Brake issues on 2012's and up

[BirdmanQ5]

Has anyone had any issues with their brakes on MY2012's and up? My MY2013 S4 has 11,000km on it and the brakes are squealing, seems to be remedied by medium braking to heat them up. But as the conditions are -12 up here, they have little chance to stay hot and they squeak slowing down to almost every light, city driving is a PITA. Dad complained about his brakes squealing on his MY2012 Q5, the dealer charged him $500 or so for new rotors and pads on the front but after 6 weeks and 3,000kms they are squealing far more horrendously.

Brakes perform great, doesn't feel like there's anything wrong other than the terrible squealing that is turning heads for all the wrong reasons. Maybe it's the cold weather, but I feel like this shouldn't be happening on cars this expensive and new. One of the service guys was saying he had a lot of 2012/3s coming in for brakes, about 1 in 2 of them. Most techs just say "oh yeah that's normal with these cars" which I would like to think otherwise. Anyone else having problems? Are there recalls coming up? We're joking about taking our cars back to the dealer, him a little more serious than me.

Hoping for an Audi approved solution, I don't think it's my problem that I have to spend 2k+ on a BBK so my car isn't so annoying.

[achilleas101]

not to be a d!ck... but seriously, does anyone use the search feature?
http://www.audizine.com/forum/search...archid=4153937

[BirdmanQ5]

not to be a d!ck... but seriously, does anyone use the search feature?
http://www.audizine.com/forum/search...archid=4153937

I did, didn't find anything specific. Also, not to be a d!ck, but your link says "Sorry - no matches. Please try some different terms."

[Jango3434]

Man mine squeal like crazy its the Canadian cold... I just engine brake and use brakes as the last resort.... since I hate the looks from people as I squeal all the way home..

[achilleas101]

I did, didn't find anything specific. Also, not to be a d!ck, but your link says "Sorry - no matches. Please try some different terms."

weird, guess you can't link search results. in that case here ya go: brake + squeal, first 10 results give the threads below. long story short, it's common, especially in the cold.
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...t=brake+squeal

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...t=brake+squeal

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...t=brake+squeal

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...t=brake+squeal

[jlaudio]

Brakes are a wear item so they won't be covered under warranty regardless of how loud they are. In the cold, semi metallic pads make noise. Just something your going to have to deal with. The price of the car doesn't have any effect on the noise of brakes, the compound in the pad does. You opted to buy a high performance machine, therefor, you get semi metallic pads.
You could also swap the pads out to something that is non metallic like Akebono euro ceramics to quiet them down and reduce dust. You lose the initial bite though.

[ejohnson]

I did, didn't find anything specific. Also, not to be a d!ck, but your link says "Sorry - no matches. Please try some different terms."

[raudiace4]

Mine squeal like a pre pubescent girl. Its the cold happens to all of them. Deal with it.

[ahc]

+1 on the search function. this comes up all the time.

I don't know why, but the new brake kit I got through the TSB (applicable to '10 and '11s I think) eliminates the squealing so I don't think its necessarily a high performance brakes always squeal thing as Audi loves to say.

[IanCH]

We can say it a million times and its like we are just shouting at the wall... This shit is like common knowledge amongst anyone who changes things on their car.

Ceramic pads and proper greasing on the install = no more squeal.

[SilveR316]

I've got 13000km on my S4 now, and oddly enough my breaks do not squeal at all, even when the temp drops to -20. The only time I every got a hint of brake squeal was at the beginning of the winter while pulling up to the Tim Hortons drive thru. Haven't heard anything since.

[AudiDTMA4]

Change pads, see if TSB applies, or buy ear plugs.

[clee130]

I like my brake squeal. It forces people to look at my car when I stop at a red light.

[raudiace4]

I like my brake squeal. It forces people to look at my car when I stop at a red light.

Hahahahahahahahah. Niceeee

[Audi Advocate]

Has anyone had any issues with their brakes on MY2012's and up? My MY2013 S4 has 11,000km on it and the brakes are squealing, seems to be remedied by medium braking to heat them up. But as the conditions are -12 up here, they have little chance to stay hot and they squeak slowing down to almost every light, city driving is a PITA. Dad complained about his brakes squealing on his MY2012 Q5, the dealer charged him $500 or so for new rotors and pads on the front but after 6 weeks and 3,000kms they are squealing far more horrendously.

Brakes perform great, doesn't feel like there's anything wrong other than the terrible squealing that is turning heads for all the wrong reasons. Maybe it's the cold weather, but I feel like this shouldn't be happening on cars this expensive and new. One of the service guys was saying he had a lot of 2012/3s coming in for brakes, about 1 in 2 of them. Most techs just say "oh yeah that's normal with these cars" which I would like to think otherwise. Anyone else having problems? Are there recalls coming up? We're joking about taking our cars back to the dealer, him a little more serious than me.

