Help!...Need advice on warped RS4 discs

[alex_123_fra]

Hi all,

Just thought I'd ask for some advice on a problem I'm having. I had my front discs and pads replaced 3k miles ago. I bought the standard RS4 discs and pads from vagparts and got them fitted by an independent (a very reputable one but I won't mention names yet until this is sorted).

Around 1 month ago I noticed that on very light braking from 50-60mph, I get a fine steering wheel vibration but not at other speeds. Obviously, having very new discs and pads, I was a bit peeved that this problem started up so I asked my local audi dealership to have a look at it while the car is in for something else.

I got a call back today saying that the person who fitted my discs/pads used copper grease instead of a special very heat resistant grease that audi use when doing this job. They feel that this led to overheating in my discs and that as a result they are very slightly warped again. They recommend I have them re-replaced!

At this point, I'll add that I do not track the car nor do I actually drive it particularly hard. I never ride the brake pedal at traffic lights and I've never had any real issues with warped discs previously.

My question is, are audi correct? Could the lack of this special heat resistant grease be the cause of my issues? I've never heard of it to be honest and I thought that copper grease was fine. Is this their ploy to get me to pay for yet another set of new discs? Is it worth me taking it up with the independent who fitted them or will I just be laughed at?

Some advice would be greatly appreciated as I really don't want to fork out another £600 for a pair of front discs so soon.

Thanks,
Alex

[jackwood]

Have you tried to give the disks and pads a good scrub? Did you bed them in originally after you had them fitted? A few emergency stops from 50-60 mph usually do the job. Maybe a bit faster.

I have had this issue on the Porsche before, felt like very slightly warped disks. A few very hard brakes from a decent speed cured the problem. Incidentaly that also happened after a few thousand miles. It has never come back and didn't require an (expensive) trip to the stealers.

[t_urbo]

Take it back to the independent to sort. Have you tried braking as hard as possible from 100mph or so a few times? This may cure it.

Discs DO NOT WARP unless they are mounted on an uneven surface and even then its rare.

If Audi just 'looked' at them, then how they can say they are warped is amazing.

[alex_123_fra]

Thanks guys, yes it does seem strange to me too. I wonder why they fed me the whole heat resistant grease story? I can't imagine grease having anything to do with warping anyway.

I tried some hard stops a few weeks ago which made it better but it didn't go away. Admittedly it is very fine and slight vibration and only at those speeds so I guess I can live with it until the pads/discs need changing again.

[Virdee Autos]

I personally think they're pulling a fast one!

I've read many a time on here, that several high speed stops, will take the glaze off the discs/pads, and be back to normal.

[ARSEY4]

Can you take it to another Audi dealer and see if they will replace them under warranty?

[alex_123_fra]

Can you take it to another Audi dealer and see if they will replace them under warranty?

Could do I suppose ARSEY4, but I have a feeling all audi dealers are linked through some computer system that logs every bit of work done on a car. My local dealer knew what updates Teesside audi had done to my ECU. Chances are someone will have put a note there saying that I need new discs.

What pisses me off more than anything is the fact that they are blaming the independent for this rather than offer a sensible explanation. If there was something wrong with a disc, it should still be covered by manufacturer's warranty as it is a genuine audi part regardless of the fact that it was fitted by an independent.

[P_G]

Which Audi dealer is it that did the inspection? If they have done it properly, they should be able to give you the measurements on how much the disks are warped by.

I had my disks replaced FOC under warranty albeit I had the dealer do it but I'm not convinced mine ar perfect as I also get a slight vibration on mine currently and they are only 1500 miles old.

My experience is that any work not done by a franchised dealer will be criticised and blamed as fault. The reality is that the brembo disks for me are not as robust as they should be.

[P_G]

If there was something wrong with a disc, it should still be covered by manufacturer's warranty as it is a genuine audi part regardless of the fact that it was fitted by an independent.

Unfortunately not as Audi will state it was incorrect fitment that caused the defect, not the part itself. It would be hard to prove otherwise.

[alex_123_fra]

Thanks PG. It was Hatfield audi who have previously been quite good with me, so this is disapponting. I think you're right about the work done by independents. Seems I'll be obliged to bend over and pay dealer labour rates from now on. The thing is I would use the dealer for everything else but on this occasion, their quote for replacing my front discs and pads was about £900 which was significantly more than the independent.

I must say I'm also not that impressed with the stock RS4 discs. Are they made by brembo? The reason I had them replaced 3k miles ago was I was getting a creaking noise every time I used the brakes when the car was about to come to a complete stop. This was present from the day I bought the car (approved used from audi). Does anyone know if there are any more robust 2-piece discs that can be used on the RS4 instead?

