RS7 with Carbon Ceramic Brake rotors cracking?

[soundsubs]

Took my RS7 into Audi today to get the 40k maintenance--- I've got 46k miles on it. It was cheaper than they quoted, which was awesome!

What was not awesome was the tech showed me that the front brake rotors have hairline cracks in them, barely noticeable. In fact, it almost seems cosmetic?
The brake pads were also slightly worn, as expected with CCB. By contrast, the rear brake rotors and pads were acceptable.
He indicated that Audi recommends changing both front brakes out completely at a price of $15,793.00.
PANIC!!

A cursory Google of the Audi CCB problems shows that this is quite common with CCB...most hits were from R8's but also with Lamborghini as well.
Apparently the Carbon Ceramic can crack as it expands/contracts due to heat? I live in Denver, where the weather can fluctuate quite a bit.
Some Google hits say this isn't even a problem and that the brakes will continue to function as expected. Audi advertises that they should last "life of the car" or 150,000 miles.
The only real issues I found in my searches were the problem with performance in the wet roads.
SEMI RELIEF!

I mentioned to my Service Person that this shouldn't be possible and they should be covered under warranty (less than 50k miles) and they said something about "wear and tear"
Thinking about it on the drive home, while I know this car can be expensive to maintain, that is roughly 20% of the blue book value of the car, which I think is insane.

So what would you do?
Anyone with RS7 Carbon Ceramic brake issues and experience?


thanks!

--Shane

[Dasquade]

Thin hairline surface 'cracks' are pretty normal afaik, it becomes unsafe when the cracks start to run from drilled hole to drilled hole as those can indicate actual structual cracks. There is a document online regarding service and diagnose CCB's (i have it stored on HD in case...let me know if you don't find).
Nevermind, here you go: https://fdocuments.in/document/ceram...-vehicles.html

[Audisthesia]

If you look at BMW M series CCB, they come from factory all cracked looking... Its bizarre but normal.

[sepheroth86]

That crazing is totally normal on a car that gets the brakes hot. I have done it to my Honda on the road course.

The issue is, as stated, when they split.

[gta7]

Makes my RS7 pads and rotors look cheap. I say screw that. An item that expensive that’s supposed to last the life of the car should be covered under warranty. Sorry to read this, that sucks!!

I’ve loved having new pads and rotors. My old pads squeaked like crazy. These have been pretty great.

[ewilliams1570]

Makes my RS7 pads and rotors look cheap. I say screw that. An item that expensive that’s supposed to last the life of the car should be covered under warranty. Sorry to read this, that sucks!!

I’ve loved having new pads and rotors. My old pads squeaked like crazy. These have been pretty great.

Did you go OEM with your replacements, or what did you put on the RS7?


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[phaphaphooey]

I think they may be trying to take you for a ride. CCBs have minor hairline "cosmetic" cracks as part of their normal appearance. My NSX looks exactly as you describe and its brakes are fine. Unless something hits the CCB and chips it, CCBs typically only need to be replaced when they do not meet the minimum thickness requirements.

[PeytonBrandt]

One tip going forward is to be conscience of the heat of your brakes when you wash your car.

For example, going for a spirited drive and then immediately washing your car/wheels in your driveway with cold water can cause the rotor temp to rapidly change from hot to cold, which isn’t good.


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[daytona rs7]

I mentioned to my Service Person that this shouldn't be possible and they should be covered under warranty (less than 50k miles) and they said something about "wear and tear"
Thinking about it on the drive home, while I know this car can be expensive to maintain, that is roughly 20% of the blue book value of the car, which I think is insane.



--Shane

for this exact reason, CCB are not a good option to see on used cars. in fact, id offer less money to an equally equipped car that had CCB vs steel brakes.

The original owner who spend $140k for the RS7P thinks, "oh great, I never have to worry about the $4k brake job".

but when it hits the used market after 50-60k miles, that car is worth $70k and as you found out, 10k cost of brakes as a build upgrade is only half of what a $20k CCB overhaul actually costs (front and rear). then it sets in that the second owner will most likely be responsible for brake maintenance during their ownership.

anyway, im not that knowledgeable about CCB rotors, but googling has returned the same results as you found...assuming your cracks are similar to this https://www.lamborghini-talk.com/thr...-cracks.23805/ . if its good enoughfor a Lamborghini, its OK for your Audi. Honestly, they are probly the same parts, lol.

