Okay, I'm driving home on the PA turnpike, and it's raining lightly. Temp is 31 degrees, and things are starting to freeze (roads are salted). I decide to experiment with my brakes. Cruising at 80 mph and pressing my brakes, I notice more delay than ever before...it's freezing outside...hmmmm (no, no ice on the ground yet, or I wouldn't be performing this experiment). I do this about 10 times, hitting the brakes to varying degrees, at least 15-30 seconds between each experiment...same result. More delay than previous wet braking experiences. It feels as though water is FREEZING where ever it is collecting, increasing the wet braking delay!!!!!!! If I keep my foot on the brake pedal with even and constant pressure, slowly the brakes will grab, and the car will pull to the left or right (depending on which rotors clear away the water first), and eventually, the car will track straight and the brakes will bite.

Interestingly enough, I tried the same experiment at 70 mph...same results. Again at 60 mph (same conditions mind you), this time the water doesn't appear to be collecting as much...no delay experienced. Driving around the town is not a problem either. Somehow this seems to be related to high speed driving. I'm guessing here, but could it be something to do with aerodynamics?? Is it possible that at high speeds the water mist created my the rotation of the tire on wet pavement is drawn toward the rotors and pads?...most probably in an area that is not covered by the seemingly useless shield that Audi has installed. The good news is that on the track, this is good...lots of brake cooling! :-(

Anybody have any thoughts here?

 

It can get scary. You really have to pump them sometimes and/or do brake checks in the rain if you're in the 90mph+ range.

I'm tired of it. Audi claims to have a 'fix' with the use of different brake pads for the new models. Most of us have already BTDT. The current brakes are engineered to stop the car..and they do, but not well in the dry and poorly in the rain.

I don't have the energy to breathe down AoA's neck so I'm eventually gonna get an bettter brake package when it's time.

 

What makes you think that is going to do anything?

 

It was for the faulty fuel sending units in the A6's (that Audi also refused to acknowledge until it was too widespread to ignore). I'm going to write a letter to Audi and my dealer, and see where that goes (nowhere), and then I think I'm just going to turn this over to a lawyer...unfortunately, in this world, sometimes it's the only way to get a company to "listen".

 

I'm going to upgrade the rotors and pads. I would at least like the car to be on par with 328i braking. I have the Mintex on now and they do work a little better than the stock pads when warm, but that's as good as it gets.

 

keep us posted. we'll join in.

 

if you need signature's. Personally, all I'd want from is for them to truly fix the problem and stop being so damn 'cost effective'.

Yes..it's business and unfortunatly people have to crash first.

 

They have an 800 number (cheesy?). Anyway, for those wanting to read, here's a link to an article on their A6 case. At least they seem to have a lot of experience in this (and Audi).<ul><li><a href="http://www.lemonlaw.com/audi.html">1-800-Lemon-Law</a></li></ul>

 

I also experience this... It's definitely worse in winter.

 

I asked them to call me on Monday. Nothing will come of it yet, but at least I can talk to them and figure out how this all works. I haven't pressed my dealer to do anything about this yet, so I think the first step will be to take the car in 3 consecutive times for the same problem, and at least have it documented...after that I think it falls under the lemon law (although Nick is right...it's only a product safety issue if someone crashes...and if someone crashes in the rain, most likely it's blamed on poor weather rather than faulty equipment...this is hard to prove even though it exists).