JimR

<center><img src="http://www.audipages.com/upgrades/bira8.JPG"></center><p>I had a long phone conversation with PaulW about his brake upgrade while he was riding up to Chattanooga Friday morning. I waited for everyone to get back from the long weekend before posting.

First, a whole bunch of background, then I'll get to the direct question.

<b><i>What is BIRA?</i></b>
From the<a href="Braking Improvement Research Association"> BIRA </a>web site:
The Braking Improvement Research Association is a group of AudiŽ drivers who are interested in creating cost-effective improvements to our braking systems. BIRA was founded to investigate the viability of low-cost, high-performance, high-value braking system improvements, primarily for Audi automobiles.

BIRA costs $20 to join, and is a must-do prerequisite. If you think you are interested in doing this, get the application form, fill it out, mail it in with your check now.

<b><i>What does the A8 upgrade look like?</i></b>
PaulW spearheaded an effort for a BIRA design for an A8 brake upgrade. This design is known as "BIRA System 6" (lower-numbered systems are other designs for other Audi models). The design uses Porsche 996tt brakes with 993tt rotors. Some background follows, for your reading pleasure.

Here is an AW thread with lots of parts pics:
<a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a8/msgs/23988.phtml">PaulW's parts on his boat.</a>

Here is an AW thread about the install:
<a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a8/msgs/24173.phtml">PaulW's install.</a>

More background material:
<a href="http://www.audipages.com/upgrades/birabrakeupgrade.html">AudiPages Sys6 brake upgrade page</a>

Key parts to this upgrade are:

Porsche:
996tt monobloc calipers
993tt rotors (two-piece, rotors only, not the hats)

BIRA:
caliper brackets
rotor hats

There are a number of minor parts as well.

<b><i>What am I wanting?</i></b>
Right now, I am interested in seeing if there is enough interest on the board for enough people to ante-up to do a production run of the BIRA parts. Early indications, based on Paul's run, are that it would run $700+/-. Current pricing on the Porsche parts is in the $1300-$1400 range.

We would need 4-5 people in order to get a machine shop to do a run of the BIRA parts. Once we make the BIRA parts, the Porsche parts are readily available from a number of sources. Paul seems to have found a good one.

If you are interested, please send me an email (email addy is in the post header), and get signed up with BIRA. You must be a BIRA member to do this.

nem02-S8

If the package is a significant weight savings over the S8's standard issue I'd be interested.

PaulW

I've had great sucsess with this system. Other than the fact that the stock 17" wheels won't fit over the calipers (this would not be the case with the "group buy" because I was the guinna pig and a design change would be implemented) it's been a great system.

At the track with Pagid Orange pads, there was absolutely no brake fade whatsoever, and it was a 2 mile track with five braking zones, the hardest being 115 MPH to 60 MPH.

I have stock rear pads in for street use and Porsche 996 tt stock pads in the front. Absolutely no squealing whatsoever. Same amount of dust as before (as compared with stock pads up front).

The system doesn't really change the feel of the brake pedal, it's still relatively soft, but with the Pagid Orange pads in, it's harder.

The Pagid Orange pads are not for street. They will work, but not well. Especially when cold.

All of the design considerations are complete, the new design brackets and hats will account for the proper offset to fit over stock 17" wheels.

If plan on tricking your car out and bringing it to the track, this is a great upgrade. It looks awesome too.

I love mine!

I have sent an email to the others who were already interested (six of you) and to Jim. I will be happy to help with the technical details and parts required. It's actually very easy now that somebody has blazed the trail.

pw

JimR

I think the S8 has a different mounting system. Randy? Any comments?

PaulW

<center><img src="http://www.bira.org/images/S8/S8a.jpg"></center><p>The S8 already has a strut assembly that allows for a Brembo caliper to bolt directly in from an radial perspective.

There would have to be a small amount of measurement completed, but new hats and rotors would decrease weight (but they would be small in OD).

Now that I think about it, if the stock rotors are larger than 332 mm (which they are, something like 350 mm) I doubt you could retrofit the Porsche caliper to it without cutting down the srut.

pw

skiwi

the s8 rotor for the brembo is 345mm

nem02-S8

Great info - thanks!

PaulW

...it actually appears that there is some sort of device or spacer that the caliper rides on. Wonder if that is true, you could just cut it down slightly to allow for a different (smaller) OD of the rotor.

That might work.

pw

A8-911-Odyssey

I'm in....