C8 RS7 17,000 miles, rear brakes need to be replaced

[Djpeaksd]

Audi fam,

Not new to Audi or very expensive brakes on RS cars but find my current situation a little weird and I have never heard of it. I could be wrong but wanted some other opinions. So My 2021 RS7 has 17,000 miles and the brake light and brake pad wear message came up. My service guy is telling me the rear brakes need to be replaced. I just requested thickness left for front from him but this sounds strange. I have never heard of rear brakes needing to be replaced before fronts.


Side note: I did purchase the Audi brake protection deal in finance and am finding out that, the contract is only good for 3 years or 36,000 miles and if my front brakes don't reach the wear limit in that time then I am SOL, which frankly is bullshit and that is not how it was explained to me in finance. Now, looking at the contract, I obviously signed it and it's on me but unethical none the less. Finance person told me, I could replace brakes whenever, no big deal.

So I may be doing a ton of high speed emergency back to back stops in the near future!!

[phaphaphooey]

I have only heard of that in track situations, not in street driving.

[essfour]

Assuming you do not have ceramic brakes, correct?

17k is definitely sooner than I would have expected. With the rears wearing down first it could be a by-product of the rear torque vectoring, total guess.

[FBAnder]

Now that is an interesting tidbit about the brake package time and mileage limitations. Makes me glad I only sprung for the pad portion since I figured there was a good chance I would use that once during ownership. Dealer has been nagging me to do brakes but 1) no light and 2) mm available went up on my last visit on all 4 corners so....

It sounds like the warranty also is only useable if the light is on...IE you couldn't use it just to use it cause term expiration is coming up. That sound about what you've experienced?

[rusq5]

Assuming you do not have ceramic brakes, correct?

17k is definitely sooner than I would have expected. With the rears wearing down first it could be a by-product of the rear torque vectoring, total guess.

My SQ5 went through rear brakes quicker than fronts, which I suspected was due to the torque vectoring. The SQ5 didn't have a sport diff, so the brakes did 100% of the torque vectoring. I would think with the sport differential the RS6 wouldn't be using as much brakes for torque vectoring.

I agree 17K is pretty fast. I replaced my rears on the SQ at 30Kish.

[RMode]

Nearly ever Audi I've owned since 2000 goes through rears before fronts. Due mostly to engine placement, and the need for stronger rear bias vs cars where the engine is further back. Add torque vectoring into it, and it compounds it.

17k on that car is not at all abormal for a car that isn't purely highway driven. Our RS3 had rear pads done the first time at around 15k as I recall, 18k or so for fronts. We have fun with it, but we aren't bearing the snot out of it by any means.

[Djpeaksd]

Correct, I do not have ceramic brakes.

Assuming you do not have ceramic brakes, correct?



17k is definitely sooner than I would have expected. With the rears wearing down first it could be a by-product of the rear torque vectoring, total guess.

Now that is an interesting tidbit about the brake package time and mileage limitations. Makes me glad I only sprung for the pad portion since I figured there was a good chance I would use that once during ownership. Dealer has been nagging me to do brakes but 1) no light and 2) mm available went up on my last visit on all 4 corners so....

It sounds like the warranty also is only useable if the light is on...IE you couldn't use it just to use it cause term expiration is coming up. That sound about what you've experienced?

You are correct, all of this work needed to be approved by Audi. I can't just go in and say, please change my front brakes now. If they are not at wear limit and i reach the mileage or 3 years the contract expires, which is total bull.

I will say this though, I paid $2,200 for this contract and it looks like rear pads, rotors and labor will be more than that. I also got the thickness of front pads (6mm) and to be replaced they have to be at 3mm or less, so I am thinking I can go through 3 mm in my front brakes in 9 months. It is just lame how it is structured.

[FBAnder]

Oh it is way more than $2,200. I got a dealer quote in the $8,000 ballpark for front and rear pads and rotors. Aftermarket taking it's sweet time.

[Djpeaksd]

Oh it is way more than $2,200. I got a dealer quote in the $8,000 ballpark for front and rear pads and rotors. Aftermarket taking it's sweet time.

Yeah, I was saying just the rear is more than what I paid. My understanding is the total job front and rear is about $6K. Honestly, that just seems ridiculous!! I know the whole you have to "pay to play" deal but damn, to have to drop $6K on brakes every 20K miles is just crazy. All my miles are city (stop and go) miles so I'm sure others will get more time than me but still.

[Djpeaksd]

Quick update: Got car back and rear brakes were $3,300 which I did not pay for as I had the service contract. My front brakes have about 3 mill left til the indicator comes on, so I should be able to get those replaced before the contract is up in 9 months.

[afrozenfyre]

I have a 2021 RS6 and have about the same 6mm fronts @ 18K miles. But my service contract is 48mo which seems more comfortable interval I'll definitely need all corners by then around 30K+ miles.

For these RS brakes it seems like the service contract is a no brainer - the cost didn't really account for the RS premium, which is good for us!

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