Doing rear brakes with Vag-com, do I need this toool as well?

[sacandagaD]

Can't seem to find a definitive answer searching. Do you need to use another tool to retract caliper AFTER retracting EPB with Vag-com? I thought Vag-Com was only special tool needed and not a set of these:

https://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B8_S4..._Tools/ES9747/

[cspcrx]

curious about this as well.

[doug97gxe]

Can't seem to find a definitive answer searching. Do you need to use another tool to retract caliper AFTER retracting EPB with Vag-com? I thought Vag-Com was only special tool needed and not a set of these:

https://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B8_S4..._Tools/ES9747/

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...1#post11283505

[sacandagaD]

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...1#post11283505

So according to step 7 in that link, after opening no special tool is needed, just a c-clamp or equivalent like any other normal brake job. Great, thanks!

[doug97gxe]

So according to step 7 in that link, after opening no special tool is needed, just a c-clamp or equivalent like any other normal brake job. Great, thanks!

send him a PM just to be sure

[sacandagaD]

send him a PM just to be sure

Will do, thx. Plus it sounds like you don't even have to take caliper carrier off to change rotor,

[boro92]

I just did this yesterday.
If you are doing this with vagcom or carista, u do not need a special tool.
What you need to do is retract the ebrake via vagcom (aka put the rear calipers into service mode), and once done, u jack up the back of the car, remove the wheel and spread the rear brake caliper. You can do this by inserting a screw driver into the caliper and wedge it between the pad and the caliper. Push out the sliding part of the caliper to make space and you'll be ready to insert new pads.

[SteveYem]

So according to step 7 in that link, after opening no special tool is needed, just a c-clamp or equivalent like any other normal brake job. Great, thanks!

Correct, but I would highly suggest getting one of these: http://www.autobodynow.com/products/...facBoCDHnw_wcB

Reason being, if you use a C-clamp you can't get direct pushing action on the piston unless the other end of the clamp is acting against the plastic housing of the electric parking brake, which I would advise against. With the proper piston compressor, or "disc brake spreader" tool as linked above, the job is easy with no real risk of damaging anything as long as the EPB is indeed in service mode.

[sacandagaD]

Correct, but I would highly suggest getting one of these: http://www.autobodynow.com/products/...facBoCDHnw_wcB

Reason being, if you use a C-clamp you can't get direct pushing action on the piston unless the other end of the clamp is acting against the plastic housing of the electric parking brake, which I would advise against. With the proper piston compressor, or "disc brake spreader" tool as linked above, the job is easy with no real risk of damaging anything as long as the EPB is indeed in service mode.

Good idea Steve- and it looks like I can get one at my local Auto parts store pretty easily. Definitely worth 8-9 bucks when you are saving $ 500 on the job.

[Chandler]

You don't need the fancy tool, in fact there isn't an adapter in there that will fit... These pistons do not need to be spun like some other German vehicles.

[boro92]

You don't need the fancy tool, in fact there isn't an adapter in there that will fit... These pistons do not need to be spun like some other German vehicles.

+1. Let's not perpetuate incorrect ideas.
After the ebrake is retracted via vag com, the piston can be pushed in. Whether you use a c clamp, a screw driver or whatever doesn't matter. You don't use the piston compression tool that rotates like other ebrakes. That tool is only required if you do not use vagcom in this process

[Chandler]

+1. Let's not perpetuate incorrect ideas.
After the ebrake is retracted via vag com, the piston can be pushed in. Whether you use a c clamp, a screw driver or whatever doesn't matter. You don't use the piston compression tool that rotates like other ebrakes. That tool is only required if you do not use vagcom in this process

Interesting. I was not able to use a tool without disabling the rear parking brake with Vag-Com - I even tried because I was curious.

[SteveYem]

You don't need the fancy tool, in fact there isn't an adapter in there that will fit... These pistons do not need to be spun like some other German vehicles.

+1. Let's not perpetuate incorrect ideas.
After the ebrake is retracted via vag com, the piston can be pushed in. Whether you use a c clamp, a screw driver or whatever doesn't matter. You don't use the piston compression tool that rotates like other ebrakes. That tool is only required if you do not use vagcom in this process

Interesting. I was not able to use a tool without disabling the rear parking brake with Vag-Com - I even tried because I was curious.

Not sure if any of these were in response to the tool that I suggested, but if so please let me clarify: it is necessary to push the piston straight back into the caliper while the electro-mechanical parking brake is in the service position, but it is not necessary (and not recommended, or maybe not possible at all...?) to use the type of tool that rotates the piston as it pushes it back into the caliper. The tool I linked is simply for pushing the piston straight back into the caliper, not for rotating the piston.

