So my brake pads light came on about a week ago (at ~22k miles) on 2011 Aud Q5 2.0T Prem. Plus (delivered Apr'2011). I think it's too early for brake pads to wear out! I do 50%-50% highway/city and I don't slam on brakes at stoplights!

With that, I asked dealer for the quote, and he's quoting ~$700 for front rotors/brakes.

I asked around @ Big-O-Tires, Les Schwabs and found both of the stores to be very flaky about what they were saying about OE brakes (different part numbers, not sure about brand etc.)

I found a local mechanic who works on Mercedes Benz (he's certified and has worked at dealership for many years) who's willing to replace brakes/rotors on my Q5.

I'm looking for OE part numbers for brake pads & rotors. Any suggestions? I found Textar makes OE for Audi Q5's. I'm just a regular driver with no need for race/tracks/performance pads/rotors.

Any links as where I can find EXACT part numbers for my brakes/rotors?

I got quoted 8K0-698-151K , 8K0-698-151L for pads (one with and without sensor?, not sure.. ) and 8K0-615-301A, 8K0-615-301M for rotors (I think the difference between two rotors is the size, one is 320mm & other is 345mm).. Not sure which one is right? Is there a database that I can look up OE parts for my Q5 or the ones that my Q5 came with? Any links much appreciated.

TIA.

 

First - since you are not really a gearhead - you need to find a good Audi mechanic at a local shop- look in the local forum here or the other Audi forums to find who they recommend.
Do get the sensor pads - as if your sensor went off - then the pads need replacement - It is a wire that wears out when the pads are worn down. Pads without the sensor will appear to the car as if the sensor is open (like now) and your light will be on permanently - and since you don't seem like the person who checks their pads themselves you need to know when they are worn. You may or may not need new rotors - I can say the pads on the RS4 would wear completely down in many cases under 20K miles and when the sensor was broken on those pads the rotor was also destroyed - I don't think the Q5s suffer from this.

If you want to know the part numbers - go to the parts dept at your Audi dealership with your vin # and they can look up the correct p/ns for you.

 

Not for you model
- 8K0-698-151K for A4, A5 not for Q5
- 8K0-615-301M for Q5 345x29,5mm

For Q5 2.0 2011 You need:
- 8K0-698-151L (old S/N:8K0-698-151C) brake pads for Q5 320x30mm
- 8K0-615-301A brake disc for Q5 320x30mm

http://www.audiusaparts.com/parts/20...omponent=Rotor
http://www.audiusaparts.com/parts/20...?siteid=215820
http://www.jimellisaudiparts.com/pro...K0615301A.html
http://www.jimellisaudiparts.com/pro...K0698151L.html
http://www.ecstuning.com/ES12104/
http://www.ecstuning.com/ES2165364/

http://www.partsbase.org/audi/audi-q...e-disc-vented/

 

@spijun - thanks for the links. It is quite helpful. I called the dealership and got the same part numbers as you mentioned.

@reggie - Thanks, I was planning to replace sensors as well (the brake pad kits that I was looking at had sensors with it). All the mechanics that checked my brakes, mentioned I'd need rotors too (I hear rotors on Audi's are thin and typically needs to be replaced when pads are replaced). If I were to go with non-OE brand, would you recommend any specific one? Textar, Centric, akebono, Zimmerman or any other? Semi-metallic or Ceramic? Do you recommend going with non-OE brands for brakes/rotors?

Also, any recommendations for buying parts (both OE & non-OE) online (they seem cheaper online than in-stores)

I found few sites that offer both OE & non-OE, but not sure which ones are reliable..

ECS Tuning
autohauzAZ (got Textar/Zimmerman pricing and seem lowest)
GenuineAudiParts.com (best price for Genuine Audi parts, not sure how authentic is the website though)
vwparts2go.com
audiusaparts.com
www.jimellisaudiparts.com
Thanks in advance.

 

ECS Tuning and AutohausAZ are both good. I'm partial to Dave Zeckhausen (Zeckhausen.com). Even if you don't order from him, his site has a lot of good information.

 

Unless your rotors are damaged, the rule of thumb by many here is to change rotors every other set of pad replacements. It is your choice as it is your $$$.

 

After much deliberations, I finally bit the bullet on my brake pads/rotors replaced. I went with Zimmerman Rotors 8K0615301A & AKEBONO pads EUR1322A.

Mechanic said he would look at the rotors and check if they needs to be replaced. He found they were a mm lower than lowest spec.. hence needed replacement.. though I'm really upset that Audi needs rotor replacement at 23k (again I dont race or anything, just regular city/highway driving, though I must say more city with stop & go, than highway.. yeah ignore my 50%-50% comment earlier.. )

Parts total ~330 (including CA taxes) I got my parts from CarQuest (could have brought them online and paid less $$ but I had to get it done this week). Prices from Carquest was comparable (they partially price matched online prices from Rockauto & FCPEuro. I found rockauto shipping to be lowest (<$10 for CA)

$132 for labor from a local European Car Mechanic. All in all happy with brake pedal feel so far (but I have only done ~50 miles so far with new pads/rotors). No noise or anything unusual noticed so far..

Will update this thread after 500-700 miles (though I'll be busy with the our 1st baby coming this March!)

Thanks everyone for your inputs.

Cheers & Ciao!

PS: My local Audi dealer was asking $800 for brake/rotor replacement!

 

Just for others looking into replacing their brakes...I have used audiusaparts.com before with good results. They are actually the Sunset Audi parts department in Portland OR so you are buying OEM parts at a discounted price from an Audi dealer. Just me two cents.

 

Curious, how are you liking those Akebono pads?

Thanks,
Scott

 

I swear every Audi is different when it comes to the wear and tear on brakes. You state that you need new front rotors/pads at 22k miles...and that you don't even brake hard with 50/50 city/hwy. My wife on the other hand SLAMS on the brakes with 80/20 city hwy and we just replaced front rotors/pads at almost 50k (2.0T P+). Rears are still good. With my Q7, I've learned to supply the parts myself and take it to my indy shop. Buying my own rotors/pads and having an indy shop install, I paid less than what it cost me to do fronts on the Q5 at the dealer. I wish Audi used longer lasting rotors and pads.