Owners with - brake squeal - please register your frustrations HERE!

I held off having shims fitted yesterday because I was hoping this would be done FOC by Audi. Let's see what they com up with next because TBH whilst I occassionally get this it is rare enough not to need immediate attention. Can anyone advise if the front pads ahve wear rate sensors in them; if not may just get some Ferrodo DS2500's and be done with it.
 
P_G said:
I held off having shims fitted yesterday because I was hoping this would be done FOC by Audi. Let's see what they com up with next because TBH whilst I occassionally get this it is rare enough not to need immediate attention. Can anyone advise if the front pads ahve wear rate sensors in them; if not may just get some Ferrodo DS2500's and be done with it.
Click to expand...

YES, Nearside ONLY:

1 RS3718xx
 
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Ta,

I may just try shims myself which I think will also solve my vague braking issue in extreme wet conditions which is water between the pad and disc contact surface by narrowing the contact patch gap.
 
Been out on a 4 hour cross country sprint today; getting a slight judder through the wheel under heavy breaking from higher speeds....car is up to 4300 miles, first time they have done this, felt ****** almost.

Pushed it harder today than I have for a long time.
 
Thank you but no way I'm into a business venture Vito; I did that with Lotus Elans and other classics for 40-odd years, and then it became professional.

All I want to do now is to help others resolve an annoyance so that they can enjoy driving their RS3 to the full.

I will help where I can - JonnyG will vouch for that.
 
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P_G said:
I held off having shims fitted yesterday because I was hoping this would be done FOC by Audi. Let's see what they com up with next because TBH whilst I occassionally get this it is rare enough not to need immediate attention. Can anyone advise if the front pads ahve wear rate sensors in them; if not may just get some Ferrodo DS2500's and be done with it.
Click to expand...

For reference, I got the work done FOC from Audi as a goodwill gesture and so that they can track the effectiveness of the solution, just had to pay for the shims - £16.50 from eBay.

Heard the first squeal again (after about 700 miles in mostly wet conditions) today pulling up to a slow stop in cold dry weather. Not piercingly loud and not repeated despite trying to replicate it but the fact is that the underlying problem is still there...
 
JonnyG said:
Jeez... thats a bit of a surprise :ohmy:.

Mine are still quiet after 1700 miles of 45vbtc's fix ... the only time I had any squeal at all was at -3C degrees and dry roads, but it was only fairly quiet, and not every stop. They have been perfect again this last week with lots of town driving and temps back up 4C to 8C.
Click to expand...

Interesting to know, as I've just had something very similar today after about 700 miles of quiet driving.

Oh, apart from a fairly quiet but frequent squeak/chirp coming from somewhere that I can't pinpoint - taken all my gear out and it's still audible on bumps etc. so it must by an issue with the car.

Any ideas? It's back at the dealer's next week anyway...
 
monkeyboy_marcus said:
Interesting to know, as I've just had something very similar today after about 700 miles of quiet driving.

Oh, apart from a fairly quiet but frequent squeak/chirp coming from somewhere that I can't pinpoint - taken all my gear out and it's still audible on bumps etc. so it must by an issue with the car.

Any ideas? It's back at the dealer's next week anyway...
Click to expand...

It could STILL be the rears Marcus, especially in this weather with our roads strewn with road salt and grit, plus the wet/damp conditions and resulting 'rust' on the rear brake discs, it all contributes.

With most modern cars the front brakes are so efficient that the rear brakes have low usage, couple this with the fact that most of our usage is in low-speed urban environments then the rear brakes aren't 'worked'.

I STRONGLY suggest GENTLE handbrake application in SAFE road conditions.

I try to gently apply my handbrake once on every journey (ok I'm going downhill everywhere from where I live so have the opportunity) just to 'work' the rear brake pads/discs; I used to do the same with my A2, S3, and TT3.2 - all with rear disc brakes. I now do the same with my 2.0TT and RS3.

So, try working those REAR brakes a little more.

I mean; have you seen the size of the front discs, the rears must think they're having a laugh?
 
