Owner reviews for brake pads

Yes...to an extent but the biggest difference in braking performance will come from the pads you use. I like having slots because I feel it does help, especially in wet conditions to channel the water away for quicker bite.

I've fitted EBC yellow stuff pads (and standard VW discs), and I've found the braking performance to be amazing for road use. These pads were so much better than anything I've bought over the counter from VW.

My R32 with new brakes is unreal, stops way better then my jetta, the car you drove must of had shot brakes, Mine will smash my face in to the steering wheel is im not careful that how hard I can stop. I got stock callipers with hawks HPS pads all round made the car so much better

In terms of driving impressions, well...it feels heavy and clumsy around town. The steering is very heavy...forget twirling the wheel with a finger. The shifter is mounted low and away. It takes effort to shift, and it's very solid and mechanical (rod shifter). The clutch is progressive but the friction point is not very obvious. Ride is quite good, and push through the clumsy feeling and she can dance. Brakes are hysterically soft, typical for a SHO.

On a positive note- the brakes were sporty car firm and easy to modulate even with these tires.

I was still on the original pads/rotors when I sold it back in '04 and not a day goes by that I don't miss it.

Phaeton brake pads have a sensor attached that when pads have worn sufficiently thin, the sensor will wear through and provide the brake warning light to illuminate. The warning means that you need to replace the pads in the near future.

I took the liberty of swapping my A4 brakes into S4 brakes, all for 600 dollars. The brakes should response much better, stronger, and use much less pedal force. Your brakes when the engine is off should be REALLY hard if properly bled.

The way the brakes begin to grumble during heavy braking is less impressive, but they work well enough.

You wanna avoid mintex red box these days. The passat pads have a slight problem with burning up under hard braking.