Hawk Performance Brakes for the Audi A4: Which Parts Fit

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

Hawk Performance makes street pads for several Audi A4 generations, and we carry Hawk sets for A4 model years from 2005 through 2019. The right Hawk part depends on your model year, whether you want more bite (HPS or HPS 5.0) or a quieter, cleaner wheel (Performance Ceramic), and on front versus rear. This guide matches each Hawk part we carry to the A4 it fits and explains how the compounds differ.

How Hawk Names Its Pads (and Why It Matters for Fit)

Every Hawk part number tells you three things. Take HB641F.696. The HB641 portion is the backing-plate shape, which is what actually determines fitment. The letter after it is the compound: Hawk codes HPS as F, HPS 5.0 as B, and Performance Ceramic as Z. The number after the dot is the pad thickness in inches, so .696 is a 0.696-inch pad.

That means HB641F.696, HB641B.696 and HB641Z.696 all share the same shape and bolt into the same caliper. You are choosing a friction material, not a different fit. When you shop, confirm the shape number for your year first, then pick the compound.

Which Hawk Pads Fit Your Audi A4

Here is every Hawk A4 part we currently carry, grouped by the model years listed for it. Always check your trim against the product page, because Audi used different brake packages on some trims.

A few notes on this table. Hawk's own application list for the HB641 front shape and the HB642 rear shape covers Audi A4, A5, S4, S5, Q5 and allroad models from 2008 through 2017, so the same pad often fits a sister model. The HB544 rear shape is shared with the 2005-2008 A4, the A6 of the same era, and several Volkswagen GTI and Jetta years. The HB866 rear shape runs across 2013-2021 Audi models including the A4, A5, Q5 and S4. For 2017-and-newer fronts, or anything not listed, browse our full brake pad catalog or our ceramic brake pad range.

HPS vs HPS 5.0 vs Performance Ceramic on an A4

Hawk publishes an optimal and a maximum operating temperature for each street compound. Those ranges tell you a lot about how each pad will behave on a daily-driven A4.

Pick HPS if

You want noticeably more initial bite than a stock pad for back-road driving, but still care about rotor life. HPS is Hawk's Ferro-Carbon street compound and a common choice for a 2.0T A4 that sees fun weekend drives.

Pick HPS 5.0 if

You drive harder, carry more speed into corners, or have a tuned car. HPS 5.0 has the widest temperature window of the three and Hawk rates it for higher deceleration. Expect more dust than a ceramic on those silver Audi wheels.

Pick Performance Ceramic if

Clean wheels and quiet stops matter most. Audis are known for heavy front dust from factory pads, and the ceramic is Hawk's low-dust, low-noise answer. It has the lowest top temperature of the three, so it is the wrong choice for track days.

One important limit applies to all three: Hawk states its compounds are designed for iron rotors and are not compatible with carbon ceramic rotors.

What to Replace at the Same Time

Wear sensors

Most A4s use an electrical pad wear sensor that clips into the pad. Once the pad wears into it, the sensor is done, and the dash warning will stay on until a new one is fitted. Plan on a new sensor with any pad job where the warning came on, and check whether your car has one front only or front and rear.

Rotors

Measure your rotors against the minimum thickness stamped on them. A fresh performance pad on a worn, lipped rotor will not bed properly and can pulse. If you need new ones, see our brake rotors. For 2012-2016 2.0T cars we also carry EBC USR1838 slotted front rotors, and for 2005-2008 2.0T cars the EBC GD1423 slotted front set.

Hardware and fluid

Replace pad clips and guide pin boots if they are rusted or torn. Our brake hardware kits cover this. Flush the brake fluid on the schedule in your owner's manual using the fluid type Audi specifies on the reservoir cap.

The Rear Electronic Parking Brake: Do Not Skip This Step

Many 2009-and-newer A4s have an electronic parking brake with a motor on each rear caliper. You cannot simply push the rear piston back. The caliper must first be put into its service (lining change) mode with a scan tool. Ross-Tech's procedure for this generation runs the parking brake module's basic settings to open the calipers, then notes the pistons still have to be pushed back with a hand tool once the motor has retracted.

Two warnings from that procedure are worth repeating: keep a battery charger connected during the job, and do not operate the parking brake switch until the rear brakes are fully reassembled and the close step has been run. Forcing the piston without service mode can damage the caliper motor.

How Hard Is the Job?

Front pads on an A4 are a straightforward driveway job for someone who has done brakes before: a few caliper bolts, a sensor clip, and a careful bed-in. Rears on electronic parking brake cars add the scan tool step. Torque every fastener to the value in the factory service manual, pump the pedal before you drive, and follow Hawk's bed-in procedure so the new compound transfers evenly onto the rotor.

If you are going further than pads, big brake kits exist for this car too. For the 2003-2008 A4 we carry the Wilwood 6-piston front big brake kit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Hawk pads come with new wear sensors for the A4?

Plan on buying the sensor separately. Check the product page for your part, and replace the sensor any time the pad wear warning has come on.

Is HPS 5.0 too aggressive for a daily-driven A4?

No. It is a street compound with an optimal range starting at 100 F, so it works cold. The trade-off versus a ceramic is more dust and a bit more noise.

Can I run HPS in front and Performance Ceramic in the rear?

Many owners do this to cut rear dust while keeping front bite, but it changes brake balance slightly. Matching compounds front and rear gives the most predictable feel.

Will Hawk pads fit my S4 or A5?

Often, yes. Hawk lists the HB641 front and HB642 rear shapes for A5, S4, S5 and Q5 models as well as the A4 across 2008-2017. Confirm your exact year and brake package first.

Do I need a scan tool for rear pads on my A4?

If your car has an electronic parking brake, yes. The rear calipers must be put into service mode before the pistons can be pushed back.

Sources

1. Hawk Performance - Street compounds - compound codes and temperature ranges for HPS, HPS 5.0 and Performance Ceramic
2. Hawk Performance - HPS 5.0 - Ferro-Carbon compound and deceleration claims
3. Hawk Performance - HB641F.696 - front fitment 2008-2017 Audi A4/A5/S4/S5/Q5, 0.696 in thickness, iron rotors only
4. Hawk Performance - HB642F.658 - rear fitment 2008-2017 Audi models, 0.658 in thickness
5. Hawk Performance - HB866Z.652 - rear ceramic fitment 2013-2021 Audi models
6. Hawk Performance - HB544F.628 - rear fitment 2005-2008 Audi A4 and VW models
7. Ross-Tech Wiki - Audi A4 (8K) Parking Brake EPB-4 - electronic parking brake lining change procedure and warnings