Hoping for an Audi approved solution, I don't think it's my problem that I have to spend 2k+ on a BBK so my car isn't so annoying.

Our shxxty Canadian cold (actually the entire Northeast's cold). I am here in Toronto as well and get squeal on both the S4 and our A3. Its common and even more pronounced if you have "track" (performance) pads. Cold causes the squeal. If you ever want an expert 2nd opinion other than the dealer head over to Independent Tuning here in Toronto (Lawrence and Warden area) - they are Audi Specialists and have more expertise than most of our dealer mechanics.

Spring please!

[budda]

Has anyone had any issues with their brakes on MY2012's and up? My MY2013 S4 has 11,000km on it and the brakes are squealing, seems to be remedied by medium braking to heat them up. But as the conditions are -12 up here, they have little chance to stay hot and they squeak slowing down to almost every light, city driving is a PITA. Dad complained about his brakes squealing on his MY2012 Q5, the dealer charged him $500 or so for new rotors and pads on the front but after 6 weeks and 3,000kms they are squealing far more horrendously.

Brakes perform great, doesn't feel like there's anything wrong other than the terrible squealing that is turning heads for all the wrong reasons. Maybe it's the cold weather, but I feel like this shouldn't be happening on cars this expensive and new. One of the service guys was saying he had a lot of 2012/3s coming in for brakes, about 1 in 2 of them. Most techs just say "oh yeah that's normal with these cars" which I would like to think otherwise. Anyone else having problems? Are there recalls coming up? We're joking about taking our cars back to the dealer, him a little more serious than me.

Hoping for an Audi approved solution, I don't think it's my problem that I have to spend 2k+ on a BBK so my car isn't so annoying.

Mine rears squealed horribly below -7C. Started at about 14K, but stopped on it's own around 20K. Have 24K now and no squealing at all. At my 15K service, Dealer said there was a TSB for 13+MY but for the front only. I'm just glad it stopped on it's own.

[BirdmanQ5]

I've got 13000km on my S4 now, and oddly enough my breaks do not squeal at all, even when the temp drops to -20. The only time I every got a hint of brake squeal was at the beginning of the winter while pulling up to the Tim Hortons drive thru. Haven't heard anything since.

THIS. For some reason, my mothers A5 is a 2013 and has no brake problems, and it's also a standard like yours! Is it something to do with brake wear on manuals?

[Campblett]

THIS. For some reason, my mothers A5 is a 2013 and has no brake problems, and it's also a standard like yours! Is it something to do with brake wear on manuals?

No. Both mine and my brothers squeal in the cold on my A4 and his S4 both MY2012, both 6mt. The dealer said its just the cold. But my brother's had been squeaking constantly this winter, not just for the first few kms, and the dealer replaced his pads and rotors. But driving a manual helps save your brakes for sure in the long run.

[BirdmanQ5]

[RReddington]

Oh goodness, that sound's going to give me nightmares. All I could hear is that during my drive home today.

[RReddington]

Wait so does anyone know, possibly anyone in Toronto or even Canada, if Audi will replace the brake pads because of this problem (under warranty)?

[IanCH]

Just get ceramics... how many times does it need to be said?

[Campblett]

That sound apparently is considered 'normal' in cold conditions, I was told by the dealer after a few miles of driving and using the brakes to heat them up and get rid of the top level of 'rust/dirt' on the rotors it should go away. Mine make that noise every morning when I drive, but it usually goes away by the time I leave my neighbourhood and start driving.

Birdman, maybe it's just your car crying because it doesn't like the cold, or it's rejecting your summer tires in -10 weather

[BirdmanQ5]

Just get ceramics... how many times does it need to be said?

Maybe, but I don't feel like that should be my nickel.

Last time I used ceramic I had warped rotors

[B8 S FOR]

Just get ceramics... how many times does it need to be said?

I have Akebono Ceramics and at these cold temps my brakes have been making some noise.

[RReddington]

Just get ceramics... how many times does it need to be said?

Are you speaking to me? I got a brand new car because the wear and tear items are supposed to last me a while, not less than a year.

[RedSox S315]

Mine started doing this again recently since it's been getting down into the single digits here in CT. I've noticed that once the squeal comes on, if i let off the brakes a bit or apply them harder the squeal tends to go away. It's pretty annoying and I was thinking about bringing it in but I guess its a normal thing and i doubt Audi will do anything about it under warranty.

[Subsonic]

I like my brake squeal. It forces people to look at my car when I stop at a red light.

