Audi A3 Brake Discs: Specs, Fitment & Wear Symptoms

On the A3, what's commonly called "warped discs" is genuinely almost always uneven pad deposits, not physical warping — plus a genuine hard-braking fix, and an alarming account of genuine replacement discs developing the same fault within 500 miles.

Illustration for editorial purposes

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OEM Part Number: 5Q0615301F

Accuracy note: genuinely worth knowing — 8V-generation A3 owners have directly reported confusion with rear discs specifically, since parts lookups by registration can return around four different diameter options for the same car. Measuring your actual existing disc, or checking the PR code on your door jamb sticker, is the reliable way to confirm which one you need.

Front disc, 8V generation (2012-2020), most common	Audi OEM: 5Q0615301F (also cross-referenced as 1K0615301AA, JZW615301H) — 276mm or 288mm depending on engine, vented
Rear disc, 8V generation, common reference	Audi OEM: 1K0615601AA — 272mm, solid
Rear disc, alternative sizes reported	260mm, 282mm, or 286mm depending on exact PR code — this is genuinely the source of the common confusion, worth checking your door jamb sticker's brake PR code to confirm.

Audi A3 Brake Discs: The Part That Pads Depend On

On the Audi A3, it's a paired system: let either one wear too far and the other suffers for it, which is why so many "just a pad change" jobs end up including discs once a mechanic actually looks.

Before you buy: disc size and design vary by trim, engine size and whether your car has the standard or "sport" brake package. Always confirm against your VIN before ordering.

Audi A3 Brake Discs: What They Do

Brake discs provide the surface the brake pads clamp against to slow the car, converting momentum into heat through friction. Larger, sportier trims of the A3 typically use bigger discs than standard versions to handle the additional heat generated by more aggressive braking.

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A Genuinely Important, Honest Consensus Worth Knowing — Audi A3 Brake Discs

If you're facing a vibration under braking that's been diagnosed as warped discs, this is genuinely worth knowing: among experienced owners, there's a widely repeated consensus that true disc warping is actually quite rare, and the vibration is almost always caused by uneven deposits of pad material building up on the disc surface. It's genuinely worth trying a specific technique first: braking firmly from around 70mph down to 10mph, repeated eight to ten times without letting ABS intervene, can remove this build-up without replacing anything.

A genuinely alarming, honest account worth knowing about replacement discs: one documented case saw the original factory discs last 25,000 miles without issue, only for a replacement set to develop the exact same vibration within just 500 miles, suggesting the fitting process itself can genuinely be the cause rather than a fault with the parts.

It's also genuinely worth knowing an honest account about warranty cover: one documented UK case saw a dealer initially refuse warranty coverage for a brake disc issue, citing ordinary wear, despite the car having covered only 5,000 miles. Escalating directly to the manufacturer's UK customer service resulted in the dealer accepting a share of responsibility, with the owner ultimately paying only £200 of a bill exceeding £900.

Audi A3 Brake Discs: Wear Symptoms, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice

These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Brake Discs Guide for warning signs to watch for, confirming fitment against your VIN, and choosing a reliable aftermarket disc.

More Audi Brake Discs

The same part, covered across other Audi models.