I finally got around to fitting the shims to my pads this weekend. after Audi took the brakes apart to report back to germany, my first suprise was everything was very dry no cooper grease or equivilant. After following the guide sent to me by 45bvtc everthing was back together in about 1.5hrs and I havent heard a squeek or squeel since. I am still not going to let Audi not get away with not providing a prooper fix coz I am not impressed that it took £18 on ebay and me getting my hands dirty to sort this on a £47k, 5 month old car! but as has been said before by others - I wasnt going to let it spoil an other wise fantasitc car.
 
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S3 AD said:
I finally got around to fitting the shims to my pads this weekend. after Audi took the brakes apart to report back to germany, my first suprise was everything was very dry no cooper grease or equivilant. After following the guide sent to me by 45bvtc everthing was back together in about 1.5hrs and I havent heard a squeek or squeel since. I am still not going to let Audi not get away with not providing a prooper fix coz I am not impressed that it took £18 on ebay and me getting my hands dirty to sort this on a £47k, 5 month old car! but as has been said before by others - I wasnt going to let it spoil an other wise fantasitc car.
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AND ANOTHER SQUEAL BITES THE DUST...

GOOD! Job Andy... Another RS3 owner NOW enjoying driving the car WITHOUT brake-squeal annoyance, brilliant!

The RS3 is far too good a car to be burdened with this stupid issue.

AND ZERO thanks to Audi UK - Sander (MD) et al please note.

Please tell me how anyone can have confidence in Audi UK?
 
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45bvtc said:
It could STILL be the rears Marcus, especially in this weather with our roads strewn with road salt and grit, plus the wet/damp conditions and resulting 'rust' on the rear brake discs, it all contributes.

With most modern cars the front brakes are so efficient that the rear brakes have low usage, couple this with the fact that most of our usage is in low-speed urban environments then the rear brakes aren't 'worked'.

I STRONGLY suggest GENTLE handbrake application in SAFE road conditions.

I try to gently apply my handbrake once on every journey (ok I'm going downhill everywhere from where I live so have the opportunity) just to 'work' the rear brake pads/discs; I used to do the same with my A2, S3, and TT3.2 - all with rear disc brakes. I now do the same with my 2.0TT and RS3.

So, try working those REAR brakes a little more.

I mean; have you seen the size of the front discs, the rears must think they're having a laugh?
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips - tried the handbrake a few times to experiment with the rears being the issue but the squeal is still there, albeit far less loud, frequent and prolonged than before. Since the past two days have been prime squeal climatic conditions, I reckon that the fix has just dampened down the noise in all but the most optimal conditions, when previously it made driving intolerable. I can live with this for the time being, since Audi are no doubt about to release the long awaited and much tested fix before the end of Q1 - seen the Facebook post?!
 
Re-registered complaint with Audi customer services today.... combination of cold, dry weather has had a devastating effect on break squeal problems.

Driving in and around heavy traffic in London yesterday has created an incredible decibel level on the brakes....... you couldn't live with it.

I've requested an alternative car as I now refuse to drive the car in it's current state......

Audi customer services suggested as a quick fix 'apply the brakes harder' my reply was short, curt and very much to the point....!
Compensation was mentioned...... Can't believe I'm praying for rain, as you all know when it rains the squeal disappears.
Dealer will call me tomorrow with proposals..... fix is due in Spring 2013..... But I can't wait, thought I could live with it but all joking aside it turns out I can't.
 
robbiemac said:
Re-registered complaint with Audi customer services today.... combination of cold, dry weather has had a devastating effect on break squeal problems.

Driving in and around heavy traffic in London yesterday has created an incredible decibel level on the brakes....... you couldn't live with it.

I've requested an alternative car as I now refuse to drive the car in it's current state......

Audi customer services suggested as a quick fix 'apply the brakes harder' my reply was short, curt and very much to the point....!
Compensation was mentioned...... Can't believe I'm praying for rain, as you all know when it rains the squeal disappears.
Dealer will call me tomorrow with proposals..... fix is due in Spring 2013..... But I can't wait, thought I could live with it but all joking aside it turns out I can't.
Click to expand...

I've told you, told you, told you, told you, told you, told you!

Even offered to do it for FREE; how can a 'genuine' Scotsman refuse that?

And NOW you want ****** rain to solve your problem!

