S5 Brake Dust - What are Best Pads?

[Rustito]

Hi - My 2015 S5 black optic pkg w 19" wheels has awful brake dust both front and rear. I am considering replacing the pads and read about Akebonos and Hawk Ceramics. Few questions: 1. Does Akebonos make front and rears for S5? 2. How is everyday driving braking performance affected by these pads? 3. Do Audi dealers install these brands of brake pads or is it best to get them elsewhere? thanks for any help w this.

[Chanman94]

Both are good for reducing dust, but you will lose some of the initial bite with both the Akebonos and Hawks. And yes as far as I'm aware, they are made for front and rears. Best to get them installed at a tuner shop or even do it yourself if you're mechanically inclined, as the Audi dealer will bend you over and charge some ridiculous rate.

[Rustito]

Hey - thanks for the advise.

[GSS5]

i had ebc redstuff ceramic brake pads on my old car. they produced a little less dust than the oem pads.

the front pads are cake. the rear ones apparently are a pain in the ass and need vag-com to get to.

[ef1018]

I recommend Akebono. Been in the aftermarket my whole career and they are an excellent product. You will loose some initial bite when braking, which will improve some as they break in. You can go to the Akebono site to see if they list pads for your car. I got them for my A5 from a supplier in Florida. Don't remember the name . Most Audi dealers will not put on anything but Audi parts. The fronts are easy, the rears are NOT. You will need a vag com set up to release the rears pads. It's an electro mechanical caliper . Mess that up and you are looking at $800 + each. Find a shop that works on Audi's and they should have the tooling.
Have had mine on for 12000 miles. Brakes fine and the wheels stay clean.

[Jimmy ny]

I changed to Hawk HPS. Quite and less dust. Or probably not popular here but, when i had my S5 i used posiquite ceramic break pads. Same bite as OE and no dust. I matched them up with a nice set of cross drilled rotors. PM me for more info.

[3798j]

I swapped out to ceramic pads after less than 600 miles. While I chose Akebono's, I'm not certain it's terribly important which ceramics you decide on. I've got Centric Posi-quiet ceramics on a BMW and they react similarly. You need a "heavier foot" initially to get the desired deceleration, but they're easy to modulate (and easy to get accustomed to). You'll also quickly get accustomed to having clean wheels.

[B8 S FOR]

There is a "SEARCH" function This has been discussed a zillion times here....

[3798j]

There is a "SEARCH" function This has been discussed a zillion times here....

Gotta say thanks. While I'm new here, two longtime Audi friends said I wouldn't find one on Audizine. I just could not believe this forum did not have one. I've always found that regardless of the marque, there's always ~one~.

[Hatchman]

Should be able to put the pads on yourself. I did my S5 in a few hours and a few beers in my driveway, not hard at all. Hardest thing was using VAGCOM to run my rear brake caliper pistons in all the way to get the new pads on the caliper. If you lived in my area, I'd help you do it.

I had Hawk HPS on my old '98 Dodge Dakota with Brembo rotors and my old 500+hp Mustang with Stoptech Rotors. Good grip, much better than stock, and brake dust wasn't too bad though it was noticeable. Put them on the Dakota ten years ago and they are still going strong according to my Dad, who I sold it to.
Got the Akebono Euro Ceramic pads and Stoptech rotors on my old Benz and my current S5, super low dust but not much initial bite. Super quiet too, but they lack bite for aggressive driving.
Got the Hawk Ceramic with Stoptech rotors on my G35. Great pad, super low dust, good initial bite, and super quiet. So far, best pad I've ever had. Wheels stay cleaner than the rest of the car. Crazy.
Installed them all myself with no issues.

Never used the Hawk 5.0 HPS, but if the grip better the HPS with less dust, I'd go for them.

And yes, there was just a thread on this last month.
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ecommendations

[choice89]

I am an impatient person, and my patience with my OEM brake pads and the ridiculous amount of dust that comes off of them has finally forced my hand. I checked ECS tuning for the Akebono pads and they are apparently back ordered...so that means I won't wait, so I might go ahead and try the new Hawk HPS 5.0 pads! Probably order this weekend and hopefully install them by next weekend!

[PsYkHoTiK]

Try out the Carbotech 1521. I've used that street compound on both Audis that I've had. Light colored dust that doesn't stick to the wheel (ceramic pads). But from a vendor or direct (there's an Audi club discount if you order direct - email Mike Jr).


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[Gonzoe11]

+1 on the Hawk ceramics. They are pretty close to OEM feel but have virtually no dust. I'm running them now with OEM rotors.

[wel214]

I am an impatient person, and my patience with my OEM brake pads and the ridiculous amount of dust that comes off of them has finally forced my hand. I checked ECS tuning for the Akebono pads and they are apparently back ordered...so that means I won't wait, so I might go ahead and try the new Hawk HPS 5.0 pads! Probably order this weekend and hopefully install them by next weekend!

I got my akebonos off amazon a month ago.
I'd definitely recommend them. Brake dust is pretty much non-existent since they were put on.
Like others have mentioned, the initial bite is not as severe. The brakes are much easier to modulate with these pads. This is a positive IMO as I disliked how hard the OEM brakes (and most German cars for that matter) bit with a light tap of the break. The overall stopping power is the same, if not improved.

[Hatchman]

I got my akebonos off amazon a month ago.
I'd definitely recommend them. Brake dust is pretty much non-existent since they were put on.
Like others have mentioned, the initial bite is not as severe. The brakes are much easier to modulate with these pads. This is a positive IMO as I disliked how hard the OEM brakes (and most German cars for that matter) bit with a light tap of the break. The overall stopping power is the same, if not improved.

I agree, and I also hated the way the stock pads would come to a full stop. It was like you couldn't stop without the pads giving just a little bit of a shudder between 3 mph and full stop. Now with the Akebono euroceramic, you can come to a full stop with no squeak/shudder/jutter feel.

[ColtS5]

I am a brake pad snob, so I'll chime in. I love the Carbotech Bobcats. Low dust, great initial bite. The 1521's if you are more aggressive. You do have to get some heat in them in the wet. Hawk HPS are low dust, and have a good consistent bite during braking. Also priced very well. They also have a newer HPS plus? I also tried Mintex some time ago, and I'm not a fan. Good luck!

[JetCityQuattro]

Yeah, my car is a month old and I'm already annoyed by the dust - it's worse than any car I've had. I'm going through wheel cleaner like crazy. I really want the OEM feel, so I'm torn.