Facelift FL RS3 has new brakes... again?

[AudiNutta]

Mine hasn’t squealed since I jet washed the discs, done about 100 miles since. @Snake Pliskin I hope it continues to work, as I was once a week anyway. I’ve got a 300 mile or so round trip tomorrow, so will be testing economy and I expect the squeal to come back.

 

[Aoon_M]

I remember when I got my RS3, I was very open of what I thought of its brakes on a certain forum and got a fair bit of backlash from owners trying to justify their 40k purchases.. lol

Nice to see peoples frame of mind has since changed regarding the brakes since, including those who gave me backlash

I'm rarely wrong

The facelift discs are a lot better but as I've covered on a post once before the brake squeal comes from the design of the 8 pot calliper itself. 6 pots are the better calliper and what audi should have used.

 

[infernox]

That didn’t look like a VC to me

Hmm didn't notice that. I paid too much attention to the title I guess. How do you get rid of the squeal anyway?

 

[Aoon_M]

Not all markets got virtual cockpit as standard

 

[DW81]

I remember when I got my RS3, I was very open of what I thought of its brakes on a certain forum and got a fair bit of backlash from owners trying to justify their 40k purchases.. lol

Nice to see peoples frame of mind has since changed regarding the brakes since, including those who gave me backlash

I'm rarely wrong

The facelift discs are a lot better but as I've covered on a post once before the brake squeal comes from the design of the 8 pot calliper itself. 6 pots are the better calliper and what audi should have used.

Why is it then that I changed over to the red stuffs and now have zero squeal? Is it not to do with the rubber shim material on these pads?

 

[Aoon_M]

Why is it then that I changed over to the red stuffs and now have zero squeal? Is it not to do with the rubber shim material on these pads?

Thats more masking the issue and not a permanent fix. If it was that easy, Audi would have done it.

The issue lies within the design of the calliper and the way the pads sit on their retaining pins, to top it all off its 4 pads per calliper instead of 2

 

[Hal Adams]

Interesting you say it is the design of the caliper. My suggestion is that the caliper is OK, the problem is with the pads that Audi use (are they not made by Pagid..?)

Brake squeel is now acknowledged to be the high frequency noise produced by the pads moving in their housings at low speed where brake pedal pressure is not necessarily hard allowing movement of the pads - unlike hard braking where the force of braking anchors the pad to the caliper housing.

I never really had a squeel problem, but as I like the lower dust of Redstuff, I changed out, but before I did, I measured the backing plates on each pad only to find that the Redstuff plate was maybe 0.8mm larger than the OEM. It sat in its housing a lot better than the OEM. And with a smear of paste on the leading edges of the back plate, not so much as a squeek!

Then there is the issue of compound, although I think this shows up in the 'warping' that many people get from the OEM. Could it just be that Redstuff has a slightly larger back plate and the compound is more suited the OEM disc and maybe, if only maybe, Audi were not so arrogant they too could see this and look at alternative pad manufacturers - EBC or Ferodo, and if not cure the problem, reduce it by 99% and create a happier customer base.

The question that puzzles me is - the calipers are Brembo, surely they must have a vested interest in this complaint and suggest a fix to Audi. But I guess that they do not know it is a problem because Audi have buried their head in the sand about it..?

 

[Hal Adams]

Mistake - I measured the backplate difference at 1.8mm...

 

[AudiNutta]

Mistake - I measured the backplate difference at 1.8mm...

Ahh, Redstuff or Ferodo.....

 

[Ed_rx7]

I’m considering getting ap discs front and rear and changing the pads?

Does anyone know if the cooling cane issue has been resolved on the FL cars?

 

[KKOG]

I'm now at ~3000 miles in my FL and the squeak i wrote about a couple of months back stopped at around 1200 miles.
It hasn't returned since

 

[Hal Adams]

Ahh, Redstuff or Ferodo.....

In my case, Redstuff. But if my theory is correct, then Ferodo must also have a better fit as well seeing that it works for those using them.

 

[DW81]

Red stuffs here only because the seemed more of a popular swap over but wouldn’t hesitate to try ferodo’s if I couldn’t get hold of red stuffs have heard great things on these too

 

[D0C]

Had a call from Audi today re my rusty hubs. They are going to paint my rusty hubs as a gesture of goodwill.

