Brake pads and discs

[Crasher]

I would probably elevate https://www.ate.de above OK, like TRW & Brembo they are a Tier 1 OE supplier to VAG of calipers, master cylinder cylinders and friction materials.

[tweetyblu]

Please note there is a huge difference between oem quality and am quality from the same supplier. Even though the two products, let’s say break pads, are produced by the same oem supplier there are huge differences when it comes to quality inspection and quality in general.

[Crasher]

When TRW flew me to Germany a few years ago on a free jolly to Der Ring, part of that trip was a tour of two TRW production plants where they were producing brake components for OEM’s such as Jaguar, VAG and others and they showed us the packing areas where brake pads were going into calipers for distribution to car plants all over Europe and into red and white TRW boxes for distribution to the aftermarket. The calipers (a run of black painted Audi rear electric versions) were also going into crates and boxes for the same distribution but the difference was that the ones going into boxes had been ground down and hand painted black where the VW roundel and Audi rings used to be. Photography was so banned we had to deposit our phones at reception. They did let us film some testing, I will dig the video out.

[Crasher]

[Retom]

Please note there is a huge difference between oem quality and am quality from the same supplier. Even though the two products, let’s say break pads, are produced by the same oem supplier there are huge differences when it comes to quality inspection and quality in general.

I'm sorry, but I don't agree with you. No reputable manufacturer will allow itself to double quality or low quality. Often the quality of AM pads is the same or these pads are the same as the OEM and the only difference is the lack of a car manufacturer's logo. Any honest car service will confirm it to you.
In my Q7 4M I used AM Textar and TRW (just like factory fitted) and their quality was in every aspect the same as OEM. In my Q7 4L I used ATE Ceramic. Their quality was excellent (better then OEM) and additionally they did not dusty so the rims were clean. Unfortunately, ATE has a limited range of ceramic brake pads because I would only use these.
The same goes for brake discs. As long as you do not experiment with exotic manufacturers, the quality of renowned brake system manufacturers is very good.

[VAG-Abound]

Not disagreeing on how a manufacturer will typically use same quality got OEM and AM, but there can be "hidden" differences if you're unaware. If you go to your local VAG parts desk and simply ask for brake pads they may hand back the budget version they keep as so many people / local garages want them, rather than the higher spec OEM level ones they also keep. No idea if VAG get those cheaper pads from same suppliers as OEM though.