hermanolson

I was reading a blog about brake noise diagnosis How To Diagnose Brake Noises | Service Plus 416 : Toronto Automotive Garage. My car is 2007 model Audi A3. It seems like the lifespan of the brake rotors are really less. What could be the reason for this? Somebody says this is because of the way you apply brakes. Can you help me with some tips?

1guitar

It's really quite simple, if you are replacing your worn factory rotors with substandard cheap rotors that cost a third what a set of factory spec rotors cost, well you're getting what you paid for, more than likely made from recycled steel in China. The same of course holds true for the brake pads. Onto number two, if you're the type of driver that makes jackrabbit starts as soon as the light turns green your foot is already pressing the gas pedal as far as it'll go, well to every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, or; more simply put, if you're the type that stomps on the brakes at every light, well you're putting the maximum amount of usage on whatever type of pad and rotors your car has.
I'm sure you might get other answers and opinions but as someone who routinely gets 40,000 to 45,000 out of my front pads which are always the factory pads and rotors as well I would strongly suggest that you always use the factory rotors and just drive your car and go easy on it. Good luck.

DavidA

what is the wear limit for A8 rotors front and back?
audi wants $250 each! ...is it 20mm for the rear?

the car has 65k miles / A8L 2013

pls send PM

thx

huntfortravel

Can anybody recommend a really good aftermarket brake/rotor combo for an 01 A6 2.7? I keep going through front rotors and I want to try something else. I have used the Audi rotors, not the cheap ones, so I'm wondering what the problem might be other than my foot? I hate it when my front end shimmys every time I slow down.

MP4.2+6.0

If issue is the shimmy as opposed to the rotor wear itself, check upper control arm bushings, especially if inner tire tread is wearing in front. Worn bushings will set up the shimmy too, and the tire wear is a give away pointer to it often from my own experience--including a 2000 A6 4.2.

huntfortravel

Funny you said that, I just found out one of my upper control arms needs replacing. Is there a good aftermarket brake/rotor combo that might last longer or wear better than what I have(stock Audi parts)? Thanks for the help!

MP4.2+6.0

By the age of an 01, I bet you need all the uppers unless either they were changed in past (with OE quality or OES like Lemforder) or it is a church laddy car with like < 50K miles on it. Mine were done even inside warranty the first time. Undo pinch bolt and really move them around for a thorough inspection--you can see a lot more than just trying to look at them bolted in place.

I tried DBA rotors on my 2000 C5 4.2--same set up in front as a pre 2002 A6 2.7T except rotor hat offsets. Unsatisfactory results long term--pad noise. Went back to OE. Most rotor wear in my experience is user based. Cast iron is cast iron. You can maybe vary it to an extent w/ pads--some more aggressive than others. I generally use EBC Reds, including when I had C5. Typically two pad sets per rotor set, and around 40K per pad set/80K per rotor set in front. Rears went longer.

radicalarrow

As long as brake pads are well maintained it will last a long time. Ours is 5 years old.