For my new 17Z calipers, I needed brake pads from 18Z calipers (for 350 mm rotors) – I was looking for something similar to ATE 13.0470-4993.2 in 190×106.4 mm size, but with more sporty characteristics.
Eventually, I chose Black Diamond Predator PP654 Fast Road in 190x107x17 mm size – designed for Audi Q7 06->, Porsche Cayenne and VW Touareg.
Compared to the previous brake pads I used with 256 and 310 mm rotors, the size of pads for Brembo 18Z calipers is really impressive.
Price: 627 zł
In theory, Brembo 17Z calipers were designed for 17″ wheels with 330 mm rotors, while Brembo 18Z calipers were meant for 17″ wheels with 350 mm rotors. The pad mounting is identical, with the only difference being the pad size. If we use Golf 4 R32 (5×100) 334 mm rotors with standard 17Z caliper pads, part of the rotor surface will remain unused. To fully utilize the rotor surface, you should use pads from 18Z calipers – this topic is widely discussed on Golf 4 and Audi TT 8N forums (here is example).
Below, I will show the differences in brake pad surface area based on ATE technical drawings:
(17″ wheels + 330 mm rotors + 17Z calipers)
(18″ wheels + 350mm rotors + 18Z calipers)
And here are photos of 334 mm rotors with Brembo 17Z caliper and 18Z pads on an adapter from an OLX seller, showing that with the taller 18Z pads, the rotor coverage is better (although it could be even better with an even taller pad):
The difference in coverage is due to the fact that the 334 mm rotors from Golf 4 R32 (1J0) were originally used with two-piston calipers and pads with a height of 194.3 mm. When opting for Golf 4 rotors, we have to accept the incomplete rotor coverage. The alternative is to use Porsche Cayenne rotors, which require redrilling to 5×100 bolt pattern each time.
(for 334 mm rotors from Golf 4 R32)
