A6 C8 50tdi Quattro Brake Pads & Disc Replacement Cost!

[MartinLHW]

Had the car into local dealership (Central Scotland) for MOT/Servicing last year and was told need new rear brake pads and discs. Cost was £500. Was told that I was lucky because the front set of brake pads and discs costs substantially more - £1600!

Anyone with this car had theirs done at dealership and can share how much they paid? I've been driving for over 20 years and never in my life have I paid over £2k for brakes!

Thanks

Martin

[Magnet]

Hello Martin,

When you say local dealership, can we take it you mean an Audi main dealership? 
If so, you are going to be quoted ‘orbit money’ at any main dealer, and an ‘Independent’ is likely to quote you less (a good bit less?) and a trusted local garage, substantially less. 
But before that, it would be wise to quantify the thickness of the remaining brake pad, since ‘dealerships’ tend to work on the principle that they may not see the vehicle again for say 18 months, or 18K miles, by which time ( in caps) the rear brake pads will need changing. In other words, there may still be plenty of life left in them at this point in time. 
If it were mine, I would:-

Ask the dealership to inform you what thickness remains on the brake pads ( not ‘they are x% worn). 
If they do need changing now, search for a trusted localish independent VW/Audi specialist and seek a quote there.

Ask your trusted local garage to give you a quote, but tell them you wish them to use say Brembo parts. 
Perhaps you could let us know how you get on Martin.

Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[dalswinton]

If it was me, I would take off a rear wheel, and

check them myself, then if the pads need changing,

I would go to an independant audi workshop.

Brian.

[Magnet]

Thanks Brian, but we don’t know if Martin feels competent to take the wheel off and actually measure the remaining pad thickness. 
 

[cliffcoggin]

Even allowing for Audi dealers inflated prices £500 seems a lot. Try an independent garage.

I am puzzled why the rear brakes are so bad while the front brakes are still at least acceptable. The front brakes on all cars provide much more braking effort than the rears, hence they usually are the first to need attention. Have the brakes been worked on in the past?

[dalswinton]

please correct me if I am wrong, but I heard from a reliable

source, that audi have altered the brake balance between the

front and rear, on my a4 allroad with 34,000 miles, the front pads

are hardly half worn,where as the rears are getting quite low,

( the rear's are both free as I strip them from time to time) and i

am not heavy on the brakes.

regards

Brian.

[MartinLHW]

Car has done 40k miles now, rear got done last year and I am not heavy on the breaks nor drive fast either.

Been told that the front brakes are made of a special material and also not standard brakes, the 50tdi has the same up-rated brakes are the S6 brakes supposedly.

Either way, £1600 including parts and labour seem quite expensive. Other garages have quoted £600 but what I am worried is they will put on inferior brakes as when it comes to cars, unfortunately not very knowledgeable.

Thanks to all for your comments/contribution.

[ykes]

I know you are in Scotland, but here is a link to non audi dealer, but audi specialist:

https://www.audi-specialists.co.uk/service-menu/

Shows us all the silly mark up the 'STEALERS' are taking us for !

 

[Magnet]

Hello Martin,

This is not meant to be critical or judgemental, but I believe you entrust your car’s care to the main dealer, because they are the best. By doing so, it sends 2 hours in their workshop, a little time in a valet bay, while you get your free cup of coffee - great - while your wallet gets twitchy about what is going to be extracted from it! Great, if that’s your thing and it gives you peace of mind, but bear in mind, they have work targets to generate income for that dealership. 
Back to your rear brakes needing doing now:- 

It would not surprise me at all to find that they don’t actually need changing now ( in caps), and if so no need to worry. 
Your best friend for any ‘routine maintenance’ is a trusted local garage where you can talk with the chap who will actually be working on your car, rather than a front-of-house- service receptionist. My recommendation would be to try to find that garage, and ask them to let you know what brake pad thickness remains - as a starting point. 
Kind regards,

Gareth.