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Audi A6: Brake Pad Reviews

If your A6’s brakes are grinding, squeaking, or otherwise vibrating, the pads need to be replaced. Why go with any old pad, or the OEM parts, when you can improve your performance at the same time.

By Jeffrey Bausch - April 6, 2016

This article applies to the Audi A6 C5 and A6 C6 (2005-2016).

Is your A6 just starting to make a bit of a squeaking sound when coming up to a red light? Or, can you feel a bit of vibration/grinding when you pull into a parking spot? Did the warning light turn on in your dash? These are early indications that the brake pads on your car need to be replaced, and you'd better do it sooner rather than later as damage to your rotors can be costly. To learn about which brands are preferred by other A6 owners, and right for you as well as your budget, read on.

Audi brake pads
Figure 1. Audi brake pads.

Brake Pad Reviews
EBC
PBR
Hawk HPS
Mintex
Price
 $65 $60 $70 $30
Performance

Excellent

Good

Excellent

Sub-par
Lifespan
 Long Adequate Long Short
Warranty
 Defects in materials and workmanship for 12 months or 10,000 miles. No warranty on pad wear. Defects in materials and workmanship for the life of the pad. No warranty on pad wear. Limited lifetime warranty against defects in workmanship and materials. No warranty on pad wear. Warranted free from defects for 12 months from the date of purchase.
Best Quality: Hawk HPS

Best Value: EBC

EBC

EBC brake pads

Price – $65

Performance – Excellent

Lifespan – Long

Warranty – Defects in materials and workmanship for 12 months or 10,000 miles. No warranty on pad wear.

Most A6 owners who’ve experienced driving with EBC brake pads cite superior stopping power and little to no brake dust. The best recommendation for reducing braking distance is to go with the “Red Stuff" brake pads. There is no noise, and no vibration with these pads. They’re also long-lasting and show little wear during most of their life; though, when they do start to “go,” they wear much more quickly (so you should replace them quickly).

PBR

PBR brake pads

Price – $60

Performance – Good

Lifespan – Adequate

Warranty – Defects in materials and workmanship for the life of the pad. No warranty on pad wear.

The reviews on PBR’s brake pads are a bit of a mixed bag, with most A6 drivers concluding they would not buy them again. They’re nice pads with good performance, but considering the price is approximately the same, if maybe just a few dollars cheaper than significantly better performing pads, most A6 owners are better off going with something that lasts a bit longer.

Hawk HPS

Price – $70

Performance – Excellent

Lifespan – Long

Warranty – Limited lifetime warranty against defects in workmanship and materials. No warranty on pad wear.

Similar to the reviews on EBC, Hawk HPS brake pads are highly regarded among Audi A6 drivers because they offer excellent stopping performance and last longer than the average pad (even when driven by more aggressive sports car owners). Little to no dust is another highlight of these pads, along with no noise and no vibrations. Hawk’s pads are a bit more than the rest, but they’re worth the investment.

Mintex


Price – $30

Performance – Sub-par

Lifespan – Short

Warranty – Warranted free from defects for 12 months from the date of purchase.

Mintex brake pads are what come on the Audi A6 from the factory. If you do not push your car when driving it, and you are not driving it fast, or testing its handling capabilities, then you might as well save some money and go with what works. These are very basic brake pads that don't last very long before needing to be replaced, but are easy on the rotors. When they do need replacing, do be warned—they will squeak (loudly) and vibrate (annoyingly). Best way to look at it—if you are reading this article in search of new brake pads for your A6, chances are you are not happy with your factory Mintex pads, and should not consider going with them again.

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