Audi A4 B6 Avant 1.9TDi 100 - 'Bitey' Brake Pads - Any Recommendations

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Sat 18 Jan 2014 16:17
Audi A4 B6 Avant 1.9TDi 100 - 'Bitey' Brake Pads - Any Recommendations - A3 A4

Looking to replace the front pads on my A4. I have been disappointed with the performance of the Ferodo SL's I fitted at the last disc change (Bremo).

They have hardly any 'bite' nothing like on my previous 130bhp A4, although I do know that the 100bhp has smaller discs. The fluid was changed about 6 months ago with no improvement apart from the peddle feeling 'tighter'.

Can anyone recommend some decent pads with a bit of bite? Was thinking of Brembo as fitted on the OH's A3, but that has larger front discs and don't want to go to that cost.

Thanks!

Edited by A3 A4 on 18/01/2014 at 16:19

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Sat 18 Jan 2014 18:39
Audi A4 B6 Avant 1.9TDi 100 - 'Bitey' Brake Pads - Any Recommendations - Cyd

I have replaced the original discs and pads on my Saab 93 Aero with Mintex units. The car has pretty big (304mm) discs, nevertheless I am very happy with the braking performance. Plenty of bite from cold and so far no brake fade despite pushing hard in the lanes a few times. The previous owner had Mintex fitted at the rear with the original discs. I will be fitting new Mintex discs and pads to the rear later in 2014.

I got my discs and pads from Premier Factors in Walsall (I went there, but they do mail order and are very helpful).
www.ebay.co.uk/usr/premier-factors

If you really want ultimate bite and don't mind paying for them, try EBC Greenstuff. I had them all round on my previous car (Rover 800 Vitesse Sport) which needed all the help it could get for the braking. They were superb.

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Sat 18 Jan 2014 18:52
Audi A4 B6 Avant 1.9TDi 100 - 'Bitey' Brake Pads - Any Recommendations - gordonbennet

Agree with Cyd re Mintex, i removed the original Sumitomo as fitted to my then new Hilux and fitted Mintex, massive difference.

At one time i used to fit Ferodo to all cars that came my way for maintenance, luckily my local factor was an agent, they appear to be quite difficult to get hold of now or have they moved into the boy/street racer market.

Ferodo did bite wel,l but needed far less pedal pressure back in the days before cars were overservoed, they were also gentle on the discs.

EBC's are supposed to make much less brake dust, i promised meself to try a set on the MB, but seeing as they cost almost as much as a set of Pagid pads AND discs, decided that a weekly wash wasn't such a hardship after all and it now sports Pagids..;)...which brake very well i must say and cheap to boot from Euro/Carparts4less.

One thing i found a long time ago, if you change the way the car brakes at one end an imbalance can occur, i fitted a set of Ferodo front pads to a mk 2 Golf, senior lady driver found the pedal pressure high (and the OE set was wearing the discs down faster than pad material).

The Golf didn't have ABS and it soon became apparent that the car was too easy to lock the front wheels up when Ferodoed, so i had to source a set of their brake shoes for the rear to restore correct balance...that wouldn't be quite so apparent on an ABS equipped car.

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Sat 18 Jan 2014 20:26
Audi A4 B6 Avant 1.9TDi 100 - 'Bitey' Brake Pads - Any Recommendations - elekie&a/c doctor

Have you considered using original Audi brake pads?They may not be as expensive as you think.

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Sun 19 Jan 2014 09:33
Audi A4 B6 Avant 1.9TDi 100 - 'Bitey' Brake Pads - Any Recommendations - John F

Have you considered your footwear? Firm unyielding leather soles or thicker spongy rubber ones? Or the covering [if any] of the brake pedal?

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Sun 19 Jan 2014 09:39
Audi A4 B6 Avant 1.9TDi 100 - 'Bitey' Brake Pads - Any Recommendations - RT

Have you considered your footwear? Firm unyielding leather soles or thicker spongy rubber ones? Or the covering [if any] of the brake pedal?

You wear shoes when driving ?

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Sun 19 Jan 2014 14:16
Audi A4 B6 Avant 1.9TDi 100 - 'Bitey' Brake Pads - Any Recommendations - Cyd

Wouldn't be surprised if the OE pads were from Mintex! They supply a vast range of OEMs and (like most large automotive suppliers) their 'aftermarket' branded products are exactly the same stuff just in their own box instead of a fancy OE box sold out of an expensive glass palace.

Pagid are part of the same stable - but the Pagid brand is slightly more 'sports' oriented.

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Sun 19 Jan 2014 14:36
Audi A4 B6 Avant 1.9TDi 100 - 'Bitey' Brake Pads - Any Recommendations - RT

Car manufacturers and good brake manufacturers tailor the pad characteristics to suit the nature of a particular car - so buying OE pads as replacement is the only way of knowing they suit the car.

The wrong specification from a good brake manufacturer is just as bad as the wrong specification from a poor brake manufacturer.

I found that out when owning a Subaru, a relatively low powered Outback - the only 3rd party pads would be brilliant on a track day but totally unsuitable for shopping trips - so I always stick to OE from the franchised dealer.

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Sun 19 Jan 2014 15:05
Audi A4 B6 Avant 1.9TDi 100 - 'Bitey' Brake Pads - Any Recommendations - Hamsafar

Original VW/Audi pads are usually marked Pagid or Textar which are both part of TMD Friction, of which Mintex is also a brand. Who knows if the products are different or just printed and packaged differently. I have used Mintex and Genuine Audi on my A8 and notice no difference in use. I also used Allied Nippon for a week which were so bad they should be made illegal. The difference was like night and day. Pagid claim to have 200 recipes for pad friction to match all of the OE parc.

www.tmdfriction.com

Edited by Hamsafar on 19/01/2014 at 15:09

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