Changing discs and pads

[Audi Pardner]

I've just changed the front discs and pads at a mate's garage (the rear ones were changed a few weeks ago) and I thought a couple of additional points are worth mentioning to supplement Sonny's very helpful sticky on the subject. Sorry I didn't take any pics.

There is a stainless steel plate at each end of the caliper on the inside that I think are to help locate the pads. Unlike Sonny's, mine had a lot corrosion behind them that was preventing easy insertion of the new pads without hammering them in. Each plate is held in place by 3 small grub screws. We didn't want to risk shearing them when trying to remove the plate to clean behind. So, gently levering the plate away from the caliper with a small screwdriver, we used a junior hacksaw blade to scrape away the crap with a sawing motion. It took quite a while and it was amazing how much came out. We used WD40 too. The new pads then went in easily.

Also, we had a hell of a job getting some of the pad retaining pins out of the calipers. On a couple, trying to knock them out with a drift simply burred the end over and risked damage to the caliper had we managed to knock them through. Twisting the pins on their axis with really tight Mole grips worked, but one sheared in two and though we managed to drift the two parts out it took a lot of care and plentiful use of a low temperature spray made by Wurth that is supposed to contract metal and break corrosion bonds. So it's worth having a spare set of new caliper pins on hand before you start in case you have similar problems (£19/side from the stealer). We used an aluminium-based grease on the new pins. Hope these little hints might help if you're having a go yourself.

[Yanos]

There is a stainless steel plate at each end of the caliper on the inside that I think are to help locate the pads. Unlike Sonny's, mine had a lot corrosion behind them that was preventing easy insertion of the new pads without hammering them in. Each plate is held in place by 3 small grub screws. We didn't want to risk shearing them when trying to remove the plate to clean behind. So, gently levering the plate away from the caliper with a small screwdriver, we used a junior hacksaw blade to scrape away the crap with a sawing motion. It took quire a while and it was amazing how much came out. We used WD40 too. The new pads then went in easily.

Can vouch for that mate, had to do the same thing

[Chrispgy_RS4]

I'm just about to change mine. Does anyone have the part numbers for these caliper pins?
Thanks

[Ranger Rico]

I just changed mine out too, another bit of advice is to get a spare disc retainer bolt, one of mine was seized and i had to bash it out, destroying it, audi gave me mine for free as its only worth pennies. Might save u a bus ride if u have a spare ready

[Tile Diver]

Man!! I had an absolute nightmare getting my pad retaining pins out, first one came out easily then the rest just wouldn't budge, tried everything apart from heat.

Ended up cutting the middle sections of the pins off so that I could remove the pads, nipped the brake lines, removed the calipers and took then down to my local garage to get some heat on them!! Finally they came out, back up the road, put them back on then bleed the system!!!!

Totalpainintheass.com!!!!!

[Audi Pardner]

I'm just about to change mine. Does anyone have the part numbers for these caliper pins?
Thanks

U3D0 698269

[WillRS]

I found a much easier way to change the front pads;

drive to Banbury, let MRC deal with seized bits and fit new pads then drive home

nothing broke, no hassle at all

[Spaceman_RS4]

Or just leave the pins in there's no need to remove them to change the front pads.

[Covkiller]

All discs, both front callipers & brake pads were shot on my car. So I had both front brake callipers re-manufactured as one piston was completely seized and I couldn't get any of the pins out. Once back I fitted them along with new AP Racing discs, ATE Blue properly bled, new rear discs too and OEM pads all round. The thing stops like hitting a brick wall now. Expensive, but money well spent.

[Chrispgy_RS4]

I'm just about to change mine. Does anyone have the part numbers for these caliper pins?
Thanks

U3D0 698269

Many thanks

[Covkiller]

Just call Audi. I seem to remember they come as part of a kit that includes the retention springs.