A7 TDI Brake Rotors and Pads
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 60
Likes: 2
From: Lacey, WA
A7 TDI Brake Rotors and Pads
I have a 2014 A7 TDI with about 83K miles. I replaced my front factory install brakes at about 55k miles with Audi/OEM rotors and pads at the local Audi dealership. The original brakes performed adequately and were quiet and I made a terrible assumption that a second set from Audi would be the same. Over the last year the brakes have developed an horrendous squeal in cooler termperatures (below 55 degrees). In the summer time, all were quiet. Now, going into the cooler months, we cannot continue to tolerate the front brake squeal. The dealer says "it is normal with the compound in the pads". They squeal all the way to a complete stop.
I plan to replace the rotors and pads now and am looking for a quiet replacement. I am not as concerned as many about the looks of the rotors (dimples, holes, slots). The manufacturers indicate the slots help with cooling and initial bite - the the dimples and holes are generally just for aesthetic purposes.
I have read many of the posts. Everyone has a different goal when replacing brakes as many track their cars or drive steep grades or mountain roads routinely. My goals are for quiet brakes on a daily driver that is not pushed at all.
I have talked to Centric, StopTech, and Adams Rotors. I know that Adams is well thought of in this forum. I asked them why I would choose their slotted rotors over StopTech slotted rotors. They told me they were custom and cooler looking with special pattern designs. They generally sell the Centic PosiQuiet pads with their rotors.
I believe I am leaning towards the StopTech rotors (126.33138SL & 126.3313SR) with the StopTech pads (308.13221). StopTech has told me these are the same pads as the Centric PosiQuiet 104.13221.
Does anyone have suggestions for a quieter setup?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I plan to replace the rotors and pads now and am looking for a quiet replacement. I am not as concerned as many about the looks of the rotors (dimples, holes, slots). The manufacturers indicate the slots help with cooling and initial bite - the the dimples and holes are generally just for aesthetic purposes.
I have read many of the posts. Everyone has a different goal when replacing brakes as many track their cars or drive steep grades or mountain roads routinely. My goals are for quiet brakes on a daily driver that is not pushed at all.
I have talked to Centric, StopTech, and Adams Rotors. I know that Adams is well thought of in this forum. I asked them why I would choose their slotted rotors over StopTech slotted rotors. They told me they were custom and cooler looking with special pattern designs. They generally sell the Centic PosiQuiet pads with their rotors.
I believe I am leaning towards the StopTech rotors (126.33138SL & 126.3313SR) with the StopTech pads (308.13221). StopTech has told me these are the same pads as the Centric PosiQuiet 104.13221.
Does anyone have suggestions for a quieter setup?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,206
Likes: 47
From: Toronto, Canada
I have a 2014 A7 TDI with about 83K miles. I replaced my front factory install brakes at about 55k miles with Audi/OEM rotors and pads at the local Audi dealership. The original brakes performed adequately and were quiet and I made a terrible assumption that a second set from Audi would be the same. Over the last year the brakes have developed an horrendous squeal in cooler termperatures (below 55 degrees). In the summer time, all were quiet. Now, going into the cooler months, we cannot continue to tolerate the front brake squeal. The dealer says "it is normal with the compound in the pads". They squeal all the way to a complete stop.
I plan to replace the rotors and pads now and am looking for a quiet replacement. I am not as concerned as many about the looks of the rotors (dimples, holes, slots). The manufacturers indicate the slots help with cooling and initial bite - the the dimples and holes are generally just for aesthetic purposes.
I have read many of the posts. Everyone has a different goal when replacing brakes as many track their cars or drive steep grades or mountain roads routinely. My goals are for quiet brakes on a daily driver that is not pushed at all.
I have talked to Centric, StopTech, and Adams Rotors. I know that Adams is well thought of in this forum. I asked them why I would choose their slotted rotors over StopTech slotted rotors. They told me they were custom and cooler looking with special pattern designs. They generally sell the Centic PosiQuiet pads with their rotors.
I believe I am leaning towards the StopTech rotors (126.33138SL & 126.3313SR) with the StopTech pads (308.13221). StopTech has told me these are the same pads as the Centric PosiQuiet 104.13221.
Does anyone have suggestions for a quieter setup?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I plan to replace the rotors and pads now and am looking for a quiet replacement. I am not as concerned as many about the looks of the rotors (dimples, holes, slots). The manufacturers indicate the slots help with cooling and initial bite - the the dimples and holes are generally just for aesthetic purposes.
I have read many of the posts. Everyone has a different goal when replacing brakes as many track their cars or drive steep grades or mountain roads routinely. My goals are for quiet brakes on a daily driver that is not pushed at all.
I have talked to Centric, StopTech, and Adams Rotors. I know that Adams is well thought of in this forum. I asked them why I would choose their slotted rotors over StopTech slotted rotors. They told me they were custom and cooler looking with special pattern designs. They generally sell the Centic PosiQuiet pads with their rotors.
I believe I am leaning towards the StopTech rotors (126.33138SL & 126.3313SR) with the StopTech pads (308.13221). StopTech has told me these are the same pads as the Centric PosiQuiet 104.13221.
Does anyone have suggestions for a quieter setup?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 60
Likes: 2
From: Lacey, WA
After a couple of months working with Audi of America and the local Audi dealer to resolve the brake noise/squeal. I replaced the pads and rotors with the StopTech products. Prior to the replacement, the dealer removed and cleaned the pads, rotors and calipers. The squeal got somewhat better for a couple of days and then returned. With the new StopTech components installed, the car is again very quiet when braking.
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 783
Likes: 134
Your rotors are probably not the issue with the squeal, just the pads. For our 2012 A7 I went down to Advance Auto Parts and got their Wearever mid grade pads for about $50 and installed them myself with the Audi rotors. I went through the process of bedding them in and no it stops better than OEM pads and zero noise. Even in sub zero weather.
If you want dust free then get the Gold which are ceramic and not much more. As for rotors, as long as the rotors you have are not warped and are above the minimum thickness requirements then there is no reason to replace them. For a street car solid rotors are what you need. Cross drilled, dimpled, or slotted are just bling on a street car. Even for a track car they are marginally better for stopping power. Under heavy braking track conditions the cross drilled can actually overheat and crack/break. If you have ever watched racing you will see the rotors glowing red on a heavy brake track and even with the solid rotors they can still have failures.
If you want dust free then get the Gold which are ceramic and not much more. As for rotors, as long as the rotors you have are not warped and are above the minimum thickness requirements then there is no reason to replace them. For a street car solid rotors are what you need. Cross drilled, dimpled, or slotted are just bling on a street car. Even for a track car they are marginally better for stopping power. Under heavy braking track conditions the cross drilled can actually overheat and crack/break. If you have ever watched racing you will see the rotors glowing red on a heavy brake track and even with the solid rotors they can still have failures.
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,263
Likes: 23
From: Southeast Michigan
I had this issue 2x with oem rotors and 1x with Adam's rotors and got fed up and went to stop tech rotors and no issues for a while now over 6 months and much better braking feel over oem and Adams.
AudiWorld Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Parkland County, Alberta
For my 2011 and 2013 Q7 TDI I ended up using Stoptech slotted rotors and cryo-centric pads, these have outperformed the original Brembo’s by not being as grabby, way last dust, smoother all over performance and much longer lasting. Price point was about half as the Brembo’s would have been. I also just replaced our 2000 Jetta TDI with stop tech and are extremely pretty pleased with them on it. Rick at Aerocarparts in Edmonton Alberta has been fantastic for supplying.
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