[soundsubs]

Thanks for all your replies... makes me feel slightly better!

Apologies in advance for the out of focus picture--- this is straight from the dealer service video (which I appreciate, for the record)
You can make out the hairline crack between the actual brake surface and the inner flange. The tech said it was easier to see on one side than the other, indicating it was on both.
brakes.JPG

[OlyS6]

I wouldn't worry about it. Also, you can source CCB rotors and pads elsewhere. Killerbrakes.com periodically has them for sale for far less than a dealership- then just either change them yourself or have an indy mechanic do it.

[Papachristou]

I think they may be trying to take you for a ride. CCBs have minor hairline "cosmetic" cracks as part of their normal appearance. My NSX looks exactly as you describe and its brakes are fine. Unless something hits the CCB and chips it, CCBs typically only need to be replaced when they do not meet the minimum thickness requirements.

100% this... all drilled rotors get minor cracks by the holes.

[nitro_rider2001]

This was one of the very reasons I chose to stray away from a Performance version of the RS. In my $0.02, I would rather switch out to the (still expensive) steel rotors and calipers instead of replacing rotors if you truly are wanting to.

But as others have mentioned - I wouldn't be that concerned unless you see a legitimate crack in the rotor.

Best of luck

[phaphaphooey]

for this exact reason, CCB are not a good option to see on used cars. in fact, id offer less money to an equally equipped car that had CCB vs steel brakes.

The original owner who spend $140k for the RS7P thinks, "oh great, I never have to worry about the $4k brake job".

but when it hits the used market after 50-60k miles, that car is worth $70k and as you found out, 10k cost of brakes as a build upgrade is only half of what a $20k CCB overhaul actually costs (front and rear). then it sets in that the second owner will most likely be responsible for brake maintenance during their ownership.

anyway, im not that knowledgeable about CCB rotors, but googling has returned the same results as you found...assuming your cracks are similar to this https://www.lamborghini-talk.com/thr...-cracks.23805/ . if its good enoughfor a Lamborghini, its OK for your Audi. Honestly, they are probly the same parts, lol.

I think you are way off the mark. If you know anything about exotic cars or follow the market CCBs are THE single most important option in terms of resale value for exotics that have them as an option (since most of them now spec CCBs as standard). For the most part options do not matter much on the second hand market but CCBs almost exclusively do. True, they are cost prohibitive if you are tracking the car as they are quite expensive to replace. However, for street driving, their incredibly long life, lack of brake dust, and excellent performance characteristics are unmatched. I would've loved to have gotten them on my RS7 but in the USA they were only available on the performance plus with the non air ride suspension which was too stiff for a car that I DD. I have Brembo CCBs (which make CCBs for almost every manufacturer that offers them outside of some other Asian and maybe British manufacturers and they have been wonderful so far.

[gta7]

Did you go OEM with your replacements, or what did you put on the RS7?


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Yes OEM steel rotors.

[a4huey09]

Was this done at Audi Denver or Prestige?

[soundsubs]

Was this done at Audi Denver or Prestige?

Done at Audi Flatirons.

[gk1]

Done at Audi Flatirons.

!!!

[09S5]

Brand spanking new rotors.

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[Alabama]

If you look at BMW M series CCB, they come from factory all cracked looking... Its bizarre but normal.

I don't know about CCB, but in pottery surface crazing is not uncommon and is sometimes done deliberately to be decorative without affecting the durability of the piece depending on how it's done. Here's an idle thought if OP can take magnified pictures as did 09S5. Select a mark on the inner hub for orientation and take a close up picture of the disk surface. In a month, orient the disk the same way and take another picture to compare. Do that periodically to monitor for the possible problem Dasquade warns about.

[dirtybrd]

It’s not cracks. It’s the fiber in the carbon fiber


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