Here are a few tips on Q5 front brakes...
12-27-2011, 04:50 PM
#11
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Nice Job
I'm not a DIYer at all, but I think HBDWT deserves a nice round of applause (Clap, Clap, Clap) for sharing his experience with the rest of us. This kind of infosharing is what makes this forum so valuable.
Most impressive.
Most impressive.
12-28-2011, 04:07 AM
#12
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Nah...those pads only have about 5K on them. I changed my pads to Hawk Ceramic at about 7.5K miles...I was OVER the dusting. When I bought new tires at around 25K the NITWIT installer ran the lug bolts up so tight that it distorted the front rotors and the car developed shudder about 5K later. So I made them clean up the rotors and I then installed Hawk HPS because they provided MUCH more braking power than the Ceramic pads. The HPS do throw a little more dust but not nearly as much as the OEM.
12-28-2011, 04:09 AM
#13
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12-28-2011, 04:57 AM
#14
Never Follows
12-28-2011, 07:47 AM
#15
AudiWorld Senior Member
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Yes, they cannot be pushed into the caliper...I tried before I found out that VagCom was needed. When you apply/release the parking brake the sound you hear is the electronic servo moving the piston in and out of the caliper. When you use VagCom to retract the pistons you will hear the same sound but for about 8 seconds as opposed to 1 second when releasing the brake.
Last edited by HaveBullDogWillTravel; 12-28-2011 at 07:49 AM.
12-29-2011, 06:09 AM
#17
Never Follows
Yes, they cannot be pushed into the caliper...I tried before I found out that VagCom was needed. When you apply/release the parking brake the sound you hear is the electronic servo moving the piston in and out of the caliper. When you use VagCom to retract the pistons you will hear the same sound but for about 8 seconds as opposed to 1 second when releasing the brake.
12-29-2011, 09:24 AM
#18
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06-27-2013, 08:08 AM
#19
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I know this is an old thread, but I'm getting ready to do this.
First, does anyone have the torque specs, specifically for the caliper mounting bolts? I know this DIY doesn't use a torque wrench, but I'm not thrilled with the idea of going without on a brake job. While I haven't tried yet, you should be able to get the wrench in from below (ie. the OP may have needed to jack his car higher) unless for some reason there's something down there blocking the steering knuckle.
It also looks like I'll be ordering a VAG-COM for the rear brakes. Sucks I can't retract the piston with a C-clamp like I can the front.
Lastly, I always remove the rotor retaining screw on my cars, as they always get rounded out. If it bothers you when working on the car, just take a lug or two and put them back in to keep the rotor in place.
I do like the anti-seize suggestion, and always do that as well. I've spent more than enough time striking wheels with dead-blow mallets on vehicles where no anti-seize was used between the rotor hat and the wheel.
First, does anyone have the torque specs, specifically for the caliper mounting bolts? I know this DIY doesn't use a torque wrench, but I'm not thrilled with the idea of going without on a brake job. While I haven't tried yet, you should be able to get the wrench in from below (ie. the OP may have needed to jack his car higher) unless for some reason there's something down there blocking the steering knuckle.
It also looks like I'll be ordering a VAG-COM for the rear brakes. Sucks I can't retract the piston with a C-clamp like I can the front.
Lastly, I always remove the rotor retaining screw on my cars, as they always get rounded out. If it bothers you when working on the car, just take a lug or two and put them back in to keep the rotor in place.
I do like the anti-seize suggestion, and always do that as well. I've spent more than enough time striking wheels with dead-blow mallets on vehicles where no anti-seize was used between the rotor hat and the wheel.
06-27-2013, 09:34 AM
#20
AudiWorld Super User
Good post. What, no hammer in the tool selection?! 
I swapped my pads out when the car was only a few weeks old in favor of the dustless variety and didn't need to retract the rear pistons. But once the pads start to wear, VAGCOM to the rescue!
I'm at 76,000 miles and the pads are nearing end of life but the rotors hardly even have a ridge. Centric Posi Dustless pad are very, very friendly to rotors!
I swapped my pads out when the car was only a few weeks old in favor of the dustless variety and didn't need to retract the rear pistons. But once the pads start to wear, VAGCOM to the rescue!
I'm at 76,000 miles and the pads are nearing end of life but the rotors hardly even have a ridge. Centric Posi Dustless pad are very, very friendly to rotors!
Last edited by ELEVENS; 06-27-2013 at 09:46 AM.