The brief
The Q2 had started grinding and squealing under braking, the unmistakable noise of brakes that have run out of friction material, at both ends. He brought it in, which is the right call, grinding brakes are metal on metal and they don't stop the car the way they should. The pads are the wear item, designed to be used up and replaced, and the discs they clamp wear too, thinning and scoring over their life. When the pads run right down at both axles, the wear runs into the disc surfaces, gouging them. By that point it's not just pads, the discs front and rear are scored past serviceable, so all four corners need pads and discs together.
The diagnosis
On the lift the brakes told the story: front and rear pads worn to the backing plates, and the discs at both ends scored and below minimum thickness from running on metal. The calipers and slides were freed off and checked, they were fine, just the pads and discs gone all round. So it was a full brake job: new genuine Audi-spec pads and discs on both axles, with the electronic parking brake retracted and reset the proper way for the rears, because you don't fit fresh pads to scored, undersized discs.
The work
All four discs and the worn pads were removed, the hubs cleaned up, and a new genuine Audi-spec set of discs and pads fitted front and rear, the calipers and slide pins cleaned and greased so they move freely, the parking brake reset, every fastener torqued to spec. The pads were bedded in properly so they'd grip evenly from the start. A road test confirmed quiet, even, progressive braking with a firm pedal and no pulling.
The outcome
Quiet brakes, a firm pedal, even bite front and rear, sharp progressive stopping, and no grinding or squeal. The Q2 went home stopping properly again. Worn-out pads turn into scored discs the longer they're left, so doing all four corners as axle sets with genuine parts put the braking back where it should be, the safety job you don't put off.
