A3 Rear Brake Caliper Reset: How-To Guide

Hey guys!!!

Okay, here's a question. Does anyone know how to retract the rear brake pistons on an A3 when you're installing new brake pads? The workshop wants to charge me 80 euros for something I've always done myself. And the Hazet retraction tool costs 150 euros. But I don't want to pay even more than the 50 euros for the pads.

Okay, here's the translation:

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Best regards, Sevi!

Hi!

Okay, so I placed a suitable shim on the piston and, using a lever, I pushed the part back while applying constant pressure and rotational movements (I believe clockwise). The rotational movements are important for adjusting the handbrake!

Best regards, Christian.

Thanks for the tip, but I ended up taking it to the workshop yesterday. It cost me 214 euros, including the brake discs.
Next time, I'll try it the way you suggested.

Sure, here is the translation of the text from German to English:

"Cu."

This is a short form of the Spanish word "cuerpo," which means "body." It is often used in online communication to refer to a person's physical appearance.

I strongly advise against modifying the brakes yourself, if...
1. that the right tool is not available, or
2. lack of practical knowledge.
This brake system design is inherently a weak point in the car and extremely sensitive. When incompetence is added to the mix, the calipers are prone to failure. You'll notice this at the latest during the next vehicle inspection, when the workshop installs brand new calipers.
Best regards, Lanz.

Hello!

Yes, yes, this brake caliper has already cost me a lot of time. I always borrow the original tool from a specialized company. But be careful : Please do not experiment with pliers or other objects on the brake caliper. If the rubber boot is even slightly damaged, the brake caliper will eventually break. Also, some people have accidentally gotten dirt under the rubber boot when retracting it, which can also lead to significant damage to the brake caliper . So, it's better to invest a little and have a functioning brake with a warranty .

"So, if a material of lower quality than that used in the Audi 100 is used (they look the same externally), you can definitely handle them roughly because they're not going to last long anyway. In my case, the handbrake mechanism regularly seizes up. I've had to replace 3 calipers in 5 years."