Installed DBA 4000s & Carbotech Bobcats this weekend...(BWW)

Pie4Foo · 10-24-2005, 10:54 AM

I commented last Wednesday on the arrival of my new pads (Carbotech Bobcats) and rotors (DBA 4000s), and this weekend I got to finally put them on and go for a spirited drive to bed them and become acclimated to them.

First, let me say "THANKS!" to RobC, a local S4 owner who lent his time, expertise, and garage space for the installation. Having the right tools, especially an air wrench, was really useful. Total time invested, including diversions for lunch, visitors and my bumbling hands, was the better part of 4 hours.

Next, the pics:

My dirty front calipers with the new DBA 4000s and the RED RED carbotech bobcats:

My driver's side rear; this pic really shows the temp markings featured on the DBA 4000s.

Now the fronts, also showing the temp marking. They're pretty easy to see, even with the wheels on.

<br>

Hmm...next time I pull my wheels off, I'll probably clean the calipers. ;-p

The most satisfying part of the installation was becoming comfortable with the installation process. I'm not a guru by any means, but swapping pads or even rotors seems like a manageable task now. Oh yeah, it was nice not having to pay the dealer $500.

Impressions

On Sunday morning, I went for a spirited drive to get accustomed to the new pad feel. While the change wasn't dramatic, I did notice that the new Carbotechs felt more progressive and didn't give up the ghost if I pushed down hard. My OEM pads were very on/off and didn't inspire late braking. Coming to work today, I found myself applying more pressure than was really needed, stopping embarassingly short of my intended marks.

As a major plus, these new pads are silent (again, the OEMs were the exact opposite) and have the potential to dust far less.

As expected, my overall impressions were very positive. I'll be tracking my otherwise stock S4 in two weeks, and I'll update my impressions afterwards.

Black Sunshine · 10-24-2005, 11:18 AM

I can really hear them in there with the windows down while driving over a bumpy road.

Bahn S4 · 10-24-2005, 11:19 AM

life out of the rear sway bar link bolt allen wrench holes. The bolt is so rusted that I concluded my only choice was to dremel off the nut and buy new sway bar links. All this to install my Neuspeed bar. Hopefully it will all be worth it on the track in a couple weeks :-)

Swank4 · 10-24-2005, 11:25 AM

and my Bobcats dust less than OEM too.

I assumed that you bedded them in? Some people don't like the slight vibration in the pedal caused by the slots in the rotors under hard braking (like 70-0 mph coming off an exit ramp).

Pie4Foo · 10-24-2005, 11:27 AM

Black Sunshine · 10-24-2005, 11:30 AM

gk1 · 10-24-2005, 11:34 AM

My original DBAs started vibrations after a few thousand miles DBA was good enough to replace them with series 4000s like yours... then a few thousand miles later the vibration was back. Now I'm back on plain rotors again.

Pie4Foo · 10-24-2005, 11:35 AM

Of course, now that they're bedded, they no longer smoke.

And you're right, I can feel the slots under VERY heaving braking. Not really an issue, however, as I know what's going on.

Swank4 · 10-24-2005, 12:07 PM

Swank4 · 10-24-2005, 12:09 PM

No probs here. One thing I do is hardly ever use the parking brake - especially not if the brakes are hot (just use gear shift). Nor do I keep the brakes depressed at stop lights after using them heavily. Not sure if that's making a difference but I don't like to chance the warpage factor. It did this on my OEM and they lasted 30k miles before I switched to DBA for track purposes.

10-24-2005, 10:54 AM	#1
Pie4Foo Member Account #: 57452 Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 1,628	Installed DBA 4000s & Carbotech Bobcats this weekend...(BWW) I commented last Wednesday on the arrival of my new pads (Carbotech Bobcats) and rotors (DBA 4000s), and this weekend I got to finally put them on and go for a spirited drive to bed them and become acclimated to them. First, let me say "THANKS!" to RobC, a local S4 owner who lent his time, expertise, and garage space for the installation. Having the right tools, especially an air wrench, was really useful. Total time invested, including diversions for lunch, visitors and my bumbling hands, was the better part of 4 hours. Next, the pics: My dirty front calipers with the new DBA 4000s and the RED RED carbotech bobcats: My driver's side rear; this pic really shows the temp markings featured on the DBA 4000s. Now the fronts, also showing the temp marking. They're pretty easy to see, even with the wheels on. <br> Hmm...next time I pull my wheels off, I'll probably clean the calipers. ;-p The most satisfying part of the installation was becoming comfortable with the installation process. I'm not a guru by any means, but swapping pads or even rotors seems like a manageable task now. Oh yeah, it was nice not having to pay the dealer $500. Impressions On Sunday morning, I went for a spirited drive to get accustomed to the new pad feel. While the change wasn't dramatic, I did notice that the new Carbotechs felt more progressive and didn't give up the ghost if I pushed down hard. My OEM pads were very on/off and didn't inspire late braking. Coming to work today, I found myself applying more pressure than was really needed, stopping embarassingly short of my intended marks. As a major plus, these new pads are silent (again, the OEMs were the exact opposite) and have the potential to dust far less. As expected, my overall impressions were very positive. I'll be tracking my otherwise stock S4 in two weeks, and I'll update my impressions afterwards. __________________ Car for driving in circles: Lotus Exige Car for driving to the airport: AWE/GIAC Stage 3 S4 Car for the weekday: Hertz rental