Funniest thing I've read in a while! I never thought of it that way lol. Can I put that in my sig? With credit given of course.

[SilveR316]

THIS. For some reason, my mothers A5 is a 2013 and has no brake problems, and it's also a standard like yours! Is it something to do with brake wear on manuals?

I definitely use my brakes less than I would if i had a DSG, but I don't think it's directly linked to this.

Only thing I can think of is that my car sits in a semi-heated condo garage and the ambient temp never really drops below 6C or 7C. By the time I go down 3 ramps and I get outside, my brakes are probably already warm.

[Pworld]

My brakes have squealed since day one. Coldest i have drove the car was in 60 degree weather. I live in Cali. *shrugs* had performance brakes on past cars. Im use to it.

[IanCH]

Maybe, but I don't feel like that should be my nickel.

Last time I used ceramic I had warped rotors

First you don't use the search function before starting this pointless clone of 20 other threads, then you claim it was your brake pads that warped your rotors (if they were even actually warped)

I have Akebono Ceramics and at these cold temps my brakes have been making some noise.

How old are your rotors? did you put new rotors on with the pads?

Are you speaking to me? I got a brand new car because the wear and tear items are supposed to last me a while, not less than a year.

god forbid you have to spend 80 dollars for longer lasting, no dust and (subjectively) better performing pads... that would be ridiculous!

[clee130]

Funniest thing I've read in a while! I never thought of it that way lol. Can I put that in my sig? With credit given of course.

Sure, go ahead.

[BirdmanQ5]

First you don't use the search function before starting this pointless clone of 20 other threads, then you claim it was your brake pads that warped your rotors (if they were even actually warped)

If you were paying attention, you would see that I was referring to the ceramic brake pads that I put on my previous car, a 2011 Q5, which are the cause of my hesitation to put them on my S4.

A most sincere apology for posting a thread vaguely similar to threads before, clogging up your wall. Might I advise just skipping over the new thread and not contributing if it upsets you so much.

Best

[mecheng]

I did, didn't find anything specific. Also, not to be a d!ck, but your link says "Sorry - no matches. Please try some different terms."

Hahahaha, called out. Nice.

[IanCH]

If you were paying attention, you would see that I was referring to the ceramic brake pads that I put on my previous car, a 2011 Q5, which are the cause of my hesitation to put them on my S4.

A most sincere apology for posting a thread vaguely similar to threads before, clogging up your wall. Might I advise just skipping over the new thread and not contributing if it upsets you so much.

Best

If you knew anything about brakes you would know that putting ceramic pads on a car doesn't cause brake warp, an improper brake job does. So don't hesitate about new pads, hesitate about learning to do brakes properly. http://www.tirerack.com/FAQ/results.jsp?category=Brakes

And no I won't just pass over the fact that you posted a thread that is literally identical to many other threads, not vaguely similar.

[SilveR316]

[BirdmanQ5]

Pretty much haha

[Subsonic]

What does brake pad type have to do with warping rotors? And if anything ceramic pads should make less noise afaik. No need to use the search function, just browse the first couple of pages lol.

But I disagree that spending $80 or whatever for new pads on a new car is ok; it is ridiculous. Especially a car that costs this much from a manufacturer that regularly sees cold temps that induce the problem. Other manufacturers use good brakes that don't have squeal nearly this bad. Can we afford new pads? Sure but that is completely beside the point and is a slippery slope.

[BirdmanQ5]

What does brake pad type have to do with warping rotors? And if anything ceramic pads should make less noise afaik. No need to use the search function, just browse the first couple of pages lol.

But I disagree that spending $80 or whatever for new pads on a new car is ok; it is ridiculous. Especially a car that costs this much from a manufacturer that regularly sees cold temps that induce the problem. Other manufacturers use good brakes that don't have squeal nearly this bad. Can we afford new pads? Sure but that is completely beside the point and is a slippery slope.

Well what I was told about my warped rotor issue was that ceramic pads, while quieter, get much hotter than the OEM pads which are not designed for them. The ceramics were a fine replacement, but kinda lacked the initial bite of OEM. I originally bought them to solve the dust issue. Maybe my mistake was putting them on rotors with 15,000km on them.

Anyway. If new pads are truly the solution, I just think that it isn't up to me to pay for it. If the dealer has an alternate brake solution, should be their issue - just because I can afford it doesn't mean I should have to pay for it, gotta draw the line somewhere like you said. No Audi I've ever driven, or any other car for that matter, has ever been this loud and this is the most expensive car I've owned of them all.

[B8 S FOR]

How old are your rotors? did you put new rotors on with the pads?

Yes. I installed new Rotors at the time of installing my Akebono Ceramics. they only make noise first thing then they are "ok" once I get them up to temp.