DBA Brakes for the Audi A8: Which Parts Fit

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

For the Audi A8, the DBA part we carry is the DBA SP Performance Street rear brake pad set, DB15031SP, which fits the 2019-2021 A8 Quattro (the D5 generation). DBA does not cover every A8 year, so owners of older A8s will usually get a better fit from the EBC, Hawk and Brembo parts listed below, each matched to a specific year range and engine.

What DBA Makes and Where It Fits the A8

DBA is an Australian brake company known for its rotors and its Street Performance (SP) pad line. The SP pad is DBA's OE-upgrade pad: a semi-metallic, copper-free friction material (NSFI certified), scorched at the factory, with application-specific NVH shims, slots and chamfers to keep noise and vibration down. DBA recommends it for daily drivers, performance cars, SUVs and 4WDs.

On the A8, our DBA fitment is the rear axle of the D5 car:

• DBA SP Performance Street rear brake pads DB15031SP for the 2019-2021 Audi A8 Quattro

The D5 A8 was built with more than one front brake size, so front pads and rotors are matched by rotor diameter as well as by year. Check the size on your rotor or your build sheet before ordering any front parts. The rear pad above is listed by year and model for the Quattro.

Every A8 Part We Carry, by Generation

If your A8 is older than 2019, DBA is not the fit. These are the A8 parts in our catalog, each tied to the years and engines in its listing:

For anything not in this table, browse our full brake pad catalog and brake rotor catalog by vehicle.

DBA SP vs the Other Pad Choices for an A8

An A8 is a heavy all-wheel-drive luxury sedan, and most owners want a pad that stops it confidently without making noise or covering the wheels in dust. Here is how the compounds compare, using each maker's own description:

• DBA SP: semi-metallic, copper-free, pre-scorched so it beds in quickly, with shims and chamfers for NVH control. Meant as a step up from the factory pad for street use.
• Hawk HPS 5.0: a Ferro-Carbon compound with an optimal range of 100-550 F and an operating range of 100-750 F. Hawk describes it as aggressive torque with smooth, predictable release and good rotor and pad life.
• EBC Redstuff, Yellowstuff and Bluestuff: EBC's street ceramic, fast-street and track-capable pads, roughly in order of increasing heat tolerance.
• Brembo OE kit: a replacement-grade kit with ceramic pads and coated rotors for an owner who wants factory-like behavior.

For a daily-driven A8, a street compound like the DBA SP, Hawk HPS 5.0 or EBC Redstuff is the sensible choice. Save the more aggressive compounds for cars that see mountain roads or track days, since those pads tend to be noisier and dustier when cold.

One important check: Hawk states that its compounds are not compatible with carbon ceramic rotors and are designed for iron rotors only. If your A8 has carbon ceramic brakes, confirm with the pad maker before buying any aftermarket pad.

The Rear Brakes Need a Scan Tool on Most A8s

The A8 uses an electro-mechanical parking brake (EPB) on the rear calipers. The Ross-Tech wiki lists the A8/S8 among the Audi models with this system, controlled through the parking brake module at address 53. On an EPB caliper the piston cannot simply be pushed back with a clamp. The motor has to be driven into its open service position first.

The basic sequence for a rear pad change is:

1. Make sure the parking brake is off, and connect a battery charger. Ross-Tech warns that the EPB module is very sensitive to low voltage.
2. Use a compatible scan tool to open the rear calipers in service mode.
3. Replace the pads (and rotors if needed), then reassemble.
4. Use the scan tool to close the calipers, then run the function test so the system cycles the calipers and takes up the extra gap.

Forcing the piston back without service mode can damage the caliper motor, which turns a pad job into a caliper replacement. If you do not own a scan tool that supports the parking brake module, have a shop do the rear axle.

Pairing Pads With Rotors

DBA designs its SP pad to be used with its own performance rotors, specifically the Street Series T2 or 4000 Series T3 slotted rotors. The 4000 Series uses high carbon alloyed iron and DBA's Kangaroo Paw ventilation: 144 diamond and teardrop pillars that DBA says give up to 30 percent more surface area and 20 percent better cooling than a straight-vane rotor. They also carry thermographic paint that changes color at set temperatures, a CBN machine-turned finish to limit thickness variation, and painted non-friction areas to resist rust.

Whatever pad you choose, install it on rotors that are above the minimum thickness cast into the rotor and have no heavy lip, grooves or heat spots. New pads on worn rotors are the most common cause of vibration and noise after a brake job. If the rotors are at or near the limit, replace them as a pair with the pads.

What to Replace at the Same Time

• Pad wear sensor: Audi uses electrical wear sensors. Once a sensor has worn through, replace it or the warning light will stay on.
• Hardware: new clips and slides keep the pads moving freely. See our brake hardware kits.
• Brake fluid: old fluid absorbs moisture. Flush with the fluid type printed on your reservoir cap or listed in your owner's manual.
• Rotors: as above, replace them if they are near minimum thickness.

Bed in new pads following the pad maker's instructions. DBA pre-scorches the SP pad, but a controlled bed-in still helps it lay an even transfer layer on the rotor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does DBA make brake pads for every Audi A8?

No. The DBA part we carry for the A8 is the DB15031SP rear pad for the 2019-2021 A8 Quattro. For older A8s, use the EBC, Hawk or Brembo parts matched to your year and engine.

Can I change the rear pads on my A8 without a scan tool?

Not safely. The rear calipers use an electro-mechanical parking brake that has to be put into service mode with a scan tool before the pistons can retract. Forcing them back can damage the caliper motor.

Are DBA SP pads quiet enough for a luxury car?

They are built as a street OE upgrade with application-specific shims, slots and chamfers for noise control, and a copper-free semi-metallic compound that DBA describes as low dust. Installing them on smooth, in-spec rotors matters as much as the pad itself.

Do I need new rotors with new pads?

Only if the rotors are below minimum thickness, grooved, lipped or warped. Measure them before ordering. DBA recommends pairing the SP pad with its Street Series T2 or 4000 Series T3 rotors.

Can I use these pads on carbon ceramic brakes?

Do not assume so. Hawk states its compounds are for iron rotors only. Check with the pad maker before fitting any aftermarket pad to carbon ceramic rotors.

Sources

1. DBA - Street Performance Brake Pads - SP compound, scorching, NVH shims, recommended T2/T3 rotor pairing
2. DBA USA - Street Performance Brake Pads - copper-free NSFI formulation, intended vehicles
3. DBA USA - 4000 Series Brake Rotors - Kangaroo Paw vanes, cooling figures, thermographic paint, CBN finish
4. Ross-Tech Wiki - Working on the Electro-Mechanical Parking Brake - A8 EPB, service mode steps, low-voltage warning
5. Hawk Performance - HPS 5.0 - Ferro-Carbon compound, temperature ranges, iron-rotor-only note