Had my oil warning light come on too, so I'll probably get it serviced at the same time as it's due in a month or two anyway. Will also get them to check the car over. Seems ever so slightly clunky to me when downshifting at low speeds. I know it's all the 4WD/Haldex gubbins, but still feels a bit baggy to me.

So after what must be just a matter of weeks since Audi painted my rusty hubs, they are virtually back to being completely rusted. Again!

They can't have treated the hubs prior to painting. Even so, I'm staggered at how quickly they have rusted through the paint.

Looks like I'll be back on at Audi about it but I'm not sure they'll do much this time. As said before, I find this shocking on a £50k car.

 

[DW81]

I had rusty rear brake discs when I purchased the car. What I done was use a wire wool attachment for a drill and very lightly removed the surface rust. Then gave the surface a clean with panel wipe befor putting two coats of hammerite silver smooth over this let it dry then coated with G-Techniq c5 wheel armour. Totally OTT but it brought them back from the brink.

 

[DW81]

Best I can do to show you the outcome not to bad better than what Audi would do and that’s me blowing my trumpet

 

[T-800]

Gtechniq C5 keeps hubs looking great
Here was my 2015 car after 18 months.

 

[AudiNutta]

So after what must be just a matter of weeks since Audi painted my rusty hubs, they are virtually back to being completely rusted. Again!

They can't have treated the hubs prior to painting. Even so, I'm staggered at how quickly they have rusted through the paint.

Looks like I'll be back on at Audi about it but I'm not sure they'll do much this time. As said before, I find this shocking on a £50k car.

Mine are bad for a month old car, considering they are ceramic coated too.

Mine are coming off at the end of January. I have a bodyshop shot blasting them and painting with top quality VHT paint and he said they will be spot on after it. I’m paying £150 for labour for all 4 corners to be stripped and refitted then £100 for the bodyshop. The wheels are being stripped at my detailers which is next to an independent specialist (removing them), so the car will get a spruce up too for a little more and likely ceramic coat the surface again.

 

[D0C]

Mine are bad for a month old car, considering they are ceramic coated too.

Mine are coming off at the end of January. I have a bodyshop shot blasting them and painting with top quality VHT paint and he said they will be spot on after it. I’m paying £150 for labour for all 4 corners to be stripped and refitted then £100 for the bodyshop. The wheels are being stripped at my detailers which is next to an independent specialist (removing them), so the car will get a spruce up too for a little more and likely ceramic coat the surface again.

They should look great. But should we really have to pay £250 to not have rusty hubs on such and expensive and new car?!

 

[AudiNutta]

They should look great. But should we really have to pay £250 to not have rusty hubs on such and expensive and new car?!

Hopefully they will, I can’t decide whether to have them a gloss or matt finish which is OEM.

Nope we shouldn’t and I’m not happy about having to do it on a car that’s a month old. But I have no grounds with the dealer, they said on handover day they hand cars over with rusty discs and when customers ask they have to say it’s normal. It’s just a case of the standard of parts that are fitted at the factory, which is disappointing. But I’d rather spend £250 than have the hassle of back and forth the dealer to claim new discs or have them painted and end up in the same situation several weeks down the line. I’ve learnt my lesson with previous cars, it’s better to get it sorted properly yourself with minimal cost rather than lose days/weeks of use of your car sat at the dealer, I’m fed up of my cars being sat in dealers now.

 

[Splathead]

Amusing (or not) that Clarkson was complaining about the squealing brakes on the TT-RS on The Grand Tour today.
The noise could be heard on the films too.

 

[DW81]

Audi will never resolve this been going on since the mk1 rs3 and no doubt other models, simple reason being they don’t care.

 

[Hal Adams]

I fear that you are right. They can design new engines, put together a half decent car and sell it, but just cannot cope withe basics.

If I were a car manufacturer, my biggest hate would be having to give Clarkson one to play (and I use the word in in its true meaning) with, but an even bigger hate would be to have him bad-mouth the car. As he has now publicly condemned first the RS3 and now the TTRS with squeaky brakes, is as you surmise, proof that Audi just do not care...

 

[Macintosh88]

saw that episode yesterday, I notice that TTRS got those old brake disc PFL RS3 got. No wonder it squeal so bad.

