Brakes require a lot of pressure - Is this normal?

[Hockenheim]

I have to apply a lot of pressure to the brake pedal to get adequate stopping. I had an A3 loaner any my wife has a CR-V and you just tap the breaks and the car starts to slow down.

does this make any sense? Other cars you don't have to apply a lot of pressure to stop whereas in my A6 I have to apply more.

Also Just had my front brakes and rotors done and it still feels the same.

Any ideas?

[wordsworth03]

When is the last time the brake fluid was flushed?

[Brooklyn]

Not normally. The factory brakes on damn near any Audi, when working properly, grabs/bites aggressively.

[RAF_S7]

Sounds to me like you need the whole system bled to get rid of any air.

What your experiencing is absolutely NOT normal.

If you didn't have the fluid changed when you had the rotors and pads serviced, and the car is more that a couple of years old, then a brake fluid service (recommended every 2 years by Audi) is probably in order.

[s6driver]

I have to apply a lot of pressure to the brake pedal to get adequate stopping. I had an A3 loaner any my wife has a CR-V and you just tap the breaks and the car starts to slow down.

does this make any sense? Other cars you don't have to apply a lot of pressure to stop whereas in my A6 I have to apply more.

Also Just had my front brakes and rotors done and it still feels the same.

Any ideas?

Other posters are correct. I had this issue on my R8, brake fluid if it gets too hot (which since you live in Phoenix), can go past it's temperature spec and become nearly useless. If Pads and Rotors are fine, it is likely just your brake fluid. You can also buy higher temp brake fluid on Amazon. Thats what I did and the problem went away permanently.

[MadAboutCars]

If the brake fluid is bad you will have a spongy pedal, but usually the brakes will still not require a huge amount of pressure. Brakes that need a lot of pressure are usually due to a break boost problem.