Front pads for S3

[warren_S5]

I am in the process of looking for some new front pads for the S3.

At 34,000 miles (can't believe I have got that mileage out of them), they are due a change (they look thin), and so I had a fish about to see what was on offer.

I have no doubt that Audi will charge a vital organ for some OEM tat, so I'm pretty much discounting that option straight away.

You can get OEM ATE Galfer pads (Part No. 101441585) from Euro Car Parts website for £83.90 per axle delivered, then £50 + VAT for an independent fitter, so about £140 all in.

I called JKM in Portsmouth for a price on a set of DS2500 Ferodo's, and they are £139.95+ VAT + Fitting £50+VAT giving a round total of about £209 all in.

I then had a quick scout about on EBC's Direct website at the Red and Yellow stuff pad (Revo use Yellow stuff on their Leon RT360 and Stage 3 Audi TT). With the current seasonal offers the prices stack up as follows:

Red stuff: £80 (inc. 10% disc & free delivery) + fitting (est. £50 + VAT) = approx £133
Yellow stuff (Road & Track): £82 (inc. 10% disc & free delivery) + fitting (est. £50 + VAT) = approx £135

So to summarise (in price order)

EBC Red (Road) stuff fitted: £133
EBC Yellow stuff (road & track) fitted: £135
ATE Galfer (OEM'ish) fitted: £140
Ferodo DS2500 (Road & Track) fitted: £209

I'd be interested to hear which routes others have taken, and based on 95% road use what others would recommend from their experience.

Thanks in advance

W

 

[GConn]

Used the ferodo Premier series (OEM equivalents) and they feel just that...OE equivalents I have posted the part numbers somewhere but I can't find my old posts since the forum design changed.

 

[edition]

I don't see peoples issues with the OEM ones....

They lasted more miles than you thought and i guess if you havent swapped before you were happy with them.... Also they haven't chewed the discs up......

 

[A3Bash]

Changing the pads yourself is not difficult at all, you could save some money there. Give Audi a call for the parts, sometimes they surprise you

 

[GConn]

I don't see peoples issues with the OEM ones....

They lasted more miles than you thought and i guess if you havent swapped before you were happy with them.... Also they haven't chewed the discs up......

If you push the car too much with OEM pads, they will warp your discs. I learned the hard way. My car had new front pads and discs at 11.000km. The OE pads can't take the punishment of multiple track days.

 

[warren_S5]

My issue with the OEM pads is ho much brake dust they give off. As I clean my car quite regularly in summer, the compound used in the OEM pads tends to leave a film of brake dust on them within no time at all. Other brands I've used in the past haven't dropped so much dust, and given ho soft the compound of the pads must be they aren't that powerful as brakes go. Two laps of Combe this year and they were starting to shudder badly.

 

[S3 OGS]

I vote the newest revision yellow stuff pads, I had new Audi disks that my mate at Audi got for me £105 and the pads were £56 and he fitted for me for free as i fixed the dents on his S3 for him. Audi wanted about £350 to replace the disks an pads by the way

By the way i heard so much bad stuff about EBC i was really put off. But my mate reassured me that the the latest Yellow pads were the nuts. So i gave them, a shot and i am really very impressed with them. Good bite from cold and even better when warm. My disks still look brand new also after 2.5k with them fitted.

Also very good value for money

 

[edition]

Was that £350 fitted??? The quote from Audi?

 

[warren_S5]

Was that £350 fitted??? The quote from Audi?

I can't imagine so. Our labour at Reading is £125+VAT an hour. Assume an hour per side that is £250+VAT, so nearly £300. When I had pads on my Leon Cupra R it cost £270 if I remember right and SEAT labour charges are less (only OEM pads in 4 pot SEAT Sport Brembo's).

Doubt you'd come out with much (if any) change from £500 for front pads and disks.

 

[S3 OGS]

Erm did i say £350?? O yes i did. Apology for that. £450 all in it was. ****** joke price that is. Anyway try the newest Yellow pads. I am more than happy with my brakes. Hope that helps :icon_thumright:

 

[edition]

Anybody got the part numbers for front discs and pads and the rear pads from audi?

 

[boggysv]

34000miles?

I got 26000kms out of mine, and the first 10000 were super slow driving (because I was still in the UK and fines are blinking expensive).

Anyways, I've been recommended the DS2500 by most guys I meet, just need to take care of the first few applications of the brakes from cold and you'll be alright, or so they say.

 

[edition]

Mine have done 52k ...... With the so called heavy 3.2 up front!

 

[V6Pete]

I've heard nothing but good things about the DS2500's, and will be planning to fit these to mine when the standard pads wear out.

