Brake issues/advice

[chive90]

Hi guys

I hadn't driven the RS for a couple of months. Took it out yesterday and had the brake pad warning light come up on the display indicating that the pads were low/need changing. Is this warning known to be intermittent or false? I only ask because I did multiple trips yesterday and it didn't come back on once.

On a side note, since owning the car I have been completely underwhelmed by the brakes. I know it's a big, heavy car but the brakes are huge and IMO the stopping power, sharpness, bite is all rubbish and I can't believe it's meant to be like this which leads me to believe I must have an issue with the setup that's on the car. As far as I know, it has standard pads and discs. I have, in my ownership, had the fluid changed to some Dot 5.1 but this didn't improve my feeling with the brakes at all.

So, some questions...

1. From the pics below, does it look like there is much life left in the pads?
2. How do the discs look beside the surface rust and holes being filled with gunk?
3. Even if the answer to both the above questions are fine (which I doubt) I plan to change the setup anyway as it's just not working for me - so what pads and discs do people recommend for front and rear, for fast road use? I want the stopping to be much improved over standard.
4. Do people also run braided lines and feel that these improve things?

I plan to book in with my Audi specialist asap but wanted to check on the forums first so I'm not going in blind thanks guys
P.S I can take some additional pics if that would help.

[Dubbsley]

I’m sure the rust build up & gunk in the drilled holes will no doubt be affecting the brake feel/bite.
Putting new discs & pads will definitely help you, it did with mine (Brembos).


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[js47]

I'd try an Italian brake job and see if that helps. Looks like it was sitting for a while.

My brakes are extremely powerful. I was recently driving my father's car for the first time since getting an RS4 (a car which I remembered having really good brakes!) and almost blew through an intersection braking for a red light because they were so much weaker than I anticipated.

Granted, I do have braided lines and carbon ceramics. But I imagine the standard steelies are comparable in performance when cold.

[AndyBrad]

those appear to be aftermarket discs.
And they are very rusty. i take it its just been washed / sitting when you took the pictures? if not you probably have a sticky caliper.

And your pads are low.

[JamesBaby]

I would take the pads out and thoroughly clean the calipers. Take of any rust and dirt, especially where the pads sit or touches metal. Re-grease the touch points

The rear brakes affect bite more than people realise. I put new seals on my rear calipers and it really helped, but a good clean up is the first place to start.

Oh and of course, bleed the brakes properly.

[chive90]

Thanks all - re Italian brake job, this pic was taken after a 200 mile trip the day before so brakes were used reasonably hard and up to temp yet still felt really poor. Prior to this drive it's been sat in my garage for a couple of months.

Thanks for confirming re pads being low - is there any way to tell if the discs are low too from the pics?

I think I need to take it to my reputable specialist and just ask them to give it a brake overhaul and let me know what needs changing tbh. Cleaning the calipers is a good shout too. If the pads are low anyway then I'll definitely do those. Wouldn't want to replace the discs if they aren't low and just need a clean or something.

On this note - what pads do you guys recommend? I have read that many go for Ferodo DS2500's, although these don't have the wear indicators. Any others that I should be considering and would these apply to the rear too? Any advice on which discs?

Appreciate the help

[JamesBaby]

If those are your discs right after a drive something isn't right. They should have been swept clean and shiny by driving. If it was stood after being wet for a day then its fine.

You can tell if discs need changing if they have a lip on the edges. The discs are chamfered at the edge by around 1mm. So if the chamfer has gone, and there is a lip it means you have worn below the chamfer and hence 1mm on each side. Thus 2mm is gone which as about done for the discs, give or take.

You can get little plugs that connect over the cars brake sensor plug to fool it and not throw a wear light. No one driving an RS4 should need a warning light to know if pads are too low. Other options I've used that I found good were Ferodo Premiere or Performance pads. TRW were the OEM ones.

[chive90]

If those are your discs right after a drive something isn't right. They should have been swept clean and shiny by driving. If it was stood after being wet for a day then its fine.

You can tell if discs need changing if they have a lip on the edges. The discs are chamfered at the edge by around 1mm. So if the chamfer has gone, and there is a lip it means you have worn below the chamfer and hence 1mm on each side. Thus 2mm is gone which as about done for the discs, give or take.

You can get little plugs that connect over the cars brake sensor plug to fool it and not throw a wear light. No one driving an RS4 should need a warning light to know if pads are too low. Other options I've used that I found good were Ferodo Premiere or Performance pads. TRW were the OEM ones.

Thanks James - no this was the day after driving, so it had been sat outside for 24h when taking the above pics. I still don't believe it is even braking at 50% of what an RS4 should though so I'll book it in with my garage. Thanks for the info. Do you use braided lines too?

[JamesBaby]

My car does have braided lines yes, but unless yours are faulty I'd spend that money elsewhere such as refurb rear calipers, an dclean up fronts as that will make a bigger difference.

[irishmike]

It's interesting as I feel the same about the brakes on mine.
Even after a new set of discs/pads I felt it was still lacking bite.
Now they work, but I feel I need to apply quite a bit of pressure to get the best out of them.
So any tips for more initial bite would be great.

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[Covkiller]

Drill the holes out in your discs for starters and jet wash into the vents, rotating the disc as you go. The amount of crap that comes out is amazing.
Your discs don't look worn, if the bight is poor, replace your brake fluid. If that doesn't work, buy some Ferrodo DS2500 pads. That will stop you !

I fit braided hoses to all of my cars immediately. If yours have never been changed then I would replace them. You can take your old ones to Pirtek and they will make them up for you cheaper while you wait. I just checked the prices and man have they gone up. I remember paying £30 for mine on my RS4 B7 saloon.

If you really want go to town. Buy some white vinegar and soak your discs overnight. This will remove all the rust. Then buy a rotating wire wheel, stick it in your drill and brush the bells and edges of the discs. They'll come up as new.