Audi Forum - Car Forum

How do I replace the brake pads on an Audi A4?

degsjlwlhz — Fri, 01 May 2026 12:35:41 +0000

My 2017 Audi A4 is literally screaming every time I touch the brake pedal and it is driving me insane. I have a trip up to the mountains this Friday and I cannot deal with this noise for four hours straight plus I am pretty sure I am down to the metal at this point. I checked with the dealership and they want nearly seven hundred bucks which is just not happening right now since my budget is more like $350 max for everything including tools.

I am basically torn between two ways to handle this. I could buy the Akebono ceramic pads because everyone says they are the best for low dust but then I have to figure out how to retract that stupid electronic parking brake in the rear. My buddy says I can just use a 9v battery and some jumper wires to retract the motor manually but that sounds like a recipe for a broken caliper honestly. The other choice is just getting a cheaper PowerStop kit from RockAuto and using the extra money to buy an OBDeleven scan tool so I can actually do the job the right way without breaking anything. I am leaning toward the cheaper pads and the tool because I am terrified of bricking my daily driver right before a trip but I hate brake dust so much. Should I go with the high end pads and the risky battery hack or just get the cheaper kit and the proper scan tool?

What are the steps to repair the air suspension on Audi Q7?

Fronflansix — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 02:55:58 +0000

Honestly so done with this car right now. My 2017 Q7 is basically sitting on its tires in the driveway and I cant even pull out without it scraping. It started a few weeks ago with just the rear left side dipping overnight but now the whole back end is slammed. I took it to a shop here in Chicago and they quoted me nearly 5 grand for a full replacement and I just dont have that kind of money right now especially with the holidays coming up. The compressor sounds like its struggling so hard, just clicking and whirring but nothing happens.

Its so frustrating because I love how it drives but this air suspension is a nightmare. Ive been watching some videos and I think I can maybe swap the bags or check the valve block myself but I dont want to mess it up more. I really need to get this fixed by next week because we have a trip planned and I cant take the rental. I have some basic tools and a jack but no lift. If I try to tackle this myself to save some cash, what are the actual steps to repair the air suspension on an Audi Q7 without getting ripped off?

Best performance and styling accessories for the Audi S3?

iodidylhhe — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:55:32 +0000

Finally picked up my 2023 S3 last week and honestly its a bit of a dream come true. I'm based just outside London and its my daily driver but I really want to sharpen it up before a big trip to Scotland I have planned for late July. Its fast enough stock but you know how it is... you start looking at parts online and then you just cant stop. I spent all of last night looking at the APR Stage 1 tunes because everyone says its the 'safe' bet for the EA888 engine but I'm super paranoid about the warranty since the car is so fresh and some people say a JB4 box is better if you want to keep the dealer happy.

Then for the styling side of things I saw the Maxton Design V2 front splitter and side skirts. They look sick in the professional photos on their site but then I saw some older forum posts saying the fitment can be a bit hit or miss and they look kinda cheap in person if you dont get the gloss black finish exactly right. I'm also looking at the RacingLine R600 intake which seems like the gold standard for these cars but does it actually make a real difference to the induction sound? The stock car is way too quiet for my liking especially with the OPF filters they have in them now.

I've got about £3,500 to play with for this first round of upgrades. I want a mix of 'go' and 'show' but I dont want it to look like a teenager owns it or make it so stiff that my wife refuses to get in it for the Highlands trip.

What are the absolute must-have performance and styling mods for the 8Y that actually feel high quality and wont make me regret it on a 500 mile drive? Are there better styling options than Maxton that aren't crazy expensive like the carbon stuff from ABT?

Are there any Audi RS6 Avant models currently listed for sale?

zysosvljou — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 10:56:16 +0000

Sorry if this is a dumb question but I'm trying to find an Audi RS6 Avant in Chicago with my 120k budget. I thought I could just walk into a dealer but I'm super confused why I cant find any listings online. Is there a trick to finding one for sale right now or am I just looking in the wrong spot...

Is anyone offering an Audi S5 for sale with low mileage?

jygguzlexd — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:55:49 +0000

My daily just crapped out and I need a B9 Audi S5 ASAP for a new job commute. I saw a few on Autotrader but they're all high mileage or have sketchy accident histories.

Under 30k miles

Budget 45k

Clean title

Near NYC/Jersey

Anyone selling or seen a clean one lately?

What are the must-have floor mats for an Audi e-tron GT?

ksmnuykffi — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 18:55:41 +0000

Honestly I am just so done with these OEM carpet mats that came with my e-tron GT. I’ve only had the car for three weeks here in muddy Seattle and they already look like absolute trash. I tried cleaning them yesterday and the dirt just wont come out of the fibers so now I have these gross brown stains on a car that cost me over six figures. It’s actually infuriating.

