bud4ya

My lights came on to replace the brake pads. I believe it is the rears. From what I am reading I will have to have a VAGCOM for the parking brake. Is this correct? I have changed rotors and pads before but not on a car with elec parking brake.

While everything is apart should I change the rotors too? The car has 36k on it. They look fine and brake fine.

Thanks

gkb

The rears went before the fronts thats sounds very weird, make sure your positive it's the rears first!

bud4ya

I will check as that does make since unless the front were replaced already

am_ver

the rears don;t have sensors - so if your light came on, it will be your fronts. Rears squeal when they are close to being replaced.

bud4ya

That is good info. I still need the VAGCOM to replace the pads and rotors correct?

am_ver

nope - fronts don't need vagcom. You can retract the caliper piston using a c-clamp or something like this - http://stores.channeladvisor.com/Car...itemid=2127783 (you can get it for like $10 at pepboys/autozone).

bud4ya

That is great news. So basically just unplug wear indicator sensor, take out old pads (Hold open with C claps), Pull Rotor. Install new rotor, pads and plug back in sensors. Does this sound about right? If this is the case I can handle that.

Would you think the rotors need to be replaced at 36k miles? or just throw on the pads?

am_ver

Your steps seem about right. Open the brake fluid reservoir while retracting the piston - you might have to siphon some fluid off incase it overflows (brake fluid is poisonous, so don't siphon using mouth).

The rotor bolts are very tight (at least in the front) - you definately need a breaker bar - I'd put in some penetrating oil on that bolts right after jacking the car. They need to be tightened to 140lb-ft torque.

Don't know about rotors - audi recommends replacing them. Some say resurfacing them is fine. Personally, I replaced the fronts, but did not replace the rear rotors. Brakes seem fine to me. I think I'll be replacing mine every alternate time.

bud4ya

I just called Audi Dealer and they want $679 to replace the front rotors and pads. Not sure if that is a decent price or not. They said if you don't replace the rotors you will have issues with noises. I told him the car only has 36k and he said does not matter when we replace pads we do rotors too.

If they don't need to be replaced at 36k I would rather just do the pads. I hate decisions

am_ver

front rotors were about $180 at audipartsnationwide.com (local pickup).