Side note, but the face of the piston does have two or three little notches which would lead one to believe that the push-and-rotate type of piston tool should be used, but don't do it!

EDIT: If you try to push the piston into the caliper with the EPB in its normal operating position (even if the parking brake is disengaged), you should come up against a lot of resistance. Crank too hard on it and you may/will damage the system. However once you put the EPB in "service position" using VCDS or Carista, the piston will push easily into the caliper, just like your front calipers and any other standard (non EPB) brake caliper that you've worked on before.

[boro92]

+1 to SteveYem. My response wasn't to yours. It was to anyone looking to use the rotating caliper piston tool in conjunction with vagcom. Not required. Save your money :)

[SteveYem]

+1 to SteveYem. My response wasn't to yours. It was to anyone looking to use the rotating caliper piston tool in conjunction with vagcom. Not required. Save your money :)

Gotcha. It's a good point. Instead of buying the $10 pusher tool one could rent the brake caliper service kit from their local auto parts store, which includes the pusher tool along with all of the other widgets needed to do an older style push-and-rotate caliper piston retract. The notches in the face of the B8/B8.5 rear piston might lead someone down the path of using the rotating tool. I guess VAG didn't want to change the design of the piston itself to match the service method.

[Chandler]

I used a c-clamp personally. Placed a small piece of soft wood on the back of the caliper so I didn't scratch it as the caliper is rounded.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[boro92]

Gotcha. It's a good point. Instead of buying the $10 pusher tool one could rent the brake caliper service kit from their local auto parts store, which includes the pusher tool along with all of the other widgets needed to do an older style push-and-rotate caliper piston retract. The notches in the face of the B8/B8.5 rear piston might lead someone down the path of using the rotating tool. I guess VAG didn't want to change the design of the piston itself to match the service method.

Not even ;)
See video at 3:47 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHJMI4QkSy8

You simply expand the caliper using a screw driver--while the caliper is still assembled on the car. One can do this after the brakes are put in service position

[SteveYem]

Not even ;)
See video at 3:47 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHJMI4QkSy8

You simply expand the caliper using a screw driver--while the caliper is still assembled on the car. One can do this after the brakes are put in service position

$10 spreader vs. screwdriver prybar method aside - I really wish I had watched this video before attempting to do this job myself. I read the "how to" on the RossTech website but the video is, like, 50 times more helpful.

[sacandagaD]

I can say my questions have all been answered and appreciate all the input!

[pfft]

Can't seem to find a definitive answer searching. Do you need to use another tool to retract caliper AFTER retracting EPB with Vag-com? I thought Vag-Com was only special tool needed and not a set of these:

https://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B8_S4..._Tools/ES9747/

If you're interested, you should be able to rent (for free) a set like this from your local AutoZone. Still might make things easier.

[sacandagaD]

What is the difference between Group 7 and Group 5 in Vag-com? One says to use for"Rear Parking Brake service" and the other for "Rear pad replacement".




Open Rear Parking Brake

Prerequisites:

Connect a battery charger as per repair manual.
Cycle the Parking Brake ON, then OFF first.

[Select]
[53 - Parking Brake]
[Basic Settings - 04]
Group 007
[Go!]
The brake calipers will then open, allowing the pads to be changed.
[Done, Go Back]
[Close Controller, Go Back - 06]

Turn ignition off.


It is normal for the LED in the parking brake switch and the warning lamp in the instrument cluster to blink rapidly at this point.

The caliper pistons do not move back into the caliper, this is normal.
Close Rear Parking Brake

Prerequisites:

Connect a battery charger as per repair manual.

[Select]
[53 - Parking Brake]
[Basic Settings - 04]
Group 006
[Go!]
The brake calipers will then close.
[Done, Go Back]
[Close Controller, Go Back - 06]

The LED in the parking brake switch and the warning lamp in the instrument cluster will probably continue to blink rapidly. This should stop after cycling the Parking Brake ON, then OFF again.
Function Test

[SteveYem]

IIRC the relevant options VCDS gave me in the drop-down menu were something like "start brake lining change" and "end brake lining change". I may have been using a different release/version of VCDS, though.

I would say that if you have any doubt, don't improvise. Go exactly by the instructions provided by RossTech.

[sacandagaD]

IIRC the relevant options VCDS gave me in the drop-down menu were something like "start brake lining change" and "end brake lining change". I may have been using a different release/version of VCDS, though.

I would say that if you have any doubt, don't improvise. Go exactly by the instructions provided by RossTech.

Roger that!