So I was thinking about getting those heavy duty rubber ones but my logic was that I dont want my interior to look like a Ford F-150 or something. Like the cabin is so sleek and futuristic and then you put these clunky industrial mats in and it just kills the vibe completely. I looked at WeatherTech but they look kinda cheap in person honestly and I'm worried they'll look out of place.

Then I saw some people talking about TuxMat or maybe the 3D MAXpider ones because they have that textured look that isnt just straight rubber grooves but I cant tell if they actually fit the floor pans perfectly or if they're gonna slide around and drive me crazy. I need something by next Friday because we’re taking a trip to the coast and I know the kids are gonna bring half the beach back into the car. Has anyone actually found a set that looks high-end but actually protects against wet boots and sand? I'm just tired of babying these carpets every time I step inside...

What should I check when buying a used Audi Q5?

kgssnmwdjt — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 21:55:21 +0000

Ive been driving an old A4 for like eight years now so Im pretty used to the standard VAG maintenance stuff like timing belts and the occasional oil leak but Im finally looking to upgrade to a used Q5. Ive got about 28k saved up and Im looking at the 2018 or 2019 models specifically because I want the newer interior and better tech. I went to look at one yesterday near Seattle and it seemed okay but I noticed this weird hesitation when downshifting from 3rd to 2nd which I havent really felt in the older ZF transmissions.

It kind of threw me off because I thought these newer S-tronics were supposed to be buttery smooth. Is that just a quirk of the DSG or should I be worried about the mechatronics unit going out early? Im also seeing some stuff online about the panoramic sunroofs leaking and rattling like crazy which would be a nightmare with all the rain we get up here. Beside the usual water pump and thermostat housing issues that every 2.0T seems to have what are the specific red flags for this generation? I really dont want to get stuck with a money pit right before ski season starts. What are the specific things I should be looking for during a PPI or even just a quick test drive?

Where can I find a reliable used Audi A3 for sale online?

zvowigiiqy — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:55:42 +0000

Honestly so fed up with browsing Facebook and Craigslist just to find total junk every single time. Every Audi A3 I see is either a rebuilt title or the seller wont even send me the service records and I really dont want to get scammed again. Im in the Seattle area and need something sorted by the end of next month for my new job.

Budget is strictly under 20k

Looking for 2017+ models

Mileage under 70k if possible

Must have a clean history

Where are you guys finding actual reliable listings because the big sites just feel like theyre full of overpriced dealerships or sketchy flippers...

Are there any reliable dealers with an Audi R8 for sale?

wimqyeyvrs — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 10:55:39 +0000

Ive been in the Audi ecosystem for a decade now, had a couple RS5s and a TTRS that I track regularly, but Im finally ready to pull the trigger on a V10 R8. I thought finding a clean 2014 or 2015 with the S-tronic would be easy but man the market is a mess right now. Im seeing so many rebuilt titles or pristine cars that have clearly been tracked to death once I see the brake wear and cooling history. Ive got a 140k budget and Im based in northern Jersey but honestly Ill fly anywhere for the right spec. Every luxury boutique dealer I call feels like theyre hiding something or just flipping junk. Are there any reliable dealers you guys actually trust that have an R8 for sale right now...

Looking for a used Audi A4 for sale, any common issues?

LouvreLead — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:55:25 +0000

ive been scrolling through marketplace and autotrader for like three weeks straight now and my head is honestly spinning because i need a car by the first of the month for this new commute into philly. i have about 17k saved up which i thought was plenty but everything seems so overpriced right now and im terrified of buying a lemon that explodes two weeks later.

im basically torn between two specific ones i found locally. the first is a 2015 a4 premium plus with 72k miles and it looks super clean like the guy definitely babied it but its the older body style and i keep hearing horror stories about the b8 engines and oil consumption which makes me so nervous. the other one is a 2017 a4 with the newer interior and tech which i way prefer but it already has 98k miles on it and its right at the top of my budget at 17,500. i love the apple carplay in the 2017 but that mileage is scary for that price.

im leaning towards the 2015 because of the lower miles but then i read online that the 2017 is actually more reliable because they fixed some of the major engine flaws from the earlier years? but then nearly 100k miles on a german car sounds like a recipe for a 4000 dollar repair bill any minute now and i cant afford that right after buying it. its for a 45 minute commute each way so i need something that isnt gonna leave me stranded on the schuylkill during rush hour. my last car was a civic that never had an issue so jumping into the audi world feels like a huge risk.

what are the actual common issues i should be looking for when i go see these in person this weekend? like are there specific things like water pumps or timing chains that i should ask the owners about or check in the service records? is the 2017 with high miles actually a safer bet than the 2015 with lower miles or am i just overthinking this whole thing...