My RS3? I mean, 250-miles around those fabulous Welsh roads last Monday (on bone-DRY roads i.e., the worst conditions for brake-squeal) and all we could hear was the sheep 'baa-baaing', the water falls 'falling', and a 2.5litre 5-pot roaring! RESULT!

DO I NEED TO Drive up to you? And me an OAP!

Take pity on me... sorry, I can't do Scottish laughter....

P1010773 xx​



PS: Snowdon, looks like Ben Nevis (ish)

 
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It's a lovely offer....... and I am grateful mate. However £41K for a car from Audi....... their fixing it, even if it's out of principal.
We've bought 4 Audi's in the last 18 months which is well over £100K and I'm now demanding the service I'm due..... My own fault,
left this far to late, thought I could live with it.... I can't and to reiterate their fixing it..... or I want a new S4 to drive while they figure it out..... Problem is I absolutely love the car despite the problem, must remember my poker face when I drop it off....
 
robbiemac said:
It's a lovely offer....... and I am grateful mate. However £41K for a car from Audi....... their fixing it, even if it's out of principal.
We've bought 4 Audi's in the last 18 months which is well over £100K and I'm now demanding the service I'm due..... My own fault,
left this far to late, thought I could live with it.... I can't and to reiterate their fixing it..... or I want a new S4 to drive while they figure it out..... Problem is I absolutely love the car despite the problem, must remember my poker face when I drop it off....
Click to expand...

£17 anti-squeal self-adhesive shims from ebay, get the dealer to implement the 45bvtc fix which takes about 1-2 hours, 99% silence in all but the most optimal squeal conditions and even then much more quietly. You can also get the official fix as and when it arrives but surely life is too short not to do this and get your driving pleasure back?! I was preparing to get a buy back until I got this temp fix done and now I'm more relaxed, calmly awaiting the official solution and loving the car...
 
monkeyboy_marcus said:
£17 anti-squeal self-adhesive shims from ebay, get the dealer to implement the 45bvtc fix which takes about 1-2 hours, 99% silence in all but the most optimal squeal conditions and even then much more quietly. You can also get the official fix as and when it arrives but surely life is too short not to do this and get your driving pleasure back?! I was preparing to get a buy back until I got this temp fix done and now I'm more relaxed, calmly awaiting the official solution and loving the car...
Click to expand...

[SUB]There you Go robbimac; that's an ENGLISHMAN for you!

SOD the expense - enjoy the bl**dy car...

SORRY robbimac - and Marcus, but I've got to go, my bl**dy ribs are hurtin' something awful...[/SUB]
 
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Ok, so had a look these shims on eBay and from these they are not all the same, and being a totally novice which one is the correct Shims as none looked like the picture in 45bvtc's documentation when I last checked. Although they say Audi RS3, I'm sure it should be a black material, which should be self-adhesive.
I couldn't check EBay earlier due to it being blocked at work.

As regards going public with our complaint. I'm the not the best person for putting a complaint into words as I am likely to miss out key info, or get the info. Entirely wrong, but any thoughts on emailing Fourtitude.com website with them being The Audi Enthusiast Website - info@fourtitude.com - George Achorn is the Editor-in-Chief. Also, emails to Top Gear Magazine, & Evo Magazine, as I think the latter identified faults with the new RS4, or have I been told more porkies, as my local Audi were panicking when someone had one ordered one, then saw an article saying Evo had one on test, like J.C, and there were major issues. Cannot remember what the fault was now, but Hull Audi were going to test drive this customers car before he purchased it before brown sticky stuff hit the rotating spinning part that keeps the engine cool.
 
robbiemac said:
It's a lovely offer....... and I am grateful mate. However £41K for a car from Audi....... their fixing it, even if it's out of principal.
We've bought 4 Audi's in the last 18 months which is well over £100K and I'm now demanding the service I'm due..... My own fault,
left this far to late, thought I could live with it.... I can't and to reiterate their fixing it..... or I want a new S4 to drive while they figure it out..... Problem is I absolutely love the car despite the problem, must remember my poker face when I drop it off....
Click to expand...

Robbiemac, whilst I sympathise with your situation from experience you are better fixing it yourself or moving brand. You appear to be assuming that Audi franchises know how to fix cars when in reality most issues on their cars they simply replace parts under warranty charter rather than trying to understand what the issue is. This is what I had with just about every issue I had with my old RS4 yet a fix they did not know about cure the issue witout spending thousands on replacing parts.

