SF-Tuning kits using Brembo 17Z and 18Z six-piston calipers from Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q7 and VW Touareg, or BM5 four-piston calipers from VW Touareg.
Read before installation
Read the complete guide and compare every part with your order before removing the original brakes. This guide covers the shared installation process; disc size, centring parts, fasteners, hose ends and wheel fitment vary by vehicle and kit. Follow the specification supplied with your exact SF-Tuning order.
View the wheel clearance templates ↓
Check before dismantling
Choose the template for your caliper and vehicle. The drawings show dimensions in millimetres. Open the PDF template in a new tab and print on A4 landscape at 100% or Actual Size. Turn off Fit to Page and Shrink to Fit. Measure the 100 mm check line before cutting out the template; if it is not exactly 100 mm, correct the print settings and print again. The on-screen preview is not life-size.
These templates have different stated vehicle applications. Use the drawing matching the kit ordered; contact SF-Tuning for another vehicle or disc configuration.
If wheel spacers are needed, SF-Tuning can supply them for you. On vehicles with alloy knuckles, the thicker caliper mounting ears position the caliper too far inboard for this conversion. The Audi TT Mk2 is the exception: its alloy knuckle has mounting ears with the required geometry. If changing knuckles, check bearing, ball-joint, tie-rod and strut compatibility, then have the alignment checked.
Check your order
Check your supplied kit against the appropriate column before installation. The table scrolls horizontally on smaller screens.
| Component | 18Z six-piston kit | 17Z six-piston kit | BM5 four-piston kit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calipers | Matched left and right Brembo 18Z six-piston calipers | Matched left and right Brembo 17Z six-piston calipers | Matched left and right Brembo BM5 four-piston calipers |
| Discs | 350mm × 32mm, 54.5mm overall height, Mercedes-Benz M-Class discs | 330mm × 32mm, 54.5mm overall height, Mercedes-Benz M-Class discs | |
| Pads and retention | 17Z pads for the best fitment with this conversion; brake pad wear sensor; 2 pad pins with bolts and 2 springs | BM5 pads; brake pad wear sensor; 4 pad pins and 2 springs | |
| Mounting hardware | SF-Tuning high-tensile bolts, reduction sleeves and Nyloc nuts | ||
| Disc location | Vehicle-specific centring rings | ||
| Hydraulics | HEL Performance stainless steel braided hose specific to this conversion | ||
Prepare properly
Clean and treat corroded hard-line unions before starting. Use a pedal depressor or brake hose clamp to prevent fluid loss.
Step by step
The installation photos show the BM5 calipers being fitted. These steps also apply to the 17Z and 18Z conversions covered in this guide.
Park on level ground, chock the wheels and support the vehicle at approved points. Remove the front wheels. Inspect the existing hard lines, hose brackets, hub bearings and mounting threads. Remove the original calipers and discs; support each caliper until its hose is disconnected so the line carries no weight.
Remove the original backing plate completely. These conversions use a higher-offset disc, which will contact the original backing plate. Trimming it is not sufficient; removal is the only option. Clean the hub face and pilot until flat and free of rust. A minimal anti-corrosion film may be used on the flat hub face only; keep the stud/bolt seats, wheel mating face, disc friction faces and threads clean.
Install only the disc centring ring supplied for this kit, as shown. Fit the correct handed disc and hold it flush to the hub with a temporary wheel bolt and suitable washers if needed. Verify the disc sits flat, concentric and free of wobble.
Before mounting the caliper, install two of the supplied adaptor sleeves into its mounting holes, as shown.
Position the caliper with both bleed screws at the top. The caliper mounts behind the hub mounting points, rather than in front of them as a conventional caliper would. Apply threadlocker to the bolt threads and install the supplied high-tensile fasteners in the orientation shown.
Start the upper fastener by hand, check full thread engagement and tighten it. Install the lower bolt in the same way, then finally torque both bolts to 140 Nm.
With the disc held firmly against the hub, rotate it through a full turn and verify that it clears the caliper body and pad-retaining hardware. If anything touches, stop and contact SF-Tuning. Do not modify any components unless instructed to do so.
Fit the specified pads, retaining pins and anti-rattle spring in their correct orientation. Apply a small amount of compatible non-metallic brake paste only to the approved pad contact points and piston contact areas. Keep friction material and disc faces entirely free of paste. Connect or secure the wear sensor as specified; keep its wiring away from the disc and wheel.
Do not use copper grease on the back of the pads. It can damage the caliper piston dust boots, cause premature failure and void the brake warranty.
Install the 90-degree male hose fitting into the caliper. Start the fitting by hand and carefully confirm that the threads engage correctly to avoid cross-threading the caliper. Tighten the hose fitting to 25–33 Nm.
Install the plastic hose support in the factory support location and secure it with the metal circlip. Fit and tighten the two supplied plastic clips on either side of the support so the hose cannot move backwards or forwards through it.
Connect the female hose end to the vehicle hard line. Check that the hose is not twisted, locate the hose nut in the factory bracket and secure it with the metal circlip.
Check that the hose does not rub the wheel, strut, driveshaft or body, and does not pull tight.
Critical procedure
These calipers use two bleed screws per caliper. Bleed each caliper in this order:
Bleed approximately 250 ml through each front caliper. You may need to alternate between screws several times to remove all trapped air.
The front screw bleeds approximately 4.5 pistons; the rear screw bleeds the remaining 1.5 pistons.
As a minimum, bleed the braking system using a pressure bleeder set to 20 PSI. Never allow the fluid reservoir to run dry, and do not exceed the pressure limits stated by the pressure bleeder, reservoir cap or vehicle manufacturer.
During bleeding, use OBD11, Carista or VCDS to run the applicable ABS pump and valve bleeding function. Activating the ABS hydraulic system is critical to purge trapped air and old fluid from the ABS unit and the rest of the braking system, helping achieve a firm brake pedal.
After the ABS activation cycle, pressure-bleed the calipers again in the specified sequence until the fluid runs clean and completely free of air.
Install the required wheel spacer, if applicable, and refit the wheel.
Before road use
Bed in the pads and discs according to the pad manufacturer's instructions. Avoid repeated hard stops while the surfaces are bedding in, and allow the brakes to cool between cycles. Reinspect the assembly after the initial drive.
