Removing and installing front brake pads: Audi A8 D4

🧭 Before you start

Fits: Audi A8 D4 (4H, 2010–2017)

• Opens: brake fluid

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• Do not disconnect the brake hose.
• The brake caliper must not be unscrewed from the brake carrier. The radially located multi-point bolts must not be unfastened. — Pull brake caliper off brake disc.
• Do not leave the brake caliper hanging from the brake hose. — Pry brake pads out of guide pins in brake caliper using a screwdriver (take care not to damage dust caps on brake pistons).
• The four guide pins for the brake pads in the brake caliper must not be loosened. — Take brake pads out of damper spring.
• Brake fluid is poisonous and must NOT be drawn off by sucking through a hose. — Press back pistons using piston resetting appliance T10145.

📋 Procedure

1. Position vehicle on lifting platform .
2. Remove wheels.
3. Unplug connector for brake pad wear indicator (arrow).
4. Release electrical connector from retainer and at the same time turn through 90°.
5. Pull connector out of bracket.

6. Unscrew bolts (3) securing brake caliper. [Note: Do not disconnect the brake hose.]
7. ⚠ The brake caliper must not be unscrewed from the brake carrier. The radially located multi-point bolts must not be unfastened. — Pull brake caliper off brake disc.
8. Tie brake caliper to body with suitable wire.
9. ⚠ Do not leave the brake caliper hanging from the brake hose. — Pry brake pads out of guide pins in brake caliper using a screwdriver (take care not to damage dust caps on brake pistons).
10. ⚠ The four guide pins for the brake pads in the brake caliper must not be loosened. — Take brake pads out of damper spring.
11. Pull pad wear indicator wire and retaining clip out of brake pad.
12. Use a commercially available screwdriver to prise damper spring (4) out of brake caliper.
13. Clean brake caliper.
14. ⚠ Brake fluid is poisonous and must NOT be drawn off by sucking through a hose. — Press back pistons using piston resetting appliance T10145.
15. Remove any protective foil from backplates of brake pads.
16. Fit damper spring (4) in brake caliper. [Note: Make sure the damper spring (4) is correctly positioned.The damper spring must be fully fitted in the brake caliper to ensure the correct positioning of the brake pads in the guide pins.]
17. Insert brake pads in brake caliper and slide completely over the 4 guide pins.
18. ⚠ All the brake pads must be correctly positioned in the retaining pins. — Carefully place brake caliper (with brake pads fitted) over brake disc.
19. Secure brake caliper with new bolts (3).
20. Insert retaining clip for brake pad wear contact in inner brake pad.
21. Insert contact into retaining clip in direction of (arrow). [Note: Make sure the contact for the brake pad wear indicator is properly positioned in the retaining clip in the inner brake pad.]
22. Plug in connector for pad wear indicator.
23. Insert electrical connection for brake pad wear indicator into bracket.
24. Attach connector for brake pad wear indicator.
25. Fit wheels. [Note: After each brake pad change firmly depress brake pedal several times with vehicle stationary, so that the brake pads are properly seated in their normal operating position.Check brake fluid level after changing brake pads.Make sure that the brakes work properly before the vehicle is driven on the road.]

🎬 Related video tutorial

Independent AUTODOC tutorial for the same job, filmed on a different model (A6 (C6)) — the technique carries over, the fasteners and figures on this page are the ones for your car.

How to change front brake pads / front brake pad set on AUDI A6 (C6)

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