the fronts. Simple, get the job done. This would save about $400 in total over option 1. However, I've read that the stock rotors had a tendency to make noise with these calipers. Dunno how much of an issue this could be, though.
Option 3: The Understated Boy
Let's face it... 370mm front brakes on this car would definitely be excessive. I know, I know, it's my car, I can do whatever the hell I want with it. But for a more low-key upgrade -- and a cheaper rotor replacement cost down the road -- I could instead opt for this VAGBremtechnic carrier adapter, which brings these calipers inward to be usable with the 345mm rotors of the Mk5R32 and Mk6R. Then I'd pair them with the StopTech slotted rotors from before. This option only saves $300 over Option 1.
Here are some photos.
Here are a few photos of them next to the R32 fronts I originally was going to use. The R32 calipers look CHUNKY compared to the TT-RS clamps.
For anyone curious about weights....
The TT-RS front caliper/carrier comes in at an even 9 lbs. and the R32 front caliper/carrier weighs 16.6 lbs. That's a huge difference! Almost a factor of two!
With my original R32 plan, I planned on doing StopTech slotted rotors all the way around. With the TT-RS fronts, the way I see it, I have three options:
Option 1: The Medium-Full Send
I stick with the solid StopTech slotted for the rear and I buy the crazy, 2pc full-floating Girodisc rotors for the front. I absolutely do not need these. But hot damn, are the Girodisc rotors sexy. Just eye-candy. Just imagine that setup behind the wheel. The full-send version of this plan would be buying the R32 2pc semi-floating rotors that ECS sells, for the rear.
Option 2: The Frugal Boy
I stick with the solid StopTech slotted for the rear and I buy OE rotor replacements for the fronts. Simple, get the job done. This would save about $400 in total over option 1. However, I've read that the stock rotors had a tendency to make noise with these calipers. Dunno how much of an issue this could be, though.
Option 3: The Understated Boy
Let's face it... 370mm front brakes on this car would definitely be excessive. I know, I know, it's my car, I can do whatever the hell I want with it. But for a more low-key upgrade -- and a cheaper rotor replacement cost down the road -- I could instead opt for this VAGBremtechnic carrier adapter, which brings these calipers inward to be usable with the 345mm rotors of the Mk5R32 and Mk6R. Then I'd pair them with the StopTech slotted rotors from before. This option only saves $300 over Option 1.
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