C6 RS6 Brake Disc - any cheaper alternatives?

[Cheddra]

Hi all,

This is my first forum! I am, as of 72 hours ago, the (semi) proud owner of a Sepang Blue C6 RS6. The reason I’m semi proud, is because I impulse bought a car that needs some love. I have just turned 30, this is my first performance car and I had no idea just quite how expensive brakes are (I should have done my research, I know).

Audi main dealer in Aylesbury are quoting £2K for discs and pads on the front, that’s fitted and VAT included. They want £1400 for the rear discs, again fitted and VAT included.

I categorically cannot afford this, but they drastically need changing. Can anyone suggest anything that may save me some money? I really want to get the car to a goood working order, but I have a feeling it’s going to cost me many thousands, the thought of which makes my soul hurt.

Many thanks in advance!

Jacob

[Jim Haseltine]

First thing - it's not a car you can run on the cheap. There are however sources for some parts which provide some relief from the RS tax.
Having said that, the prices you've been quoted are not that bad for the brakes as it's not unusual to find dealers listing front discs at £1k each with rears not far behind. LLLParts have them at £773 so I'd suspect that the dealer prices have dropped a bit. Autodoc currently have Zimmermann discs at £422 each (front) and £325 each (rear) - if Zimmermann aren't the OE manufacturer I'd be very much surprised as I've never been able to spot a difference between them and some supplied by Audi.
Pads - OE are Pagit (I think). What you have to keep in mind is that you're looking at a two-tonne car which moves - ok you shouldn't really top 70mph but even hauling it down from that sort of speed in a hurry needs a decent pad, not the stuff at the bottom end of the market. Time pressure had me throwing a set of cheap front pads on to worn discs for a MoT one year, don't remember the make but they cost around £40 - they didn't give me much confidence so I pussy-footed around until I had time to fit new discs and quality pads. Other people's experiences may vary.
Unless you're handy with tools or have a tame mechanic, I'd advise snapping the dealer's hands off at those prices. To change the front discs you have to remove the calipers - the mounting bolts are torqued to 196Nm if I remember correctly so you need a decent breaker bar to get them undone and a high setting torque wrench to fit the new ones. Front pads have a set of pins and anti-rattle springs which may (or may not) be in a condition to be reused. To change the rear discs and pads you have to reset the handbrake which requires the use of an electronic tool.

[welwynnick]

Hi Jacob, and welcome to the forum.
What is the condition of the brakes? You say they drastically need changing - is that because they're squealing?
Is it just the pads that need changing, or is it definitely the discs as well?
If you just need to change pads, you don't necessarily need to change the discs.
If you need to change the discs, you definitely need to change the pads.
Discs need changing if the MOT man says so, if they're heavily corroded, cracked, warped, or 2mm thinner than new (36mm new, 34mm minimum).
Next, do you have any motoring DIY experience?
Changing brakes isn't that difficult, but you really do need to know what you're doing. Especially when you have electric parking brakes.
Do you have access to another car?
Best,
Nick

[Cheddra]

Hi Jacob, and welcome to the forum.
What is the condition of the brakes? You say they drastically need changing - is that because they're squealing?
Is it just the pads that need changing, or is it definitely the discs as well?
If you just need to change pads, you don't necessarily need to change the discs.
If you need to change the discs, you definitely need to change the pads.
Discs need changing if the MOT man says so, if they're heavily corroded, cracked, warped, or 2mm thinner than new (36mm new, 34mm minimum).
Next, do you have any motoring DIY experience?
Changing brakes isn't that difficult, but you really do need to know what you're doing. Especially when you have electric parking brakes.
Do you have access to another car?
Best,
Nick

Hi Nick,

Thanks for getting back to me. Honestly, the condition of the brakes is bloody awful. Front discs and pads 80% worn, rear discs 80% worn, but with brand new pads (not fitted within my ownership). Has a full years MOT, so starting to think the chap from which I purchased the car was in cahoots with the MOT centre.

Regarding motoring DIY experience, I have very little. Used to tinker around with bikes in my teens, and can competently follow YouTube tutorials, but not to the extent that I could confidently change brakes.. especially on a vehicle of this calibre.

