anyone have any insight into whether or not both pads and rotors need replacing at the same time? or can you get away with just a pad replacement? thanks

 

Do them both, if you install just one or the other it will create the same grooves etc. so esentially it will be as if you didnt even replace it

 

IMHO depends on the condition of the Rotors.

I just put on my 3rd set of front pads, 2nd set of rear pads and 1st set of front new rotors on B5 S4.

I've replaced all pads on a C5 A6 and the rotors are still original at 90K KMs and counting.

 

Wear on brake pads is far more rapid then on rotors IMHO. At 111k km's on my A4 and just replaced the front pads for the first time and rotors looked virtually new. Guess it all depends on your driving style as well.

 

Rotor life will be affected by driving style but more so by the type of pad you use. A "normal" street pad is far less agressive on the rotors than a full track pad and then there are others that fall somewhere in between.

Still though, as the previous 2 posts mentioned, even though i'm running aggressive street/track pads my experience has been at least 2 sets of pads before the rotors need replacing.

The groves aren't really a big deal unless they're significant. They have a spec for it somewhere but if you don't have any really bad groves, just leave them...the new pads will take to that shape as they bed in. It'll take a little longer but nothing too major.

The thickness of your disc remaining is what should dictate when it's time to replace them...assuming you haven't damaged the rotors by overheating your pads or so on.