R36 big brake options

[garronleslie]

Hi guys,

Looking for some advice from seasoned R36 guru’s here , by the way I did do a lot of searching, so I hope this doesn’t annoy anyone, like its been done 1000 times before, I just cant find any info !!!

I’m trying to understand if there is a bolt on caliper upgrade for the R36 using standard VAG parts.

For example, would a Q7 front caliper go on the R36? Or possibly with an adapter?
Maybe a Porsche Cayenne front caliper?
Maybe an S4 rear? Would go on the rear of an R36?

Calipers and adapters seem to be a mystery, and i’m not so fond of looking at BBK’s from willwood, AP or Brembo etc, trying to keep it all a bit understated, and oem like.

Just trying to achieve the monoblock look but with a standard VAG part - coz standard VAG parts are good, when they are made by brembo :-0

Anyhow - advice, those that have done it or know about it, would be appreciated.

NB: going on std diam rotors and std 18” R36 rims

[kamold]

I don't have too many specifics for you sorry, but I understand that 18z brakes do NOT fit inside the stock 18 inch wheels. You'd need to go for 19 inch Omyants or some other suitable larger wheel to accommodate them.
You can fit the 17z brakes inside the standard wheels from what I understand.
There are kits you can get with 17z calipers, Mercedes rotors and other required hardware:
Full Brake Kits - rotorlab

or you can put something together yourself with wrecker parts and add your own rotors, pads etc.

[prn31]

Those 17z brakes are actually 330mm, whereas standard R36 rotors are 345mm. I don't think that downgrading rotor size is a good idea and as Kamold said going to a (wider) four Piston caliper a la Toureg/Audi/Porsche would require either 19 inch rims or 18 inch rims with different offsets to the standard Omyants.

It is worth noting that Mk7 Golf R (and GTI Performance) front rotors are 340mm, so brake upgrades for Golfs may not be compatible.

I think the blue R36 calipers look pretty good as they are and they work pretty well too.

[garronleslie]

thanks Guys - not giving up yet 19"s may be an option? but would love to stick with factory rims , if I can.
hopefully someone has done something on here.

I think the R32 front brakes at least are the same as the R36? - and I have seen a couple of R32's getting around with Porsche callipers with what look like std 18" Omyant's........hmmmm - me needs to keep thinking master!!!

[Domatron]

I believe that the standard "omanyts" on the R32 are only 7.5" wide instead of 8" like on the R36. I could be wrong though. Not sure what the offset is...

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

[WillYu]

Brembo 17/18Z’s will not work with the adapters available.
There are plenty of adapters offered for the MK5/6’s, some even claim to fit the Passat B6’s without knowing that Passat’s have different uprights when I inquired.

The knuckles on the Golf’s are steel the Passat’s are alloy, though lighter it’s almost double the thickness to compensate for strength. The rotor will not be able to sit centre to the caliper whether it’s mounted on the inner or outer side of the carrier.
What some have done to use the 17/18Z’s is change the uprights to one from a golf, it’s a direct bolt. As mentioned you’ll need Merc ML rotors + hub rings.

A direct bolt while using VAG parts are the TTRS 4 pots or the RS3/4/6 8 pots, both are manufactured by Brembo. Though the 8 pots will not fit under our 18’s without the use of a 10mm spacer. TTRS’s share the same centre bore so no hub rings are required. You can use 370mm TTRS rotors or 365mm SQ3 wave rotors with either 4/8 pots calipers.