I have access to my van for work, so the RS6 can sit around.. the trouble is that I’m head over heels in love with it, and I’m really struggling to pull myself out of the drivers seat!

I’ve found some brakes on eBay, the discs aren’t branded, which I find slightly disconcerting, but it’s a cost effective option. I’ll post the link below;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394561983778 ... R-y81tuSYw

Any thoughts on these guys?

Thanks!

[Cheddra]

First thing - it's not a car you can run on the cheap. There are however sources for some parts which provide some relief from the RS tax.
Having said that, the prices you've been quoted are not that bad for the brakes as it's not unusual to find dealers listing front discs at £1k each with rears not far behind. LLLParts have them at £773 so I'd suspect that the dealer prices have dropped a bit. Autodoc currently have Zimmermann discs at £422 each (front) and £325 each (rear) - if Zimmermann aren't the OE manufacturer I'd be very much surprised as I've never been able to spot a difference between them and some supplied by Audi.
Pads - OE are Pagit (I think). What you have to keep in mind is that you're looking at a two-tonne car which moves - ok you shouldn't really top 70mph but even hauling it down from that sort of speed in a hurry needs a decent pad, not the stuff at the bottom end of the market. Time pressure had me throwing a set of cheap front pads on to worn discs for a MoT one year, don't remember the make but they cost around £40 - they didn't give me much confidence so I pussy-footed around until I had time to fit new discs and quality pads. Other people's experiences may vary.
Unless you're handy with tools or have a tame mechanic, I'd advise snapping the dealer's hands off at those prices. To change the front discs you have to remove the calipers - the mounting bolts are torqued to 196Nm if I remember correctly so you need a decent breaker bar to get them undone and a high setting torque wrench to fit the new ones. Front pads have a set of pins and anti-rattle springs which may (or may not) be in a condition to be reused. To change the rear discs and pads you have to reset the handbrake which requires the use of an electronic tool.

Hi Jim,

Thanks for getting back to me! I completely understand, and agree with what you’re saying. It’s not that I want to spend bugger all on brakes, more that I don’t/can’t afford to have my pants pulled down!

I’ve seen the Zimmerman on AutoDoc, as per this forum and some others, they’re quite highly regarded. Thing is, I could do with keeping the spending to £1200 or thereabouts per axel. I’m hoping to achieve discs and pads fitted within this budget, which I’m now understanding to be optimistic!

Is there a highly regarded RS specialist you might consider recommending? Other than MRC of course!

Thanks again for your replies. Feeling quite welcome within the Audi community already!

Thanks

[welwynnick]

I don't worry about buying pattern brake discs any more. I think manufacturing discs is a problem that's been solved, as long as you buy from a well-established seller that knows they can't get away with selling rubbish. Cheap pads won't do, I generally buy Brembo or Pagid.

The problems with brakes are that any contamination on the mating surface between the hub and disc causes judder, calipers often corrode causing the pads and fittings to bind, and the procedure for parking brake work on VAG cars in particular is critical and exacting. Therefore I think you need a VAG specialist, rather than an RS specialist.

Whereabouts in the country are you?

Nick

[NICKH]

I have a set of good fronts available and maybe some rears (not sure if i kept them as they were a bit worn) from when I recently upgraded to RB Racing Rotors BBK floating set up all round. Am based in Burnley but not sure where you are.

[NICKH]

Have checked with my mechanic and he saved everything that we replaced so I have a full set of front discs and pads plus a set of rear discs and pads.

These are all fully useable as I only upgraded then as my C6 is heavily modified so a BBK was installed.

[Cheddra]

Hi WelwynNick,

Thank for getting back to me, apologies for the delay. I ended up with the brakes I’ve detailed below. Thanks for the advise!

Hi NickH,

Thanks for this offer mate, but I’m all sorted. I opted for AP racing floating bell on the front, Zimmerman on the rear and brembo pads all round. Cost me a fair amount, but the car feels incomparably better than before.

Thanks again for getting back to me with your offer!


Jacob