View Full Version : DIY Brake Pad Replacements?
mburkey74
12-30-2020, 05:47 PM
Ok Fellas, I am CERTAIN this has been discussed at nauseam inducing levels... but here goes anyhow. I am a compete Newb when it comes to Audi. Never owned one, don’t know Jack squat about them. I just purchased a 2015 RS7 with 11k miles on it, and understand from all I have read the squealing brakes these cars are notorious for due to the bi metallic pads. Has anyone replaced the pads only from bi metallic to ceramic? Any reason why someone who is mechanically inclined couldn’t do this themselves?? I had an auto shop, not an Audi dealer, but a high performance vehicle shop, quote me $6500 for new brakes and rotors. Pretty sure a lost a couple years off my life when I saw the quote. Any input/ insight would be super appreciated!!
caliizaktiv
12-30-2020, 05:59 PM
Assuming you didn't walk into the shop exclaiming you're a complete knob when it coms to Audi before getting your quote but brakes are still brakes, Audi, Chevy, Toyota, whatever. They all have the same variation of components, although at wildly different costs. I've replaced them on my RS4 front, rear, pads discs and bled them. No special tools other than the typical caliper retraction tools but you might need VAGCOM to retract the electronic e-brake. RS7 OEM front rotors look to be about $1700 for the pair and rears look to be about $1500. Pads for front in the rear, assuming the shop quoted you OEM, $600 for fronts and $200 for rear. So base parts cost without the shops markup is $4000. Add markup and labor and there you have it. Welcome!
Alabama
12-30-2020, 07:08 PM
RS7 OEM front rotors look to be about $1700 for the pair and rears look to be about $1500.
Shop around. At FCP Euro website rotors are about $2,200 for the four. Many threads on AZ discuss pad choices and give tips on self-install.
westcoastrs7
12-30-2020, 11:36 PM
Check out this thread
https://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/856845-RS7-full-brake-kit-replacement-parts-for-2-2K
I went with EBC Red stuff just did the fronts will do the rears this spring. If you are familiar with brake jobs and have access to a manual it is completely DIY.
A power bleeder helps and you need Vag Com or equivalent to open the rears and recalibrate.
For rears anyone used this method for epb? I used Carista, but this seems pretty ez
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbIFG_8vSKk&t=21s
Alabama
12-31-2020, 04:56 AM
The AZ Sponsor sub-forum also has a number of good sources for aftermarket parts.
Audisthesia
12-31-2020, 05:20 AM
For rears anyone used this method for epb? I used Carista, but this seems pretty ez
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbIFG_8vSKk&t=21s
I don't have carista, but I know you can use vcds or obd11 to change the rear brakes.
Ford Prefect
12-31-2020, 05:51 AM
Why are we overlooking the fact that he found a 2015 with 11k miles? What?! When? Where? HOW!
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mburkey74
12-31-2020, 06:14 AM
Assuming you didn't walk into the shop exclaiming you're a complete knob when it coms to Audi before getting your quote but brakes are still brakes, Audi, Chevy, Toyota, whatever. They all have the same variation of components, although at wildly different costs. I've replaced them on my RS4 front, rear, pads discs and bled them. No special tools other than the typical caliper retraction tools but you might need VAGCOM to retract the electronic e-brake. RS7 OEM front rotors look to be about $1700 for the pair and rears look to be about $1500. Pads for front in the rear, assuming the shop quoted you OEM, $600 for fronts and $200 for rear. So base parts cost without the shops markup is $4000. Add markup and labor and there you have it. Welcome!
Nah...I only proclaim my Newb status on online forums! I was of the same mindset, "brakes are brakes". I literally just changed my Ram 1500 brake pads in my driveway. Took me 2 hours...so I was curious as to what, if anything, makes the brake pads of these particular vehicles so difficult to change? Sounds like most of the cost is in the parts.
MattyMarkey
12-31-2020, 06:16 AM
Why are we overlooking the fact that he found a 2015 with 11k miles? What?! When? Where? HOW!
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Love when you can find these types of gems! Person of opportunity, at the right opportunity.
My 2014 S7 had 11,200 miles on it. Bought it in January. Car came from Hawaii, so realistically, someone’s 2nd/3rd home get around car, or someone’s 2nd/3rd car in general.
They are out there!
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mburkey74
12-31-2020, 06:19 AM
Why are we overlooking the fact that he found a 2015 with 11k miles? What?! When? Where? HOW!
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I hear ya...this car wasn't even on my radar. Frankly I was looking for a Hellcat until this popped up and I just had to have it. Clean Carfax, 1 owner, Florida car, I couldn't let it slip through my fingers so I nutted up. Stretched the budget a tad, but I'm so happy I did. Dealer had 2 deals in place, I was 3rd in line and just got lucky the other 2 deals fell through.
ewilliams1570
12-31-2020, 09:07 AM
Seems odd the car would need brakes at 11k miles; or were you just looking into cost for when the need arises. I have 50k miles on my RS7 and still on original brakes with a little bit of life remaining still.
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MattyMarkey
12-31-2020, 11:02 AM
Seems odd the car would need brakes at 11k miles; or were you just looking into cost for when the need arises. I have 50k miles on my RS7 and still on original brakes with a little bit of life remaining still.
