Please Help - S6 Brake Pedal Travel (Long)

[RubEric@aol.com]

I lusted for a S4/S6 for a long time and finally purchased a wonderful 1995 S6
about two months ago.  I had to sell my trusty Chrysler CQ (1933 Imperial) to
help pay for it, but it is a beautiful car - black with a gray interior and
almost as new.  It has been chipped and goes like crazy.

Unfortunately, I have a problem with the brakes.  The distance the pedal must
travel from its released position until braking pressure is generated is very,
very long - about two inches.  It is much like a drum brake car that needs a
brake adjustment.  When the brakes are applied, the pedal is so low that with
my big feet, I occasionally apply pressure to the accelerator.

It is very disconcerting to drive this car.  When cornering, it is not
possible to give the brakes a short, quick tap as I can with other cars.
There is always the uncomfortable feeling of "are the brakes gone" because of
the long travel.  I often overbrake because I have stomped on the pedal to
take the slack up quickly and then apply too much pressure when I finally do
build up braking pressure. 

The A6 is not like this. It has a very nice "high" pedal with minimum travel.
Of course the A6 and S6 have very different braking systems - the A6 is vacuum
boosted, the S6 is hydraulic boosted.  My 84 Olympic, however, is hydraulic
boosted and it also has a high pedal with minimum travel. 

I bought the car from an Audi-only used car dealer who knows Audis.  He
indicates the long pedal travel is typical of the S6.  Other correspondents in
this newsgroup experienced the same long travel on a car he drove.   Others
have blamed play in the linkages(??).  Not likely in a low mileage car.  The
pads have been checked for wear and the lines have been thoroughly bled.  I
don't think the problem is worn pads, pads that retract too much, or air in
the lines. Based on the input I have received, I have concluded nothing is
wrong it is just an unfortunate characteristic of the S6.  I THINK the problem
is in the design of the master cylinder in that considerable travel there is
necessary before the applicable port is covered and the fluid is confined so
that pressure can build.

At present, I have an expensive car that I don't like very much.  In fact, I
have parked it and returned to driving my predictable '84 Olympic.  Unlike the
S6, I have confidence in the brakes on this car.

I can't possibly be the only person who dislikes the brakes on this car.  One
of you before me must have been similarly discontent with these brakes and
looked for a solution. I would sincerely appreciate the benefit from your
experience.

Sincerely,  Eric