Transverse:

Refer to the article at http://www.audiworld.com/tech/wheel139.shtml on how to change the front brake pads.

They say that the front brakes take 70% of the braking job. So obviously they should wear out faster. on my car through, both front and rear are wearing out together.

My rotors are 38K miles old and they are still within specifications (per the local Midas shop).

Just like you, I am on the verge of buying new pads. still deciding on which are the better ones. I dont think i will be buying new rotors this time around to keep the expense down.

Please share any other information you gather.

Good luck!

 

yeash you want to make shure your rotors are in sopec if not the can get to thin to where the pads wont reach the rotor. not a good thing if your looking to stop

 

trans, i think the fronts are more than 70% of the stopping force....replacing the rear pads should be almost identical to the process for the fronts...like i said, the only special tool you need other than your basic hand tools is the tool to compress the piston back into the caliper...but as david suggested, you can use a c-clamp and a piece of wood too...it's pretty easy, just be glad you don't have rear drum brakes....those are the worst!

 

The rears are different than the front.
Instead of a 7mm hex, you need box end wrenches. And the rear pistons have to be rotated as they are pushed in order to retract. The fronts need only be pressed inwards.

 

that's a new one to me, i've never heard of that. do you happen know why they're designed that way brrman?

 

brrman may be right. one of the brake shops told quoted me more labor costs to install the REAR brake pads cuz apparently they are more difficult to do cuz of the piston as well as the hand brake system at the rear.

 

well, its different, but not really all that much more difficult where they
should charge you more. Hand brake system, which it is integrated,
has little if anything to do with changing your brake pads.

I have no idea why they designed the rear pistons to rotate as they contract. But I'm
sure those crazy Germans had a reason.

 

yea, those germans do some strange things sometimes....aabushka, the parking brake on almost every car is just a cable, it takes all of 2.3 seconds to disconnect....but i haven't changed the brakes on my audi yet, so maybe those germans are up to their crazy ways again...

 

The rear brake pistons are screwed in , not pushed like the fronts, so the hand brake will work. The spec for rear brake thickness is 2 mm and front 3 mm. The rear will appear thin but are good.