My FL hade very little squeal in the beginning, but I must say it wasn´t like the PFL I got. Now it has dissapear. 930 mile.

 

[Snake Pliskin]

Yeah had to laugh watching ep.4 of Grand Tour too.

You can clearly hear the brakes squeal & then Clarkson mentions he’s heard it on 3 RS Audi’s.

I’m pleased he’s shamed Audi as the brakes really are disgusting.

I don’t know any other manufacturer with this problem ... truly pathetic by Audi.

 

[Hal Adams]

The trouble is though - he has not shamed Audi! This is the second time he has been on air on the problem and Audi just sit there dribbling down their bib.

And to make things worse, the issue would be so easy to solve...

 

[Snake Pliskin]

Exactly !

Why is it so hard for Audi to rectify ?

Never had it on any other car or heard of any other ‘brand new’ cars with it.

 

[Terminator x]

Yeah had to laugh watching ep.4 of Grand Tour too.

You can clearly hear the brakes squeal & then Clarkson mentions he’s heard it on 3 RS Audi’s.

I’m pleased he’s shamed Audi as the brakes really are disgusting.

I don’t know any other manufacturer with this problem ... truly pathetic by Audi.

Such a simple fix too Snake, incredible that they don't just fix it certainly for new versions of a car.

TX.

Sent from my STV100-4 using Tapatalk

 

[Snake Pliskin]

Such a simple fix too Snake, incredible that they don't just fix it certainly for new versions of a car.

TX.

Sent from my STV100-4 using Tapatalk

Yeah I just don’t get it ?
The Clarkson comment on The Grand Tour really throws it out there to the masses so if Audi don’t address it after that then there is no hope.

They must have a deal on pads with a really $hi7 supplier that they can’t get out of is all I can think of.

Annoys me when I drive the wife’s TT and those brakes are perfect and it’s only an S Line.

 

[AudiNutta]

In a dream world Audi will react to Clarkson writing the cars off to the millions who watch and manufacture a new pad, to replace under warranty.

 

[teslaboy]

Still no brake squeal on my FL, it's got 1600miles on it now.
And yes I do drive it hard at times!

 

[billymc92]

Mine either and I’m on 1050 in just 3 days lol

 

[A_Davison]

Apologies if this has been asked previously; however does anyone know if the discs/pads on the new FL cars will fit a PFL 65 plate car???

 

[T-800]

Apologies if this has been asked previously; however does anyone know if the discs/pads on the new FL cars will fit a PFL 65 plate car???

Should imagine so as it’s only the Saloon where the disc hub could be a different hub depth.

The wheel offset hasn’t changed from PFL to FL on the SB, caliper is the same too.

 

[Arcam]

Apologies if this has been asked previously; however does anyone know if the discs/pads on the new FL cars will fit a PFL 65 plate car???

They fit just fine including the improved back plates. I have all of them on my 65 plate.

Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk

 

[fastolsen]

Passed 2500km now and no squeal so far The first 500km they squealed like hell..


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[nervus]

I now have my 5th set of front discs and pads in 12K miles. First three sets were wavy (all warped in <2500 mile), then I had the plain round discs fitted which lasted significantly longer but still warped (~4500 miles) and I now have FL discs. I can live with the squealing, I just hope these don't warp too as I had a right battle getting these fitted under warranty! They tried to charge me for the pads but gave in eventually!

 

[Hal Adams]

If your car still has brake squeal, you have to send it back. Either the new pad back plates are too small, or the location slots in the caliper are too large.
I would have hoped the new fl pads and discs were a) compatible and b) fit for purpose. Maybe not...

 

[nervus]

If your car still has brake squeal, you have to send it back. Either the new pad back plates are too small, or the location slots in the caliper are too large.
I would have hoped the new fl pads and discs were a) compatible and b) fit for purpose. Maybe not...

Yep, the FL discs and pads are compatible on the PFL as I now have them.

SO FAR, no squeeling (I'm, sure this will manifest) or warpage (i'm hoping won't return)!

 

[Arcam]

Yep, the FL discs and pads are compatible on the PFL as I now have them.

SO FAR, no squeeling (I'm, sure this will manifest) or warpage (i'm hoping won't return)!

Did you have the new back plates fitted as well?

Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk