Help please!

[Olicobs97]

New to the forum and need some advice. 
 

I’ve owned a 2022 A3 Saloon for around 1.5 years and have , since owning it, had an annoying sound when braking.

the sound is a light grinding sound, almost like a scrape (without the squeal of dying brake pads) which appears when braking at low speeds (5-0mph). The sound isn’t too bad when the car is cold, but once driven for more than 10 mins it appears and gets worse in stop start traffic.

 

i raised this with the Audi dealer when I picked it up and they said it was normal. I’ve since driven other A3’s of the same year and different Audis and none have this issue. 
 

I mentioned this again at its first service. Dealer advised that the front brake pads have 40% left and therefore should be changed and is likely the cause of the issue. I hesitated as the sound is very clearly only coming from the rear of the car. We changed the brake pads ( to the sum of £300!) and the issue went away for about 30 miles then reappeared . (I assume they oiled the back brakes maybe?) 

 

The car is in for its second service and I have requested that they look at this issue again. They have, and say that their technicians can’t notice anything but then said that they are aware that the auto gearboxes can create this noise. 
 

Im going tomorrow to take a technician out for a ride along to show them the issue, however  I can’t understand how the sound, which only appears when breaking and is pinpointed to the rear brakes (even had someone stand outside the car who could hear it from the rear wheels).

does anyone have any ideas? I’m not happy with taking the car away again with this persistent issue, or them saying it’s one thing, paying for a fix and then it still persisting.

thanks! 

[Olicobs97]

Hi there. The noise started from new, and once the front disks were changed as per the technicians advice last year, the noise returned again after about 30 miles. (I can only assumed they greased the rear brakes and this then wore off). 
 

I’ve since driven the car another 7000 miles since the front brake pad change and this sound coming from the rear still continues. 
I don’t beleive it’s to do with the gears as it’s noticeable in first gear when coming to a slow stop from 10mph to standstill. 
it only happens when brakes are applied and can be felt in the pedal too 

[Olicobs97]

Sorry and to add. Technicians looked at it today but said they can’t notice anything. I don’t believe this as it’s incredibly noticeable and am therefore taking them on a drive tomorrow to show them. 
the car is at around 35,000 miles and has done this since I first got the car (1.5 years ago) 

[Stevey Y]

2 hours ago, jasonj said:

Hi Ollie , Hi and welcome ! 

1: You mention you have only driven this vehicle 30 Miles from the New Brake Pads having been fitted . Is that correct ?

1a: Brake Pads have to ( Bed In ) which means they have to mould to the Discs ( Rotors ) 

1b : If the pitch ( sound) does not decrease with use and increase then this may lead to other possible causes for this noise . These being  brake mounting clips making contact, not enough Copper Grease on the back of the Pads ,  etc .

1c : May need new Discs ( Rotors )? 

1d: May  be Parking brake not retracting enough ?

2: You will have to establish if this sound happens when you apply the brake ? or  

2a : Is it a result of the vehicle changing down in gears ? 

3: If the Technician is making assessment, tomorrow  he will advise ?

4: You do not mention how many miles this car has ? Jasonj 

 

Your ignorance of braking systems is breathtaking, no one uses copper grease on the backs of brake pads as they come with a thermo rubber coating on the back, this attaches itself to the piston, especially on rear callipers and the other slave side of the calliper, provided both sides are clean when assembled the coating heats and becomes soft allowing both sides to embed slightly, so when the whole thing cools after first use the pads become semi attached to their mating surface points, this means when the piston retracts both pads will follow the mating surfaces back to their protocol positions, [START], furthermore it also stops brake squeal. You seem to have a surfeit of Americanisms which I believe may be a product of to much YouTube/Google, in thirty odd years with cars we have always called them DISCS.

[Reeceban]

Did you get an update on this issue? Any resolution just got an Audi used approve 21 plate a3 and exactly the same 

[KaSk]

Hi, I’ve just bought a 2022 plate A3 S-Line, manual, and think I have the same issue.  Only had it a week and it’s running fine, except when I brake at very low speeds I hear a grinding sound, possibly from the rear brakes, not 100% sure but seems like similar to as the OP says.  I also think it becomes worse as the car warms up.  Braking at higher speeds seems fine, it’s just a grinding sound at very low speeds.  It’s booked in to be looked at in a couple of weeks as the dealer said to pop back with any issues. It also creaks at the back when reversing on a bit of an incline, then breaking and then starting off forwards.  I’d be interested in any updates from the original post?  Thanks.

[KaSk]

My dealer checked and said nothing is wrong…. Taking it to my normal mechanic l next week as he said he would strip the brakes and check them… be interested in any updates from anyone as it seems others have the same issue, maybe it’s just the material on the pads?

[MALLpl]

Audi A3 23 plate, same issue, back passenger side brakes noisy esp. when at low speed. Have recently been back to dealer, mechanic has checked says no problem detected inc. after road test. It has the same noise as before after few minutes. Sounds like a rubbing together more than grinding, more audible when turning. Given previous comments will take to my normal mechanic for his view. Will be interested to see other comments on this.

[KaSk]

My mechanic checked and cleaned the brakes.  He said the front discs were pitted and should be replaced, fair enough Audi did this for nothing as the car was still under the 30 days of my ownership.  The noise is still there, and still sounds like it’s from the back passenger side.  I’ve left it for now, might take an Audi person out sometime, but another thread I’ve posted on has said it’s probably the material the pads are made from, that Audi changed the pads to give less dust.  Also took a family member out who drives an A6.  He said his car makes similar noises (but I haven’t heard the in his car).  I’m leaving for now as it does seem to brake fine…. Maybe at my next service I’ll check back with my usual mechanic…still be interested to see how others get on, seems a common complaint..

[Steve Q]

1 hour ago, KaSk said:

My mechanic checked and cleaned the brakes.  He said the front discs were pitted and should be replaced, fair enough Audi did this for nothing as the car was still under the 30 days of my ownership.  The noise is still there, and still sounds like it’s from the back passenger side.  I’ve left it for now, might take an Audi person out sometime, but another thread I’ve posted on has said it’s probably the material the pads are made from, that Audi changed the pads to give less dust.  Also took a family member out who drives an A6.  He said his car makes similar noises (but I haven’t heard the in his car).  I’m leaving for now as it does seem to brake fine…. Maybe at my next service I’ll check back with my usual mechanic…still be interested to see how others get on, seems a common complaint..

Glad you got some resolution in the way of replaced discs. Hopefully you get to the bottom of the issue soon. 

[A3Paul]

Newbie to the forum here. Picked up my A3 Sportback 35 TSFI 8Y facelift just over a week ago, and I’m experiencing the same grinding noise coming from the rear passenger side.

It was ex-demo, six months old, but still only low mileage (2,500), its with Bristol Audi at the moment, but they are blaming rust too, which we've all experienced before, but having done 200 miles with some heavy motorway braking yesterday and still hearing the noise when arriving home I’m not convinced.

Interesting others are having the same issue from the same wheel, at first I wondered if it might be part of the mild hybrid recuperation or the parking brake biting a little.

[KaSk]

47 minutes ago, A3Paul said:

Newbie to the forum here. Picked up my A3 Sportback 35 TSFI 8Y facelift just over a week ago, and I’m experiencing the same grinding noise coming from the rear passenger side.

It was ex-demo, six months old, but still only low mileage (2,500), its with Bristol Audi at the moment, but they are blaming rust too, which we've all experienced before, but having done 200 miles with some heavy motorway braking yesterday and still hearing the noise when arriving home I’m not convinced.

Interesting others are having the same issue from the same wheel, at first I wondered if it might be part of the mild hybrid recuperation or the parking brake biting a little.

