New member here. Need brake pad recommendation.

B6/7 S4/RS4
#1

Hi guys, my name is Jae and I just joined this site to get more info about my car which is 2007 Misano Red RS4.

It seems like the crowd here is more mature and the contents are more technical and to the point.

I posted the same question on Audizine so I’m just copying and pasting it.

my car has about 45k miles and just noticed that the front pads are pretty worn out. I think the rotors are fine as I didn’t feel any grooves on them. Just the usual lip on the outside.
I’m planning to change both the front and rear pads at once even though the rear pads look ok (I assume it’s better to replace all rather than fronts alone? or does it not matter).
I live in NJ where it rains quite a bit in the summer and this is my daily driver. I don’t track the car so I don’t need anything hard core.
I’m looking for something that will perform better than OEM in dry/wet and long lasting if possible with lower dust.

What are OEM brake pads made of? I read that if replacing with different material brake pads the rotors have to be cleaned prior to putting new pads on or something? correct me if wrong.

Lastly, would you guys recommend stainless steel brake lines and brake fluid flush at this point? If so, which product/fluid do you guys recommend.

Thanks!

#2

someone local to me is selling a brand new front OEM pads for $150. is this a good deal? do you think i should buy it?

#3

Welcome to the site your in the right place. All the technical guys left AZ and came here less drama more car talk.

A few things info wise will help put you in the right direction

Were you happy with the stock pads. Both performance and dust wise.

Always turn the break rotors when changing pads. The rotor surface is important to helping good breaking and pad ware.

The solid lines are a little gimmick if you ask me. The OEM break lines on the rs4 are fine. Depending on mileage a fluid flush is a terrific idea.

#4

RS4 stock front pads have metal wear pins that will destroy your discs if you allow them to wear down to ~50%. If you’ve ever seen pictures of heavily grooved RS4 front discs, this is the cause.

I sold my stockers, and installed Stoptech pads. Equivalent performance, and MUCH lower dust.

#5

I did the same but with carbotech bobcats

#6

Here’s what the stock pads will do to your disc…

http://rs4.thefarnys.com/uploads/2/0/3/6/20360897/246396496.jpg

http://zeckhausen.com/images/Pads/RS4/pad_rivets.jpg

#7

Weight reduction^

#8

Are you sure it does that at 50 percent?

#9

I wonder if the stock pads on the Rs5 is the same. I just know that rotor warping seems to be a common issue on the stock wave rotors.

#10

There is no such thing as rotor warping. The feeling people associate and think is rotor warp is pad deposits. It is common for ware sensors to dig into the rotors.

#11

I don’t know, could be much less! The picture caption for that photo of the exposed retaining pins said, “Stock Audi RS4 Pads - 50% Worn.” Here is the rest of the quote from Zeckhausen:

[quote]Factory Audi front brake pads have metal retaining pins embedded in the friction material. In theory, these pins are supposed to be soft enough to wear with the pads. In fact, they dig into your expensive Audi rotors and can ruin them, even if your pads are only 50% worn and BEFORE your pad wear sensor is triggered.

The stock pads only start out with about 11mm of thickness (not including the metal backing plate). It doesn’t take many miles for the rivets to become exposed and your front rotors to start looking like a phonograph record.
[/quote]

#12

Dunno, mine got really low and didn’t wreck them

#13

Interesting!

My RS4’s experience:

At time of purchase (private sale), the prior owner had just paid to replace the grooved front discs (at 42,000 miles). He said it was the second time the car needed a front disc replacement. He had all work done at Audi of Atlanta (with OEM parts).

I swapped the OEM pads out ASAP, and sold the stockers in as-new condition. Since then, running stoptech street pads, the car has topped 60k with no noticeable grooving at all. Discs look great.

#14

I just bought the car last month and haven’t really driven it too much but I would like more bite. I think the stock pads feel a little spongy. I want something with similar or better stopping power but with better initial bite.

#15

as mentioned this guy is selling a brand new oem front pads for $150 so I’m thinking of just getting that for now and saving some money.

#16

???

http://www.amazon.com/StopTech-309-10290-Street-Performance-Front/dp/B004HEIAR0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427056984&sr=8-1&keywords=audi+rs4+stoptech

#17

oh these are cheap.
how do they perform compared to stock? if they are similar or better I will get them.
thanks.

#18

Equivalent performance, and MUCH lower dust.

#19

Always hear good things about those pads. Just make sure to get the pads with the sensors on them.

#20

Jae, post some pics of your car.