vincentchiaro

I just bought a 1997 A4 1.8TQS 5 speed and am new to the forum. Hello all! I love the car. It got got switched to Mobil 1 Synthetic and coming up on a timing belt change (83k now).

I need new front brake pads for it though. I have done some research on here and it seems like people like the Mintex Redbox pads a lot. I am not familiar with them, any others people recommend? When I worked in the racing industry we always used performance friction, pagid, or hawk. But my A4 is mainly just a street car so probably the Mintex would be fine.

Also - I've heard that when installing new pads (such as the Mintex) you need to turn or replace the rotors as well. I've never done this in the past with cars and never had problems. What do you guys think?

Lastly, whats the min. spec thickness on the front rotors for a 97 A4 quattro? I don't have a Bentley CD yet since I just got the car. Thanks!

.vince

DaveW

They don't bite as well as OEM, so they're not much of an upgrade. For a good bang for the buck street pad, I'd go with the Hawk HPS...better bite and reduced dust. $90 at ecstuning.com.

Wear limit of the front discs is 23mm. Rotors are pretty cheap so just replace with new ones. You can get a new set for $80 from ecstuning.com.

As for your timing belt... if you're still on the original belt/tensioner, get it replaced ASAP! 60k miles or 5 years is the recommended replacement interval around here.

Good luck and welcome!

Ray Calvo

Rotors got replaced only when I went to ATE slotted to try to reduce wet braking delay (not much help); otherwise, pads went on old rotors.

Stratocaster1422

I've seen mintex crap box that generate a ton of dust. My crappy Raybestos (quicky from pep boys) actually don't generate much dust

brrman

Pagid "work" ok but the brake dust is horrible.

Ray Calvo

Maybe I'm comparing them to the factory OE - which after washing a drying the wheels they looked awful again just pulling the car into the garage, the dust was so bad.