Hi,  I’m still having the same noise, despite new front discs/pads.  Audi said rust at first, which is not correct.  I’ve now nearly done 2000 miles. They did keep mentioning the electronic brake booster will give a different “feel, but to me it’s not the feel but the sound.  I’ve had both Audi and my independent say the brakes look ok, but it is strange, and annoying…and there are a lot of comments about this on many forums.  Others have commented it’s the brake pad material, but I’m still not sure.  Be interesting to hear what they come back with to you.  I’m thinking to pop into some garages locally that say they specialise in Audi…maybe they’ve seen this before…

[A3Paul]

Bit of an update picked my car up from the dealer today, basically they’ve done a full inspection and while they did hear some rubbing while moving the car and while on the lift they’ve put it down to brake disc rust.

The courtesy A1 they gave me with only 45 miles on it had a slight rubbing noise when braking at slow speed, which could be down to pad materials, but quieter than what I’m experiencing at the moment.

Their conclusion is that the brakes are fine, and the noise should go away after more use. So, I suppose I need to play the game a bit longer and go back when it’s still a problem in a month or so.

As a side note, definitely made the right choice with the A3, the A1 felt very basic in comparison with a similar spec level, but still a nice little car, if not a bit pricey.

[KaSk]

On 3/8/2024 at 5:48 PM, Olicobs97 said:

Hi there. The noise started from new, and once the front disks were changed as per the technicians advice last year, the noise returned again after about 30 miles. (I can only assumed they greased the rear brakes and this then wore off). 
 

I’ve since driven the car another 7000 miles since the front brake pad change and this sound coming from the rear still continues. 
I don’t beleive it’s to do with the gears as it’s noticeable in first gear when coming to a slow stop from 10mph to standstill. 
it only happens when brakes are applied and can be felt in the pedal too 

 

3 hours ago, A3Paul said:

Bit of an update picked my car up from the dealer today, basically they’ve done a full inspection and while they did hear some rubbing while moving the car and while on the lift they’ve put it down to brake disc rust.

The courtesy A1 they gave me with only 45 miles on it had a slight rubbing noise when braking at slow speed, which could be down to pad materials, but quieter than what I’m experiencing at the moment.

Their conclusion is that the brakes are fine, and the noise should go away after more use. So, I suppose I need to play the game a bit longer and go back when it’s still a problem in a month or so.

As a side note, definitely made the right choice with the A3, the A1 felt very basic in comparison with a similar spec level, but still a nice little car, if not a bit pricey.

Interested to see how you go, mine hasn’t gone away.  Just the same after their 2nd “inspection”.  Good luck!  The A3 is a lovely car apart from this though!  I love mine..

[MarkyB]

Reading the comments makes me a little angry tbh.  Audi dealers saying change pads at 40% or change the front wtaf!! Rust can be an issue if the car has sat for any length of time or washed recently, the disc get wet and corrode v quickly, do a few miles and this scrubbed off in no time, its not an issue or something to worry about.  The fact Audi staff don't know there own vehicles or choose not to tell customers or advise of unnecessary work infuriates me!

In most Audis, at low speeds, the brake bias tends to lean slightly towards the rear, meaning a larger proportion of braking force is applied to the rear wheels compared to the front, which can sometimes lead to a feeling of "nose-diving" when braking hard at low speeds. 

Explanation:
Weight transfer:
When braking, weight shifts forward, putting more load on the front wheels. To compensate, car manufacturers often design the brake system with a slight rear bias at low speeds to help maintain stability and prevent excessive front-end dive. 
Handling characteristics:
A slight rear bias at low speeds can also aid in maneuverability by allowing the rear wheels to rotate more easily during tight turns. 

A good example Imagine you are riding a motorbike and brake with front brake the front would dip down, at low speeds using the rear brake keeps the bike more level and in control.

I don't know if the brake bias can be altered and I don't think its a good idea to try and change it. Brake pad material will play a part in it, pads have different compounds that the pad is made up of, different working temperature ranges, only thing you could do is speak to a specialist like perhaps Demon tweeks.  Performance pads usually need more heat and some squeal a lot when cold until they are up to temperature so its a bit of trial an error.  Mintex 1144 or EBC green stuff (Fast Road) could be an option, whatever you do don't get Race Spec omfg.

My advice buy a BMW or turn up the stereo!!!

[Alx222]

Hello I’m new to this whole forum thing so forgive me if I misunderstood how to respond to people if anyone can help! 
 

I have a very similar issue to what everyone is talking about, “Grinding sound” , at low breaking speeds. Although in my case it’s a very short almost sliding sound like something against hard plastic? It’s difficult to explain but iv sat in the passenger seat and it sounds like it’s coming from the right rear arch somtimes and other times from the drivers side footwell/lower dash/ wheel arch. 
 

this only tends to happen in 1st to 2nd gear and under breaking at any point at low speeds, and im yet to take it to the dealership since I’d rather not be on there bad side considering iv owned the car for less then 2 weeks (my first car btw). 
 

iv looked around for those blocks some dealerships put in the springs when delivering cars so they’re more stable on transporters but I can’t see them or anything loose that could be moving around which could cause a similar sound. I’m left to debate if it’s a breaking issue or a mechanical issue.

before I take it in, can anyone who has a similar problem specifically when changing gear maybe give a more specific answer to a resolution? Personally I don’t think it has anything to do with break pads or discs and more so a moving part that’s sticking or engaging too much.
 

also my apologies if I’m in the wrong forum asking about this, I couldn’t find a close enough description besides the one described here. If anyone has any advice to ask the dealership or look for myself/ any resolution please let me know! I’ll drop my specific car details below in brackets, cheers everyone 

(72 plate,37,000 miles ,1L 110hp, manual)

 

 

Edited Saturday at 02:20 AM by Alx222

[cliffcoggin]

7 hours ago, Alx222 said:

 and im yet to take it to the dealership since I’d rather not be on there bad side considering iv owned the car for less then 2 weeks (my first car btw). 

For goodness sake take it back to the dealer as soon as you can, and forget about hurting his feelings or upsetting him. You have a statutory 30 days in which to reject the car if it is faulty. After that time the dealer will not want to know you as he will be laughing all the way to the bank. There's a very good reason secondhand car dealers have a poor reputation.

[Alx222]

3 hours ago, cliffcoggin said:

For goodness sake take it back to the dealer as soon as you can, and forget about hurting his feelings or upsetting him. You have a statutory 30 days in which to reject the car if it is faulty. After that time the dealer will not want to know you as he will be laughing all the way to the bank. There's a very good reason secondhand car dealers have a poor reputation.

You mis understand what I’m saying,  I don’t want to take it back to them because I need the car for work, it makes more sense to get a better understanding of the issue before handing it in and saying here you go fix it, the dealership where I bought it from is 3 hours away and by the time I get back from work they are shut. 
 

don’t be so snotty acting like I haven’t thought about doing exactly what you said. I took time to post a question in hopes of help without sacrificing my job. Much like everyone on here they still haven’t had the dealership fix their issue so from I can see it’s pointless taking it in at the minute.  If you don’t have anything useful to say keep ur anger issues to urself.

[cliffcoggin]

Alex.

There's no anger or snottiness on my part. I am simply telling you your legal position to avoid you having to bear the cost of the repair once the 30 days has expired. It is advice that you will find frequently re-iterated throughout this forum, however if you would rather not receive such advice I am happy to withdraw from the discussion. Good luck.

[Alx222]

5 minutes ago, cliffcoggin said:

Alex.

There's no anger or snottiness on my part. I am simply telling you your legal position to avoid you having to bear the cost of the repair once the 30 days has expired. It is advice that you will find frequently re-iterated throughout this forum, however if you would rather not receive such advice I am happy to withdraw from the discussion. Good luck.

“For goodness sake” you immediately started the reply off with condescending words.  I know what I’m eligible for which is why I’m smart enough to turn to a forum for advice from owners and not go running to the dealership for all my problems. 
 

think about how you sound before giving out common sense advice which is more or less stated I knew from reading this forum to begin with , good luck with your anger management classes

[KaSk]

Hi Alex, I see you are on the Wirral.  Do I take it you bought it from an independent dealer? Or an Audi dealer?  Just you said it’s a 3 hour drive away.  I’m sure you know that Cheshire Oaks Audi is not far away, and do offer courtesy cars (although they can be a long wait).  To be honest though they weren’t a huge amount of help solving my issue, and I bought my car from them.  There are also 2 VW/Audi specialist garages in Neston, check out “Unit 20” or WCC - Wirral Car Care”. Maybe you could pop along for a chat first?  I was maybe going to see them to see if they have heard of this noisy break issue.  I’m might be remembering wrong but not sure if the offered courtesy cars, can’t remember.  Good luck.