EBC pads are cheap - I'm sure they've improved over recent years, but in my experience they're not even close to the quality of Ferodo etc. Not sure if they're going to be much better than OE in terms of brake dust though??

 

[davej_anderson]

I've voted for the DS2500s, but that's based only on reputation. But to back this up, I'm considering them when my OEM ones need replacing

 

[S3Alex]

I was warned off EBC and Tar-Ox by the guy who built the engines on both of my Cosworths.....he was a former BTCC ,Rallycross,and Historic Group c racer,so I was more than happy to take his word on that.

His opinion on both couldn't be repeated here....

 

[edition]

Just bought some new genuine discs and pads....


I can't complain about them, done 52k and have never had braking issues with them.

 

[warren_S5]

So to cut a long story short, my hands been forced, and due to lack of time / will I'm going the dealer route, but it could have saved me a chunk of cash.

Cars braking has been terrible for last few days, and pads have been sticking in the mornings even when not wet, so tell tale signs they're on the way out.

Called local Audi dealer and they agreed to get it in for a complimentary check up.

Spoke to service desk and as there are no dash lights (you know how DTC's and svc lights are the only indicator of a problem at Audi otherwise it's imaginary), they said it may be skank on the pads, which is a fair comment and actually constitutes that they aren't just there to rip you off which was good. However from gut personal feel, 20 years of driving experience, and pieced together facts my money was still on pads.

And, it was pads.

Supposedly inner pads had worn out faster than the outer ones, so the brake wear indicator had not triggered. Dont know why this should be, but may just be down to the nature of the way I brake, or the fact that the inner pads get hotter and wear faster as the calipers look fine.

So on Thursday it's in for the OEM treatment, quoted at a shade over £200 (inc VAT) - not sure if that included labour or not now I come to think of it.

However, I then remember I have fixed price service maintenance, and as these pads have lasted 34k it has been deemed reasonable wear and tear. Net result, cost to me £0!

When you throw in the free MoT, it's been a good month and the FPM has earned some payback beyond general service parts.

What is interesting is that when FPM was sold to me, I was told whenever I walked into a garage they would punch in a number and fixed price maintenance would appear on the agreement. Never once has this been the case, and I've been invoiced every time I rock up after work is done (but obviously never had to pay). Process is well and truly broken there, but I'm not complaining as it's only relevant to me for 5 more weeks.

Quite glad not to be getting my hands dirty on this as even though the job is a piece of pi$$, it's not the weather to be outdoors under the car!

 

[A4CAB]

So to cut a long story short, my hands been forced, and due to lack of time / will I'm going the dealer route, but it could have saved me a chunk of cash.

Cars braking has been terrible for last few days, and pads have been sticking in the mornings even when not wet, so tell tale signs they're on the way out.

Called local Audi dealer and they agreed to get it in for a complimentary check up.

Spoke to service desk and as there are no dash lights (you know how DTC's and svc lights are the only indicator of a problem at Audi otherwise it's imaginary), they said it may be skank on the pads, which is a fair comment and actually constitutes that they aren't just there to rip you off which was good. However from gut personal feel, 20 years of driving experience, and pieced together facts my money was still on pads.

And, it was pads.

Supposedly inner pads had worn out faster than the outer ones, so the brake wear indicator had not triggered. Dont know why this should be, but may just be down to the nature of the way I brake, or the fact that the inner pads get hotter and wear faster as the calipers look fine.

So on Thursday it's in for the OEM treatment, quoted at a shade over £200 (inc VAT) - not sure if that included labour or not now I come to think of it.

However, I then remember I have fixed price service maintenance, and as these pads have lasted 34k it has been deemed reasonable wear and tear. Net result, cost to me £0!

When you throw in the free MoT, it's been a good month and the FPM has earned some payback beyond general service parts.

What is interesting is that when FPM was sold to me, I was told whenever I walked into a garage they would punch in a number and fixed price maintenance would appear on the agreement. Never once has this been the case, and I've been invoiced every time I rock up after work is done (but obviously never had to pay). Process is well and truly broken there, but I'm not complaining as it's only relevant to me for 5 more weeks.

Quite glad not to be getting my hands dirty on this as even though the job is a piece of pi$$, it's not the weather to be outdoors under the car!

Use this offer if you can as per my servicing post had my 3rd service donw with long life oil for £99 !

I think £99 for OEM pads fitted is acceptable.

http://www.audi.co.uk/owners-area/servicing-with-audi/affordable-servicing.html

 

[DemianM]

Does anyone know if the pads of the A3 3.2 are the same as the S3 pads? I would like to buy them from the US but I am not sure.