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Based on his OP, sounds like he wants to change them because of the common; squealing under breaking.
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sepheroth86
12-31-2020, 03:15 PM
Based on his OP, sounds like he wants to change them because of the common; squealing under breaking.
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In my experience, more aggressive braking helps with noise.
MattyMarkey
01-01-2021, 04:23 AM
In my experience, more aggressive braking helps with noise.
It certainly does help. I try to brake aggressive as often as possible. In and around town, or with the wife and kiddo in the car, that’s not going to happen, so they still squeak from time-to-time for me.
Washing your wheels/brakes and removing excess brake dust - essentially what hard braking does most of - will also help.
Not going to stop the OP from spending the money on a new brake job, if that’s what he wants, it is the best option to ensure you won’t get the noise. Others have already given the needed info, so hopefully he’s off to the races.
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WatchMeSpend
01-01-2021, 06:40 AM
Just remember to service the calipers.
mburkey74
01-01-2021, 09:19 AM
I was just looking to swap the pads out to ceramic ones to stop that wretched squealing. Still plenty of life left on factory rotors/pads.
mburkey74
01-01-2021, 09:22 AM
It certainly does help. I try to brake aggressive as often as possible. In and around town, or with the wife and kiddo in the car, that’s not going to happen, so they still squeak from time-to-time for me.
Washing your wheels/brakes and removing excess brake dust - essentially what hard braking does most of - will also help.
Not going to stop the OP from spending the money on a new brake job, if that’s what he wants, it is the best option to ensure you won’t get the noise. Others have already given the needed info, so hopefully he’s off to the races.
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I’ll definitely “live” with the squealing before I drop 6k on a complete brake job. I think in the Spring time I’ll attempt changing the brake pads only and see how that goes.
goldenzrule
01-01-2021, 10:40 AM
The squealing on my 13 S6 drives me insane. I cannot drive with the windows open because they are so bad. The car stops as it should and has no braking problem, but the squealing is maddening. It is my main car to drive my 1 year old in, so I cannot go around and slam on the brakes hard to alleviate the squealing unfortunately.
warp_ix
01-01-2021, 07:15 PM
I ran EBC RedStuff in on my RS7 for about a year and a half. Low dust and no noise, but I wasn't happy with the braking performance, especially cold bite. For about a year I've been running StopTech Sport pads in the front and StopTech Street on the rear. Great performance and no noise, but they're dusty.
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mburkey74
01-02-2021, 06:23 AM
I ran EBC RedStuff in on my RS7 for about a year and a half. Low dust and no noise, but I wasn't happy with the braking performance, especially cold bite. For about a year I've been running StopTech Sport pads in the front and StopTech Street on the rear. Great performance and no noise, but they're dusty.
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That’s good to know... any chance you changed the pads yourself or did you have local shop/ dealer install them?? I’ll take the extra brake dust all day long over the squealing. I have no problem cleaning my rims weekly.
sepheroth86
01-02-2021, 09:11 AM
Akebono Euro Ceramic will give you no noise and dust. But the braking performance is definitely not as good as a nice set of dusty metallic pads.
warp_ix
01-02-2021, 10:53 AM
That’s good to know... any chance you changed the pads yourself or did you have local shop/ dealer install them?? I’ll take the extra brake dust all day long over the squealing. I have no problem cleaning my rims weekly.I changed the pads myself. It's not difficult.
Lots of good DIYs on YouTube. The rears are the same as most other Audi models, just follow the directions for a B8. The fronts are different than the S6/7, and actually easier. It's the same caliper as the C63 AMG, so follow those DIYs.
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As several mentioned, the main difference in pad change is the rear, IF the car has the electronic parking brake. The diagnostic tool is required to back off the parking brake when you need to back off the brake pucks. You'll know when you can't get the calipers back on!
Couple of options for the tool, I got the OBD11 for about $130 for this, as well ability to change several other options on my '16 A6 (bye bye Stop/Start by default!!).
mburkey74
01-03-2021, 02:04 PM
I changed the pads myself. It's not difficult.
Lots of good DIYs on YouTube. The rears are the same as most other Audi models, just follow the directions for a B8. The fronts are different than the S6/7, and actually easier. It's the same caliper as the C63 AMG, so follow those DIYs.
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Really good info man, I super appreciate it!! I would've never guessed the C63 AMG and RS7 at similar calipers. I assume there are a lot more C63 AMG's out there than RS7 so I'm guessing more YouTube videos as there doesn't seem to be a lot of RS7 how to videos. I like to do my own work but definitely don't want to undertake a project I can't do.
warp_ix
01-03-2021, 02:36 PM
Really good info man, I super appreciate it!! I would've never guessed the C63 AMG and RS7 at similar calipers. I assume there are a lot more C63 AMG's out there than RS7 so I'm guessing more YouTube videos as there doesn't seem to be a lot of RS7 how to videos. I like to do my own work but definitely don't want to undertake a project I can't do.Some DIY videos to get started:
Fronts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVXtJ6eA12U
Rears: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDy1pqji804
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