Should I get genuine Audi pads, or cheaper alternatives?

poppasmurf_bewdley

Decent brake pads should give you a lot more than 20k miles. You should expect 30k-40k with normal driving. Only someone who drives on his brakes should get through a set in 20k miles.

Have you had your discs checked?

Edelman

the discs have never been done, but ARE now due. Oh sorry, my bad.
The £700 is for pads AND DISCS at Audi. And the £270 is for pads and discs.

It's an automatic.

GolfBravo

OEM stands for original equipment manufacturer.

As I mentioned earlier Audi don't make their own brakes, they outsource them to OEM's (companies like Pagid, for example). The OEM then supplies Audi with their parts and also sells them to the trade. They are exactly the same parts, the only differences are packaging, part numbers and prices (about a third what Audi would charge). Most car manufacturers would use at least 2 OEM's simply to make them compete on price.

Go to you local garage and specifically ask them to fit OEM parts, and not some cheap Chinese substitutes made from a recycled Titanic or something.

BTW, 20K miles from a VW group car pads sounds about right, usually they are quite soft with great performance but lots of nasty black brake dust.

Edelman

GolfBravo wrote: »

Go to you local garage and specifically ask them to fit OEM parts, and not some cheap Chinese substitutes made from a recycled Titanic or something.

I really like this comment. Made me laugh.

So worthwhile asking them what brand they use, and if they can quote for Pagid? So are Pagid one of the companies who supply the VW industry?

Perhaps the set I got from the garage before were Bosch or similar. Duno. No idea if they caused black dust. a bit I'd guess.

Edelman

Yes I was right about you.

If you drive in snow or ice, you DO use the gears the slow, as it slows the engine and you slow down smooth. That's how you can drive in a manual at any time. Ask any mechanic: automatics get through pads a bit quicker than a manual, for this reason.

The fact you don't know this about ice driving, appears to show you "ride your clutch". Clutch down, hit the brakes. Bad!

So not sure I want advice here from you. However those who gave good advice, I really appreciate your time people.

But is it worth double the money?

s_b

of course autos especially ones as powerful as this one needs lots of use of the brake pedal
edelmans done really well if on original discs too

do as golfbravo says too tell local garage to fit quality not the cheapest,they will understand and most likely not want to fit titanic bits anyway on this nice car because it would probably come back if they did

Edelman

Thanks S B.
I will ring them sometime to get a price on OEM pads from Pagid if at all possible. The front and rears were replaced Jul 09. So yeah I think they've done pretty well.

I am a steady driver, but occasionally, and as one would expect from a car like this one, not always steady!!!

And yeah, my car LOVES lane 3. Would storm past most. Click the tiptronic down a notch or two, and it would fly right by!

Sgt_Pepper_2

s_b wrote: »

i do worry about you

I wouldn't lifes too short.

Edelman

Neither would I worry about him S B. Definitely too short!!
Stick to the good advice - you've done well on that thus far.

If the cheaper pads are half the price, yet the ones I had before for £151, front and rear fitted, lasted this long, is it work getting the expensive ones?

I guess those, with the replacement matching discs would mean my brakes would be pretty good!!

s_b

Sgt_Pepper wrote: »

I wouldn't lifes too short.

your right of course
weve just been discussing this and seeing whos got the most aches and pains

i lose today im full of fitness
i wish:)