Originally posted by polakatl
I'll budge in with my problem:
My pads and rotors are stock @45k. The pads seem like they have some more life to them but my braking is horrible. The brakes either suck or lock up the tires. I wanted to know if it is the brake fluid that needs replacing or do the brakes need to be replaced. How hard is changing/bleeding the brake fluid? Can I do it with common tools?
Also do the rear drums need any work or are those almost bullet proof?
If I do decide to change I was thinking EBC grooved rotors and EBC Green Stuff pads. I would like to get the AEM or other brand big brake kit but I don't think they have them for the i4's.
If you are locking up the wheels, then it's not that your brakes suck, that means they are working.
The problem is the lack of ABS.
Rear drums will outlast the front pads and rotors most likely.
You can bleed/flush the brake fluid with simple tools. Easiest if you have a friend to push the brake pedal for you. Turkey baster will help to suck the old brake fluid out of the master cylinder and will give you a good starting place to add new fluid and begin flushing the system.
More aggresive pads and rotors will stop the wheels faster, but if all you are doing is locking them up, won't really be an improvement over stock. Modulating the brake pedal better or getting tires with more grip and/or larger footprint can help in decreasing braking distance. EDIT...I see you already have wider tires...the same tires I have.
Also...if you are frequently locking up your brakes...the solution may be to not follow people so closely.