Unfortunately for you from what you have said you do a lot of city driving and the brake set up is not designed for continuous use like this. I would suggest that a long, spirited drive and using the brakes like they should would soon cure your issues and prevent it happening for quite some time. you have to remember you have 365mm discs and 8pots on a family hatch, it is way OTT for what is needed normally so they have to be used hard as they were designed. Coupled with this is ss-tronic and that most of us I guess sit on the brake pedal when stationary which doesn't help. Third factor is to stop pad deposition as has happened on other RS cars, RS4 and TTRS the pad compound is harder so the squeel when it occurs will be more pronounced.

I recognise none of this is consolation to you but you would be as good sorting it yourself / taking 45btvc up on his offer of you risk losing any enjoyment you get out of the car. just my 2p of course. Audi may build these cars but the franchises invaribaly are not the places to have them fixed or maintained.
 
HullRs3 said:
Ok, so had a look these shims on eBay and from these they are not all the same, and being a totally novice which one is the correct Shims as none looked like the picture in 45bvtc's documentation when I last checked. Although they say Audi RS3, I'm sure it should be a black material, which should be self-adhesive.
I couldn't check EBay earlier due to it being blocked at work.
Click to expand...

This is what I bought MINTEX CERA TEC + ANTI-SQUEAL SHIMS SQUEAKING PADS BRAKE PAD GREASE CERATECH | eBay and Coulsdon Audi fitted them free of charge in about 1.5 hours. Today is the exception where the squeal is back but even so it is greatly reduced to a tolerable limit, although I do view this as a temporary measure.
 
P_G said:
Robbiemac, whilst I sympathise with your situation from experience you are better fixing it yourself or moving brand. You appear to be assuming that Audi franchises know how to fix cars when in reality most issues on their cars they simply replace parts under warranty charter rather than trying to understand what the issue is. This is what I had with just about every issue I had with my old RS4 yet a fix they did not know about cure the issue witout spending thousands on replacing parts.

Unfortunately for you from what you have said you do a lot of city driving and the brake set up is not designed for continuous use like this. I would suggest that a long, spirited drive and using the brakes like they should would soon cure your issues and prevent it happening for quite some time. you have to remember you have 365mm discs and 8pots on a family hatch, it is way OTT for what is needed normally so they have to be used hard as they were designed. Coupled with this is ss-tronic and that most of us I guess sit on the brake pedal when stationary which doesn't help. Third factor is to stop pad deposition as has happened on other RS cars, RS4 and TTRS the pad compound is harder so the squeel when it occurs will be more pronounced.

I recognise none of this is consolation to you but you would be as good sorting it yourself / taking 45btvc up on his offer of you risk losing any enjoyment you get out of the car. just my 2p of course. Audi may build these cars but the franchises invaribaly are not the places to have them fixed or maintained.
Click to expand...

P_G, cheers for the advice..... you're right that I need to give the car a damn good 'drive'. I'll consider the rest, never happy doing home-fixes. But and it's a big but; if they can't sort it I will then take the matter into my own hands (actually 45bvtc hands)
appreciate the advice, thanks
robbie
 
*gulp

I have 900 miles on my car and I am getting squeeks.... I haven't raised this with Audi yet, but I plan to. I will of course give it a thrashing tonight to see if that helps, but am I right in thinking that there will be a fix for this eventually? It's not the end of the world for me as I don't drive around town "cruising for chicks" like others on here ^^ :beerchug: but its not great... Audi don't have a strong track record with brakes with me, my RS4 seemed to chew them up frequently....
 
Just had 2 little minor squeaks when coming to a stop about 5mph. (11200 miles)
 
The noise on my brakes is getting unbearable now, to the extent that someone threw verbal abuse at me at the pumps yesterday. Done 4300 miles in the car now. As a result I vented my frustration to my audi dealership, who promptly got back to me explaining a fix is coming soon...it's got to the point now that unfortunately, the car is no longer a pleasure to drive and is parked up most of the time...

