Ceramic Brake Pads
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,364
Likes: 1
From: Huntington/Charleston, WV
Ceramic Brake Pads
Just thought I'd get everyone's thoughts on brake pads when it comes time to change them out.
I have researched and decided that I will be switching to Ceramic pads vs staying with the semi-metallic. I will very much be looking forward to the absence of the black grime brake dust that is so wonderful on our Q's stock front brakes. I don't tow anything on the vehicle so I feel comfortable with the choice of ceramic.
My next question is what is the best ceramic brake pad to go with?
I have done a little looking around. I see that the Hawk Ceramic Pads are very good. Not sure which is the best pad. I want the best pad, not the cheapest too.
Even in the Hawk pad category there are options of: HPS (blue box), LTS (green box), & Performance (yellow box). I would just assume i should go with the Performance ones, but I'm not sure what the difference is.
Last question would be if I got them switched out at the dealership, can they get what I want, or will they only put on the stock semi-metallic pads.
I guess for that I could go somewhere that had the pad in stock that I wanted.
I really want to know what the top brand of ceramic pads is though that would make them for Q5 brakes.
Thoughts?
I have researched and decided that I will be switching to Ceramic pads vs staying with the semi-metallic. I will very much be looking forward to the absence of the black grime brake dust that is so wonderful on our Q's stock front brakes. I don't tow anything on the vehicle so I feel comfortable with the choice of ceramic.
My next question is what is the best ceramic brake pad to go with?
I have done a little looking around. I see that the Hawk Ceramic Pads are very good. Not sure which is the best pad. I want the best pad, not the cheapest too.
Even in the Hawk pad category there are options of: HPS (blue box), LTS (green box), & Performance (yellow box). I would just assume i should go with the Performance ones, but I'm not sure what the difference is.
Last question would be if I got them switched out at the dealership, can they get what I want, or will they only put on the stock semi-metallic pads.
I guess for that I could go somewhere that had the pad in stock that I wanted.
I really want to know what the top brand of ceramic pads is though that would make them for Q5 brakes.
Thoughts?
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 438
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From: Toronto
I have Hawk Performance Ceramic pads on my Q5, and the dust is reduced an incredible amount. Don't be fooled, there is still a bit of brake pads, and if you're OCD about it like I am you'll still notice it. The only gripe I have about the ceramics is they gotta be warmed up in the winter or else you notice you have to brake much harder to stop when they're cold, and they sometimes squeak at a certain amount of pressure - I'm not sure if that's because of poor bedding in, or if its just a thing with ceramics.
I had mine installed at my audi dealer, I just ordered them from Tire Rack and took em in, they put em on just charged me labor, but they don't offer any kind of support or warranty for them since they're aftermarket. Keep in mind you need to do it at an Audi dealer as you can't service brake pads on your own as the electronic parking brake must be re-calibrated every time it's touched.
Now if you want the BEST POSSIBLE brakes as you said at the end, maybe a Brembo big brake kit for $3000 or so?
I had mine installed at my audi dealer, I just ordered them from Tire Rack and took em in, they put em on just charged me labor, but they don't offer any kind of support or warranty for them since they're aftermarket. Keep in mind you need to do it at an Audi dealer as you can't service brake pads on your own as the electronic parking brake must be re-calibrated every time it's touched.
Now if you want the BEST POSSIBLE brakes as you said at the end, maybe a Brembo big brake kit for $3000 or so?
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,091
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From: Chesapeake, VA
Keep in mind you need to do it at an Audi dealer as you can't service brake pads on your own as the electronic parking brake must be re-calibrated every time it's touched.
Now if you want the BEST POSSIBLE brakes as you said at the end, maybe a Brembo big brake kit for $3000 or so?
Now if you want the BEST POSSIBLE brakes as you said at the end, maybe a Brembo big brake kit for $3000 or so?
No re-"calibration" needed that I'm aware of.
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,364
Likes: 1
From: Huntington/Charleston, WV
Going to keep the stock break calipers. Just had them painted. Just want to get the best ceramic brakes pads out there I can. Hawk performance sound pretty good.
I could ask the service mgr next time I'n in I guess.
I could ask the service mgr next time I'n in I guess.
Audiworld Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 18
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I have a related question. How often do you typically need to change the brake pads on the Q5? I have my 15k service coming up in a month or two and was wondering if it would be a good time to switch to ceramic pads if it was about time to replace them anyways.
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Parkersburg, WV / Stuttgart, Germany
Joel,
I've used about 10 sets of the Hawk Ceramic (yellow box) on my other car. I used to use them for daily driving/ track use til I switched to a track only pad. They are excellent for no dust and have had no problems at high speed driving with them.
I've also used a set of HPS for about 1000 miles they are heavy dust and really suck at high speed braking I changed them to the ceramics when testing brake pads.
I wouldn't do the brembo kit for the Q5, the S4 brakes supposedly fit on the Q5.
When I initially ordered the Q5 I bought a set of ceramic pads for it to install. I just don't have a brake dust issue with my car so I'm not installing til the stock ones need it.
I've used about 10 sets of the Hawk Ceramic (yellow box) on my other car. I used to use them for daily driving/ track use til I switched to a track only pad. They are excellent for no dust and have had no problems at high speed driving with them.
I've also used a set of HPS for about 1000 miles they are heavy dust and really suck at high speed braking I changed them to the ceramics when testing brake pads.
I wouldn't do the brembo kit for the Q5, the S4 brakes supposedly fit on the Q5.
When I initially ordered the Q5 I bought a set of ceramic pads for it to install. I just don't have a brake dust issue with my car so I'm not installing til the stock ones need it.
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,364
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From: Huntington/Charleston, WV
Robert, thanks for the info. I think I'll go with the Hawk Performance (yellows) when it's time to change. I didn't want to change for the sake of changing, but by my 25K service they'll prob be due.
Maybe the euro spec'd 5's have different pads. Mine are horrid with the dust. It's on there in a days time.
Maybe you don't see it on ur titanium pkg wheels ...haha...jk.
Thanks for the info. Knowing you raced them and have a long track record with them helps.
Maybe the euro spec'd 5's have different pads. Mine are horrid with the dust. It's on there in a days time.
Maybe you don't see it on ur titanium pkg wheels ...haha...jk.
Thanks for the info. Knowing you raced them and have a long track record with them helps.
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AudiWorld Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 452
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From: Parkersburg, WV / Stuttgart, Germany
Robert, thanks for the info. I think I'll go with the Hawk Performance (yellows) when it's time to change. I didn't want to change for the sake of changing, but by my 25K service they'll prob be due.
Maybe the euro spec'd 5's have different pads. Mine are horrid with the dust. It's on there in a days time.
Maybe you don't see it on ur titanium pkg wheels ...haha...jk.
Thanks for the info. Knowing you raced them and have a long track record with them helps.
Maybe the euro spec'd 5's have different pads. Mine are horrid with the dust. It's on there in a days time.
Maybe you don't see it on ur titanium pkg wheels ...haha...jk.
Thanks for the info. Knowing you raced them and have a long track record with them helps.
I think my low dust is because I have a manual. I don't use the brakes as often to slow down.
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