[Stevey Y]

5 hours ago, Alx222 said:

You mis understand what I’m saying,  I don’t want to take it back to them because I need the car for work, it makes more sense to get a better understanding of the issue before handing it in and saying here you go fix it, the dealership where I bought it from is 3 hours away and by the time I get back from work they are shut. 
 

don’t be so snotty acting like I haven’t thought about doing exactly what you said. I took time to post a question in hopes of help without sacrificing my job. Much like everyone on here they still haven’t had the dealership fix their issue so from I can see it’s pointless taking it in at the minute.  If you don’t have anything useful to say keep ur anger issues to urself.

You did not mention any of the above in the original posts, you just said you did not want to get on the bad side of them which begs the question are you afraid of the dealer?, thats the whole point of having a warranty however short, thats precisely what you do aim it back at them and get it fixed, assuming you are not capable of fixing it yourself which no one else has managed to do I am really at a loss to see what any other poster can offer you, based on your original post Cliff was as usual precise and correct you can either get your smart brain in to gear and book it in and take a couple of days annual leave which I am sure your employer wont sack you for, as for anger management I find persecution complexes far more disturbing.

Steve.

[KaSk]

On 2/27/2025 at 10:30 AM, MarkyB said:

Reading the comments makes me a little angry tbh.  Audi dealers saying change pads at 40% or change the front wtaf!! Rust can be an issue if the car has sat for any length of time or washed recently, the disc get wet and corrode v quickly, do a few miles and this scrubbed off in no time, its not an issue or something to worry about.  The fact Audi staff don't know there own vehicles or choose not to tell customers or advise of unnecessary work infuriates me!

In most Audis, at low speeds, the brake bias tends to lean slightly towards the rear, meaning a larger proportion of braking force is applied to the rear wheels compared to the front, which can sometimes lead to a feeling of "nose-diving" when braking hard at low speeds. 

Explanation:
Weight transfer:
When braking, weight shifts forward, putting more load on the front wheels. To compensate, car manufacturers often design the brake system with a slight rear bias at low speeds to help maintain stability and prevent excessive front-end dive. 
Handling characteristics:
A slight rear bias at low speeds can also aid in maneuverability by allowing the rear wheels to rotate more easily during tight turns. 

A good example Imagine you are riding a motorbike and brake with front brake the front would dip down, at low speeds using the rear brake keeps the bike more level and in control.

I don't know if the brake bias can be altered and I don't think its a good idea to try and change it. Brake pad material will play a part in it, pads have different compounds that the pad is made up of, different working temperature ranges, only thing you could do is speak to a specialist like perhaps Demon tweeks.  Performance pads usually need more heat and some squeal a lot when cold until they are up to temperature so its a bit of trial an error.  Mintex 1144 or EBC green stuff (Fast Road) could be an option, whatever you do don't get Race Spec omfg.

My advice buy a BMW or turn up the stereo!!!

Ha ha, thanks for all of this, interesting to hear the breaking is weighted to the rear, as the noise does seem to be more from the rear.  For now I’m taking the turn up the stereo option 🤣.

[Stevey Y]

2 minutes ago, KaSk said:

Ha ha, thanks for all of this, interesting to hear the breaking is weighted to the rear, as the noise does seem to be more from the rear.  For now I’m taking the turn up the stereo option 🤣.

Hi it has nothing to do with the braking bias and more to do with the pad material, one of the posters mentioned Audi fitting low dust pads, these are always noisy and a lot harder compound standard aftermarket pads contain more organic compounds which create more dust but generally make less noise.

Steve.