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Big
Reds One of the S4's greatest weaknesses has been its brakes. The stock G-60 setup lacks both the clamping force needed to haul the S4 down from high speed and the mass/cooling to prevent fade. It's worth noting that only North American S-cars came with G-60s, other markets received far superior equipment. At first, I tried a mix of improved pads (Pagid Orange) and drilled rotors, along with stainless steel lines. These did represent a significant improvement, especially in the brakes feel, and in truth, they probably would have been adequate for non-track driving. At the track, however, they compromised every other aspect of the car's performance. So, on went the Big Reds. There are several of these kits, all based on the Brembo/Porsche caliper from the Porsche 993 Twin Turbo. It's big, it's red. It's a Big Red. My kit came from RevSport, and is based on a Zimmerman 314mm rotor (from a Euro-S8) and the Big Red caliper. Other kits use custom 330mm rotors, for more stopping power, but (a) they aren't direct bolt-ons, (b) they have problems clearing a 16" rim, which I needed and (c) they cost significantly more. The results? Subjectively, they feel very much like the stock setup around town, with a smooth pedal feel and no "grabbiness". Once you start to push hard, they become a revelation. The have tremendous stopping power, and a very linear pedal feel. ABS can be invoked much further up the speed-range, and can be modulated well too. More objectively, at the track, I found myself able to outbrake other S-cars with ease, and with no apparent signs of brake fade as the sessions wore on. A very nice upgrade. I'd place it as the second best improvement to the car, after the EVC boost controller. I'm now (2/00) running Porterfield R4 pads at the track, and they have extended the BigReds' already prodigious capabilities still further. Note: I'd strongly recommend not using R4s on the street. The OEM Porsche pads are quite good enough, and much easier on your eardrums. Contact: Dave from RevSport OTHER MODIFICATIONS
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