I've been running the Akebono pads up front for about 16 months. A little better feel and zero dust. That is all I can say about them. I've been calling and/or emailing Akebono every other month since installing the fronts... waiting for their rear pad offering. I have had zero response from Akebono since last year. The strange thing, is that their front pads were available relatively early AND they include the wear sensor which is a nice selling point. The rear pads on my car don't have wear sensors. So what's up with the wait?!

Anyhow, a few reasons led me to shop in other places. I got tired of cleaning my rear wheels - while the front wheels remained spotless for weeks, almost a month (if there is not much rain). But more importanty, my rear pads have been squealing for a month now.

I ordered the Carbotech Bobcat line pads, as recommended by our forum's Hall of Fame Renegade, MuranoDaddy. I followed the instructions and bedded them properly. Bedding allows your brakes to reach their full potential. Until they are bedded, your brakes simply do not work as well as they can. PureMs.com was the supplier I used. My first order from them. I used their web site and paypal. About a week later I received the pads. It appeared to be a drop-ship. I received a receipt in the mail a few days later.



From a speed of approx 60 mph, gently apply the brakes a few times to bring them up to operating temp. Make a series of near-stops from about 60 to about 25 mph. You want to press the brakes firmly, just shy of locking the wheels. At the end of each slowdown, accelerate promptly, back to 60mph. DO NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP! If you stop and sit for any length of time with your foot on the brake pedal, you will imprint pad material onto the hot rotors, which can lead to vibration, uneven braking, and could possibly ruin the rotors. Repeat these steps, IIRC, the instructions ask for this procedure six times.

When I was finished with the sixth run, I didn't feel like driving around for 30 minutes to let everything cool properly. So I positioned two box fans a few inches from each rear wheel, once I got home. Sort of cheating, I know. But they were cooled down in no-time.

Little or no dust like the Akebonos. Feel is greatly improved, but that's to be expected, my OEM rear pads had almost 35,000 on them. So the e-brake feels more secure. The feel on the road is much much better as mentioned. And I don't have the same "mashed potatoes" feel as before.

• 2006 A3 2.0Tfwd vs. 2009 A3 2.0TQ

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Parting out! OEM parts for sale for 2006-2008 A3!

Links to DIY Threads, Mod Threads, Suggested Reading:
2009 A3 Pricing with Options!
2009 A3 Reviews!
2009 A3 What fits from the older model?
2009 A3 Magnetic Ride
2009 A3 Ti Package
2009 A3 Wheel Thread
2009 A3 Delays!!!
DIY Radar + OEM mute/led switch!

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