I am strongly considering the copper slip fix now as I can no longer wait for audi to do something about it, who knows when this mysterious brake fix is going to surface? And why should I feel the way I do about a car that I have been soooo excited about since its existence? I don't want these squeaky brakes to spoil the show when I know there is a fix to the solution. So, what do I need to do to have the copper slip applied?
 
Suzuka62 said:
The noise on my brakes is getting unbearable now, to the extent that someone threw verbal abuse at me at the pumps yesterday. Done 4300 miles in the car now. As a result I vented my frustration to my audi dealership, who promptly got back to me explaining a fix is coming soon...it's got to the point now that unfortunately, the car is no longer a pleasure to drive and is parked up most of the time...

I am strongly considering the copper slip fix now as I can no longer wait for audi to do something about it, who knows when this mysterious brake fix is going to surface? And why should I feel the way I do about a car that I have been soooo excited about since its existence? I don't want these squeaky brakes to spoil the show when I know there is a fix to the solution. So, what do I need to do to have the copper slip applied?
Click to expand...
PLEASE Suzuka62... Send me a PM with your e-mail address (today) and I'll send you 'chapter and verse text and photos' in a pdf (today). DO IT NOW...

OK, DONE ALREADY...
 
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robbiemac said:
P_G, cheers for the advice..... you're right that I need to give the car a damn good 'drive'. I'll consider the rest, never happy doing home-fixes. But and it's a big but; if they can't sort it I will then take the matter into my own hands (actually 45bvtc hands)
appreciate the advice, thanks
robbie
Click to expand...

MAP sent already...
 
Audi customer services have rang and offered the following..... which I'm agreeing to.....

. return RS3 to dealer
. replacement S4 to drive
. RS3 only to be returned once breaks have been fixed/resolved

typical..... as I'm organising an RS3 meet in March and I won't have an RS3:sorry:
 
robbiemac said:
Audi customer services have rang and offered the following..... which I'm agreeing to.....

. return RS3 to dealer
. replacement S4 to drive
. RS3 only to be returned once breaks have been fixed/resolved

typical..... as I'm organising an RS3 meet in March and I won't have an RS3:sorry:
Click to expand...

For a minute there I thought you were saying you were getting rid of the RS for good!! :sign_omg:

That's not too bad of an offer tbh though..

Mine has been sat at Warrington Audi since 8.25 this morning. Tracker set to alert me once car has been started and so far nothing... Logged into it and it's still in the same car parking space! grrrr!
 
RYes3 said:
For a minute there I thought you were saying you were getting rid of the RS for good!! :sign_omg:

That's not too bad of an offer tbh though..

Mine has been sat at Warrington Audi since 8.25 this morning. Tracker set to alert me once car has been started and so far nothing... Logged into it and it's still in the same car parking space! grrrr!
Click to expand...

EDIT: they moved the car inside at 14.56! Sat there all day and who is willing to bet that they tell me they have had a good look at it all day??? LOL
 
RYes3 said:
For a minute there I thought you were saying you were getting rid of the RS for good!! :sign_omg:

get rid!!!! no chance, might have to wear these whilst driving though!
ade2c5c1e1af2f748ff0da600ffbc7bb.jpg

I think it's a decent offer, as I'm due to do a few trips to Glasgow and London over the next few weeks........S4 3.0 V6 turbocharged I think....... could be nice.

Only I could turn up to an RS3 meet in a S4...... doh!

they'd tell you anything........ presume it's for squealing brakes?
Click to expand...
 
Robbie.....let me know the reg of the S4 when you get it....my S4 loan car is going back this Thurs...maybe they are going to put you in this one?
 
CatnipRS3 said:
Robbie.....let me know the reg of the S4 when you get it....my S4 loan car is going back this Thurs...maybe they are going to put you in this one?
Click to expand...

make sure you wash it then, and no farting on the drivers seat:no:
 
CatnipRS3 said:
Robbie.....let me know the reg of the S4 when you get it....my S4 loan car is going back this Thurs...maybe they are going to put you in this one?
Click to expand...

Audi called again...... no S4 available at the moment so they offered the following:

TT Quattro coupe TFS
A5 S-Line 2.0 TDI
S3 2012
Q5 S-Line 2.0 TDI

Went for Q5...... They then said it wasn't available! at that point I requested the S4 again and ended the conversation quickly as
I was loosing the will to live.......
:wtf:
 
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