Brake pad replacement?

[Dan_G]

Two questions:

How do you know when your front pads need replacing - do you wait for the warning light or grinding noises or change before?

How much does that cost at a dealer - I am near West London Audi who seem hell bent on ripping me off every time I cross their threshold and would like to be able to do a real life comparison ?

It's an S3 Sportback 31k miles and I can't really see much pad left on the front I don't think....

Cheers!!

 

[Rob2k68]

The O/S/F pads have a sensor - there's not one on the N/S/F or at least that's what I found on my S3 when I replaced the discs recently - if you can see that they look pretty low 2mm ish then I'd do it then rather than wait. Once you get the light then it may not give you many miles of friction material left - can't say for sure maybe someone who's replaced the pads will post.

It's fairly straight forward if you've never done this before there's loads of guides on YouTube remember the Golf is very similar just take lots of photos as you go and before you dismantle anything usually the pad retaining spring is difficult to figure out if you take it off in a hurry.

If you're not sure or don't think your mechanically up to it then book into Halfords, Quickfit or similar rather than get stung by the main dealers.

 

[MattSedg]

I had mine at Audi recently (20k miles) found it neaded immediate attention to the discs and pads. "Rear discs are scored/corroded, advise discs and pads." £235 inc vat.

Not had them done yet, don't know whether to leave them until its first MOT in September or what..

 

[Rob2k68]

20k miles is not that much especially given the fronts do most of the work - do you carry much in it ?

Not too bad a price I guess for a main dealer.

 

[MattSedg]

20k miles is not that much especially given the fronts do most of the work - do you carry much in it ?

Not too bad a price I guess for a main dealer.

Carry nothing no. My father keeps saying how I should get it MOT'd at our local garage but I cant see them being able to supply and fit what Audi will be doing for the same price, also Lake District Audi were spot on last time.

 

[Rob2k68]

Carry nothing no. My father keeps saying how I should get it MOT'd at our local garage but I cant see them being able to supply and fit what Audi will be doing for the same price, also Lake District Audi were spot on last time.

Prob looking at no more than an hour labour on a ramp with the right tools (I struggled with mine but you're still looking at half hour a side although I didn't change pads) and the rest for parts and an Audi invoice - good history to have for resale. Plus you'll probably be offered a courtesy car if you need one.

 

[pburv]

Not that I would with my car but the garage across the road from where I work often bring over scored or worn discs to be machined in our workshop we do get them back to factory fresh so to speak.There is an indicator on the discs to say when they are beyond repair.We always tell them if this is the case..So if you have expensive discs on your car it can sometimes work out cheaper in having them re faced than getting new ones...

 

[MattSedg]

Prob looking at no more than an hour labour on a ramp with the right tools (I struggled with mine but you're still looking at half hour a side although I didn't change pads) and the rest for parts and an Audi invoice - good history to have for resale. Plus you'll probably be offered a courtesy car if you need one.

Going through a narrow street today with a window down I could hear a rubbing/scraping/chaffing sort of sound as the wheels went around, I'm guessing this is because of the "scorred" discs. Never enjoyed the automatic A1 they gave me last time, but hey I'm only 20 so what do you expect!

-feel like I've hijacked this thread

 

[MattSedg]

Not that I would with my car but the garage across the road from where I work often bring over scored or worn discs to be machined in our workshop we do get them back to factory fresh so to speak.There is an indicator on the discs to say when they are beyond repair.We always tell them if this is the case..So if you have expensive discs on your car it can sometimes work out cheaper in having them re faced than getting new ones...

Thanks! Might pop in sometime and ask them about it

 

[pburv]

Thanks! Might pop in sometime and ask them about it

There is a piece of kit some garages have which is basically a lathe which bolts directly onto the hub and machines both faces at once which guarantees no run out on your discs..
Something like this..