10-24-2005, 11:18 AM	#2
Black Sunshine AudiWorld Senior Member Account #: 22568 Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 4,052	Do your rears rattle when going over bumps?? I can really hear them in there with the windows down while driving over a bumpy road. __________________ "Gripping the wheel his knuckles went white with desire. The wheels of his Audi exploding on the highway like a slug from a 45. True Death, 400 horsepower of maximum performance piercing the night - this is Black Sunshine" 2002 S4 6MT AWE STG 3 - Still here, but not much longer 1995 S6 Avant Emerald/Ecru - Almost here, not much longer

10-24-2005, 11:19 AM	#3
Bahn S4 Elder Member Account #: 53141 Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 14,626	Looks good. Agreed on having right tools. I spent the better part of the weekend stripping the life out of the rear sway bar link bolt allen wrench holes. The bolt is so rusted that I concluded my only choice was to dremel off the nut and buy new sway bar links. All this to install my Neuspeed bar. Hopefully it will all be worth it on the track in a couple weeks :-) __________________ ------------------- Bahn S4's non-fried non-breaded wing recipe Diet and Exercise: Paleo + Crossfit

10-24-2005, 11:25 AM	#4
Swank4 AudiWorld Super User Account #: 41738 Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 6,760	Looks good. I think you will like them. The pads have a very progressive bite. OEM is on/off... and my Bobcats dust less than OEM too. I assumed that you bedded them in? Some people don't like the slight vibration in the pedal caused by the slots in the rotors under hard braking (like 70-0 mph coming off an exit ramp). __________________ 2001 S4 avant / RS6-K04 turbos / ASP custom tuning / Fast Intentions 3" downpipes / AWE Twin2 exhaust / AWE ICs / Aquamist HFS-5 / SPEC 3+ clutch / Stasis Motorsports (Ohlins) 700F/800R / Stasis Alcon 355 BBK, 298 rears / H-sport rear sway / Stasis 4:1 rear diff / Zeitronix wideband O2 / FATS = 3.35 on 91 octane / Land & Sea dyno = 429 whp.

10-24-2005, 11:27 AM	#5
Pie4Foo Member Account #: 57452 Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 1,628	No sir. Sounds like something is loose on yours... __________________ Car for driving in circles: Lotus Exige Car for driving to the airport: AWE/GIAC Stage 3 S4 Car for the weekday: Hertz rental

10-24-2005, 11:30 AM	#6
Black Sunshine AudiWorld Senior Member Account #: 22568 Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 4,052	I think maybe those spreader springs are... __________________ "Gripping the wheel his knuckles went white with desire. The wheels of his Audi exploding on the highway like a slug from a 45. True Death, 400 horsepower of maximum performance piercing the night - this is Black Sunshine" 2002 S4 6MT AWE STG 3 - Still here, but not much longer 1995 S6 Avant Emerald/Ecru - Almost here, not much longer

10-24-2005, 11:34 AM	#7
gk1 AudiWorld Super User Account #: 14154 Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,522	Keep us posted on how they feel in a few thousand miles. My original DBAs started vibrations after a few thousand miles DBA was good enough to replace them with series 4000s like yours... then a few thousand miles later the vibration was back. Now I'm back on plain rotors again. __________________ 2008 A6 3.2Q S-Line Daytona Gray / Black S-Line interior Premium, Tech, Nav retrofit

10-24-2005, 11:35 AM	#8
Pie4Foo Member Account #: 57452 Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 1,628	Yes, I bedded them. They were smoking after a few runs. :-p Of course, now that they're bedded, they no longer smoke. And you're right, I can feel the slots under VERY heaving braking. Not really an issue, however, as I know what's going on. __________________ Car for driving in circles: Lotus Exige Car for driving to the airport: AWE/GIAC Stage 3 S4 Car for the weekday: Hertz rental

10-24-2005, 12:07 PM	#9
Swank4 AudiWorld Super User Account #: 41738 Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 6,760	hehe..."very heavy braking". Sounds like me every day on the exit ramp :) __________________ 2001 S4 avant / RS6-K04 turbos / ASP custom tuning / Fast Intentions 3" downpipes / AWE Twin2 exhaust / AWE ICs / Aquamist HFS-5 / SPEC 3+ clutch / Stasis Motorsports (Ohlins) 700F/800R / Stasis Alcon 355 BBK, 298 rears / H-sport rear sway / Stasis 4:1 rear diff / Zeitronix wideband O2 / FATS = 3.35 on 91 octane / Land & Sea dyno = 429 whp.

10-24-2005, 12:09 PM	#10
Swank4 AudiWorld Super User Account #: 41738 Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 6,760	That's odd. I've had mine on for about 10k miles including one track event. No probs here. One thing I do is hardly ever use the parking brake - especially not if the brakes are hot (just use gear shift). Nor do I keep the brakes depressed at stop lights after using them heavily. Not sure if that's making a difference but I don't like to chance the warpage factor. It did this on my OEM and they lasted 30k miles before I switched to DBA for track purposes. __________________ 2001 S4 avant / RS6-K04 turbos / ASP custom tuning / Fast Intentions 3" downpipes / AWE Twin2 exhaust / AWE ICs / Aquamist HFS-5 / SPEC 3+ clutch / Stasis Motorsports (Ohlins) 700F/800R / Stasis Alcon 355 BBK, 298 rears / H-sport rear sway / Stasis 4:1 rear diff / Zeitronix wideband O2 / FATS = 3.35 on 91 octane / Land & Sea dyno = 429 whp.

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