RyanRo

Hi, I have 15K miles on my 2020 A5. Dealer inspected in connection with oil change and said my brake pads have 8mm left. Does this seem right? If so, when do I really have to replace them? Also what have people paid for brake pad replacement? Thanks in advance!

DaveSNJ

Those pads have plenty of life left. You can go down to 2-3mm if they're wearing evenly. I have more miles than you and my pads are about at the same thickness. Don't buy into the dealer trying to make a buck.

synergize

To add what @DaveSNJ said: Source your future pads on this forum from members that have used different brake pads and reviewed them. Find a good private Audi Mechanic (local) to swap your pads or do them yourself with the help of YouTube videos, not terribly difficult. Your wallet will retain some bills to be used for other Audi stuff. ____ the dealership!

SMac770

Guess that depends on what the tech is quoting. Is that 8mm left usable or 8mm left existing. The raw measurement according to Audi is "with Backing Plate and Damping Plate". The wear limit is 10mm according to Audi, for front and rear (though I've also seen 7mm quoted for the floating rears before). Brembo's page says their pads are 16.3mm new front and 17.5mm new rear. But is that just the pad wear material, or the measurement as Audi specs it? Their drawing conveniently leaves out any side profile measurements. "when do I really have to replace them" Did you ask the guy? If that's 8mm left usable, and the Brembo specs are just the wear material, then it would seem you're around half way done.

MH62

Another question: these were my measurements from dealer 2 months ago, and I may be down to 5mm and 3mm currently and I'm planning to go to the track (high speed road course) so would you replace the fronts too or just the rears?

A4Audi4Fun

Never tracked myself, but replacing both front and rear pads in advance would seem to be a lot less expensive than repairing a car after a possible brake failure

MH62

Agreed but 6mm still seems pretty thick on a scale of 2 to 12.

lowjdml

Guess I’m more daring (or foolish) I’d do the track day and then replace all the pads and rotors. After all, how many miles did it take to get to these numbers?

DaveSNJ

rears now
fronts after the track day

MH62

22000 miles with only one autocross day. Otherwise I'm usually gentle with them.

I talked to the dealer yesterday and like @DaveSNJ they said the fronts can wait so that's my plan.

FYI I don't have time to order my own parts and find a local shop to install them before the track day so I got two quotes for rear. One from a small shop and one from the dealership, all with OEM parts. Small shop was $850 and dealer was $950.

Thank you all.