The brief
The A6 had reached the point where the front brake pads needed doing, picked up on inspection with the friction material run low and the wear indicator getting close. The owner had them sorted before they reached the grind, which is the right time to do it. Brake pads are a wear item, designed to be used up and replaced. As they thin, a wear indicator warns you it's time, before the material runs out entirely and the backing plate starts grinding the disc. The A6's fronts had reached that warning point. Caught here it's a straightforward pad change and the discs are usually still fine, so they needed doing before it went further.
The diagnosis
On the lift the front brakes confirmed it, the pads worn down near the indicator with little material left, but the discs measured up still within thickness and ran true, no scoring, caught in time. The calipers and slides were freed off and checked, they were fine. The rears still had plenty of life. So it was a front pad replacement, a fresh pair, with the discs cleaned up and kept, because they were still good and there was no reason to change a serviceable disc.
The work
The worn front pads were removed, the calipers and slide pins cleaned and greased so they move freely, the discs cleaned up, and a new genuine Audi-spec set of front pads fitted, every fastener torqued to spec. The pads were bedded in so they'd grip evenly from the start. A road test confirmed quiet, even, progressive front braking with a firm pedal and no pulling.
The outcome
Quiet brakes, a firm pedal, even bite, sharp progressive stopping, and the discs still serviceable for plenty more. The A6 went home stopping properly again. Catching pads at the wear indicator keeps it to a simple pad change instead of pads and discs later, so doing the front pair when the inspection called put the braking right at the cheap end of the job.
