ABS light, caliper spring clip?

[TheRedGlacier]

Hey guys, I'm aware that the B5 A4s are known to have failing ABS modules, and as many, I have my ABS light on. I noticed that the retaining spring clip for the passenger side caliper is missing. I honestly am unsure if this could be a cause for the light. Now before anybody asks me where my crazy idea came from, I spoke to my mechanic, as my ABS light almost always shuts off if you pressure wash the passenger side wheel until you start to move the car. My mechanic suggested that the car may be sensitive to location of the caliper and pad, but this makes little sense to me. My ABS DOES occasionally work. (only hard stops were for testing purposes in the winter)

But other times it did not. The ABS light was on the whole time. I believe it is just a faulty module as the ABS did not always work, but I decided I would come to ones who are familiar with how our cars work.

[Mad Cow]

Instead of guessing, buy a vcds cable and scan the abs unit. If it is sensor related you could try blasting the area between the axle and sensor with brake cleaner and compressed air. One thing is for sure though, your mechanic has no idea what he's talking about because the sensor works off a tone ring on the axle, nothing to do with pad or caliper.

[redline380]

Yeah, that mechanic is blowing smoke. Crack smoke, that is.