Noise from new brakes and rotors on b7, FWD A4.

[seannb78]

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I had my new cross dilled and slotted Zimmerman rotors and PBR ceramic front/ Hawk ceramic rear pads installed last Friday and I have a humming noise coming from my left front wheel area.

I took it back to the shop that did the install and they reinspected and said everything looks okay and they feel that it is probably extra road noise from the new rotors and pads. I asked if it could be a wheel bearing and they said it was very unlikely. My question now is, what do you all think. I havent taken the car to Audi to have them inspect, but what could this new noise be.

It is heard the loudest going 60-65 mph and almost completely goes away under 20 mph. Over 65, you cant really hear it. Could it be a warped rotor? Is my pad constantly rubbing on the rotor and if so is there some type of adjustment to back the pad away from the rotor a little?

Give me some ideas here before I take it to Audi and get the "you didnt have the work done here" lecture.

Also, it should be mentioned that all of this was ordered from ECS, and I did have some issues with the order being changed multiple times due to availability, but the did ship for free due to these issues.

[Mike@PureMS]

Humming is common when braking with x-drilled rotors. Doesn't sound like anything to be concerned with.

[seannb78]

The humming happens when I am driving though, not when I am braking.

[baungS4]

I have the similar issue with new setup - dimpled and slotted rotors with porterfield pads.
When i go above 45 I hear the noise and when i brake from 60/65 to 30.. Everything looks go so far but I cant figure out what the noise could be.

[jeremy@matrix]

The humming happens when I am driving though, not when I am braking.

Does the humming change depending on what speed you're going?

PS--Those most likely are Zimmerman drilled rotors that they had slotted as well.

[baungS4]

yes. below 20, i barely hear it but once i go above 40, its noticable. also when i am braking from above 45 down to 20ish, i can hear it

[jeremy@matrix]

yes. below 20, i barely hear it but once i go above 40, its noticable. also when i am braking from above 45 down to 20ish, i can hear it

Ok, but does the humming increase as speed increases?

[baungS4]

No. The noise is pretty much the same noise frmo 45 and on. Its more like scratching/hissing than humming actually.
Its also noticable when I apply brakes and it goes away if i am under 20mph

I have porterfield r4 pads with slotted/dimpled rotors from Adam@SPP. Not sure if I need to bed the breaks in more.

[jeremy@matrix]

No. The noise is pretty much the same noise frmo 45 and on. Its more like scratching/hissing than humming actually.
Its also noticable when I apply brakes and it goes away if i am under 20mph

I have porterfield r4 pads with slotted/dimpled rotors from Adam@SPP. Not sure if I need to bed the breaks in more.

You have Porterfield R4 pads? That's a race pad, no wonder they're making noise!!

"The Porterfield R-4 Carbon Kevlar pads have a unique, integrally molded ceramic heat shield designed specifically to minimize heat transfer in high temperature applications keeping caliper temperature at proper levels. These state-of-the-art materials offer tremendously high friction levels while at the same time extending rotor life."

[baungS4]

but its only coming from the front wheels. Is there anything to reduce the noise?

[jeremy@matrix]

but its only coming from the front wheels. Is there anything to reduce the noise?

It's because you're running race pads. Race pads don't = quiet.
Why did SPP sell you race pads (I assume your car is a daily driver)?

[baungS4]

Ic. I guess i either get new pads or live with it.
Its just strange to me that I hear it even when I am not applying brakes and its only coming from the front wheels.

Not sure why they sold me race pads but I didnt think it would make this much noise.

thx

[jeremy@matrix]

Ic. I guess i either get new pads or live with it.
Its just strange to me that I hear it even when I am not applying brakes and its only coming from the front wheels.

Not sure why they sold me race pads but I didnt think it would make this much noise.

thx

If your car is a daily driver you should not be running race pads on the street. They'll take longer to warm up (so cold braking won't be great). Once they're warm I bet they stop like no one's business though.

Remember that race pads are much more abrasive than street pads, hence noise all the time.

I'd contact them and ask what happened. I bet you were supposed to get R4S's(street pads) and you got R4's(race) by mistake.

[baungS4]

Came home and checked. I have R4-S. Thats what the box said. SO is R4-S suppose to make this much noise on slotted n dimpled rotors?

What else could be the problem here? Not enough bedding?

thanks

[jeremy@matrix]

Came home and checked. I have R4-S. Thats what the box said. SO is R4-S suppose to make this much noise on slotted n dimpled rotors?

What else could be the problem here? Not enough bedding?

thanks

Ok, R4S are the fast street pads--that's good news.

You can certainly try bedding the brakes again.

[jayuuey]

isn't it normal to get humming like noises with cross drilled and/or slotted rotors?

[jeremy@matrix]

isn't it normal to get humming like noises with cross drilled and/or slotted rotors?

Usually a whirring noise when stopping.

[jayuuey]

i am also hearing a slight whirring while driving. i am running hawk hps pad with slotted/dimpled rotors. i will be taking my car back to the shop today.

[jayuuey]

i went back to the shop today and my mechanic mentioned that you may hear some noise from the slots/dimples in the rotors while driving. he also mentioned that it might go away or quiet down after the initial pad material is rubbed off the rotors. anyone else experience this?

[baungS4]

I am also having this issue. I re-bedded my brakes the other day and i think the noise has gone down alittle but i can still hear it.
I am going to try to bed it again this wkend with a couple of runs from 80mph->40mph and then a couple of 45->20/10..

[jayuuey]

I am also having this issue. I re-bedded my brakes the other day and i think the noise has gone down alittle but i can still hear it.
I am going to try to bed it again this wkend with a couple of runs from 80mph->40mph and then a couple of 45->20/10..

any updates on your noises? im thinking about redoing the brakes again because its still making the whirring noises after 300+miles.