[P_G]

Alex, how many miles does you car have on it and how many did it have when you bought it off the Audi Approved scheme.

The reason I ask is that I bought mine from the same program with 16,250 miles on it and within 8 weeks was experiencing warped disks. I went to my local dealer, not where I bought it and they quoted me £676 for replacing warped discs and therefore new pads were needed. I kicked off saying there was no way that in 8 weeks and just over 3000 miles I could have warped discs and there was a problem with them from just about week 2 onward.

They got Audi CS involved who would only pay part of the cost, however a call to the Harold Wood Audi where I bought my RS brought enlightenment as there is a clause in the service and warranty charter that B7 RS4 model cars should in the case of warped discs have them and pads replaced FOC for the first three years under warranty.

So having paid the money I got it refunded, so Hitchin Audi quoting you for replacement under 20,000 miles is a big no no and they ain't doing you any favours.

[P_G]

As for alternative disks, I read on here IIRC that VW Phaeton disks are the same size in all dimensions and are solid disks, not cross drilled. I'm not sure whether the rears are the same though.

There is no way that under normal driving conditions and having not been on a track that any car should go through pads or disks under 20,000 miles

[alex_123_fra]

Alex, how many miles does you car have on it and how many did it have when you bought it off the Audi Approved scheme.

The reason I ask is that I bought mine from the same program with 16,250 miles on it and within 8 weeks was experiencing warped disks. I went to my local dealer, not where I bought it and they quoted me £676 for replacing warped discs and therefore new pads were needed. I kicked off saying there was no way that in 8 weeks and just over 3000 miles I could have warped discs and there was a problem with them from just about week 2 onward.

They got Audi CS involved who would only pay part of the cost, however a call to the Harold Wood Audi where I bought my RS brought enlightenment as there is a clause in the service and warranty charter that B7 RS4 model cars should in the case of warped discs have them and pads replaced FOC for the first three years under warranty.

So having paid the money I got it refunded, so Hitchin Audi quoting you for replacement under 20,000 miles is a big no no and they ain't doing you any favours.

Interesting to hear this PG. Almost identical situation with me, I bought mine with 16k miles from teesside audi. Brakes were intermittently making creaking sounds as discribed above which got worse and then I just ordered discs and pads to get them replaced. I didn't actually take the car into the dealer to have a look at (I probably should have), but I got a quote of around £900 for the job from them. I just assumed they wouldn't pay for front discs and pads no matter what I say and would give me the "wear and tear" line.

In the end I got the front discs and pads replaced at 19-20k miles. Car was absolutely fine until a few weeks ago when this problem surfaced. I have now done 23k miles.

I have a feeling they would tell me to f. off if I try to mention that clause you refer to. They will say that as the work was done by an independent, they take no responsibility. Wish I'd known about it during the summer when I paid for this all to be done

[P_G]

I agree, however the fact you've asked for a price for discs and pads you would have hoped would send alram bells rinigng in someones head at Audi.

Benefit of hindsight and all that. Have you kept the original warped discs and pads? You could have a case then if you present them along with an invoice corresponding to when they were replaced. Wear and tear is OK, but warping is serrious especially after having the car for such a short period after purchase when it would appear part of the damage has occured. It is also obvious to me that as part of Audi approved the disks are not checked for warping, just for wear rate.

[alex_123_fra]

I agree, however the fact you've asked for a price for discs and pads you would have hoped would send alram bells rinigng in someones head at Audi.

Benefit of hindsight and all that. Have you kept the original warped discs and pads? You could have a case then if you present them along with an invoice corresponding to when they were replaced. Wear and tear is OK, but warping is serrious especially after having the car for such a short period after purchase when it would appear part of the damage has occured. It is also obvious to me that as part of Audi approved the disks are not checked for warping, just for wear rate.

You're right. When I asked for the quote back in Sep/Oct '07 noone at my dealership batted an eyelid but went ahead to give a price I'd have to pay.

Unfortunately, the discs which were replaced were kept by the independent as I didn't think I'd need them. On inspection when they came off the car, they were not warped but very worn and on their last legs.

You're right about the audi approved inspection. The multi-point preparation sheet simply has the "check front pads and discs" box ticked but they are definitely not checked for warping. The roadtest section does have a box for "check braking and ABS", "check steering" and "check steering wheel alignment" but nothing about steering judder. Often this isn't the type of problem you notice on a test-drive either. You have to live with the car for a bit to get to know its habits/behaviour.