Audi A3 Brake Pads: Specs, Fitment & Wear Symptoms
On the A3, Audi's own corporate escalation genuinely concluded, after a week of communication, that the brakes were "squeaking more than normal" — plus a fix using a specific wheel cleaner and confirmation of a known batch of affected pads.
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OEM Part Number: 8V0698151G (genuine front pad set — confirm via VIN) — aftermarket front pads Brembo P 85 126 / Bosch 0 986 494 660
| Front brake pads (aftermarket) | Brembo P 85 126 (160 x 65 x 20 mm, wear sensor yes, TRW/Lucas/Girling system); Brembo P 85 144 (175 x 70 x 20 mm, wear sensor yes, TRW/Lucas/Girling system); Bosch 0 986 494 660 (160.2 x 64.5 x 20.4 mm, integrated wear sensor yes); Bosch 0 986 424 285 (175 x 69.7 x 20 mm, integrated wear sensor yes); Bosch 0 986 494 721 (146.1 x 62.4 x 17.5 mm, integrated wear sensor yes, smaller-brake set); ATE 13.0460-2785.2 (160 x 64.5 x 20.4 mm, wear contact prepared and included, TRW/Lucas/Girling system); ATE 13.0460-2617.2 (175 x 70 x 20 mm, wear sensor yes, TRW/Lucas/Girling system); Ferodo FDB4433 (64.6 x 20.2 mm, width not listed, wear sensor yes, TRW/Lucas/Girling system) |
|---|---|
| Pad sizes & variants | Three sizes. 146 x 62.4 x 17.5 mm (smaller brakes; Bosch 0 986 494 721, Ridex 402B0912), 160 x 64.5 x 20.4 mm (standard; Bosch 0 986 494 660, ATE 13.0460-2785.2, Brembo P 85 126, Ferodo FDB4433, Ridex 402B0587), and 175 x 70 x 20 mm (larger brakes; Brembo P 85 144, ATE 13.0460-2617.2, Bosch 0 986 424 285, Ridex 402B0549). Brembo and ATE also offer premium lines (Brembo Xtra P 85 144X and P 85 126X, ATE ceramic 13.0470-2785.2). |
| Genuine (OE) numbers quoted | 8V0698151G (genuine front pad set number previously quoted for this model — confirm via VIN) |
| Fitment notes | The 175 mm pads are the larger-brake fitment (likely the more powerful engines and S3) and the 146 mm pads the smallest |
Shared Underpinnings, Not Always Shared Parts
The A3 shares its underlying MQB platform with the VW Golf, Skoda Octavia and Seat Leon, but that doesn't automatically mean brake components are interchangeable across every trim and engine combination — always worth confirming before assuming a part will fit.
Audi A3 Brake Pads: What They Do
Brake pads clamp against the discs to convert the car's momentum into heat, slowing it down. The plug-in hybrid 40 TFSI e version of the A3 uses regenerative braking to recover energy under normal deceleration, which can affect both pad wear patterns and pedal feel compared with the standard mild-hybrid petrol version.
Common Sizes
| Mild-hybrid petrol (front) | Standard size — confirm via VIN |
|---|---|
| 40 TFSI e plug-in hybrid | Confirm compatibility given added battery weight |
| S3 / RS3 performance | Larger, high-performance brake package |
Audi A3 Brake Pads: Watch: Replacing It
8V pads and discs, front
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A Genuinely Honest, Real Account Worth Knowing — Audi A3 Brake Pads
If a dealer initially dismisses brake squeal as normal, this is genuinely worth knowing: one documented case saw the manufacturer's own corporate customer service escalate a complaint over a full week, only to eventually conclude the brakes were simply "squeaking more than normal" — a genuinely vague finding, though the pads were replaced anyway. It's worth persisting through this kind of escalation even if initial responses feel dismissive.
It's also genuinely worth knowing a proper technique that's sometimes skipped: chamfering the leading edge of new pads and applying proper brake lubricant to all metal-to-metal contact points, not just the rear of the pad, is the correct procedure for preventing squeal. It's also worth knowing that an intermittent squeal, even when properly recorded and provided to a dealer, can genuinely go unresolved even after several separate visits.
Audi A3 Brake Pads: Wear Symptoms, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice
These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Brake Pads Guide for warning signs to watch for, confirming fitment against your VIN, and R90-certified aftermarket brands worth trusting.
More Audi Brake Pads
The same part, covered across other Audi models.