My wife took her Audi A4 in to a local garage today (independent) for the first time as normally she uses Audi but since we are now well out of warranty and don't live close to a dealer we thought we'd try an indie.

She was getting new rear pads and discs fitted. When I booked it I gave the car details and was given an exact price so he knew what parts he was ordering.

The job was done today and I've just taken a look and I am possibly concerned.

The pad retaining clips (if that's what they are called) look unusual and possibly bent to fit, suggesting improper fitting or the wrong part has been fitted.

The bends do look very similar or the same on both sides so it is possible this is just a type of clip I haven't seen before, so before I go blundering in when in fact there's nothing wrong does anyone here think these look normal or familiar?

Also not sure about the amount of copper grease...

Cheers






 FL2 TD4 GS 60 reg Facelift - so many issues
2019 DS. Terribly unreliable.
Sold DS for a 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Fingers crossed....
Sold Outlander for a 2014 SD4 SE Tech because I’m mental
Now greatly regret selling the Outlander. MPG of the FL2 is atrocious and so are the fuel bills. Fun though 😎
Couldn’t afford the fuel bills so back to an older Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Significantly better than I remembered it to be…

Bit of a bodge that! In your top picture the spring is fitted incorrectly. Have a look at the top two pictures in my post in this thread and you'll see what I mean. http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic15628.html

It wouldn't have hurt them to run a wire brush over the callers either. Personally, I wouldn't even take it back to that garage for rectification as they are clearly incapable. Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
Evoque SD4 Dynamic Lux Auto
Present: Audi A3 S Line.

Not what I wanted to hear I would have fitted them myself if it wasn't for the electric parking brake which I can't disengage without a cable and software. FL2 TD4 GS 60 reg Facelift - so many issues
2019 DS. Terribly unreliable.
Sold DS for a 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Fingers crossed....
Sold Outlander for a 2014 SD4 SE Tech because I’m mental
Now greatly regret selling the Outlander. MPG of the FL2 is atrocious and so are the fuel bills. Fun though 😎
Couldn’t afford the fuel bills so back to an older Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Significantly better than I remembered it to be…

 Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
Evoque SD4 Dynamic Lux Auto
Present: Audi A3 S Line.

Thanks. I've seen that video but there are loads of warnings on other forums about the risks of knackering it. FL2 TD4 GS 60 reg Facelift - so many issues
2019 DS. Terribly unreliable.
Sold DS for a 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Fingers crossed....
Sold Outlander for a 2014 SD4 SE Tech because I’m mental
Now greatly regret selling the Outlander. MPG of the FL2 is atrocious and so are the fuel bills. Fun though 😎
Couldn’t afford the fuel bills so back to an older Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Significantly better than I remembered it to be…

I'm not familiar with the Audi system but I have changed rear pads on several EPB equipped vehicles by doing it with the engine running and the handbrake off!

Edit: Come to think of it, none of those had individual actuators on the wheels so probably wouldn't work on that set up.  Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
Evoque SD4 Dynamic Lux Auto
Present: Audi A3 S Line.

Last edited by Steve D on 20th Apr 2016 9:01 pm. Edited 1 time in total

I confess I hadn't thought of that. The issue still stands though that Ive paid for this and I'm not sure if it's wrong but don't know which bit is wrong so may struggle to argue it. FL2 TD4 GS 60 reg Facelift - so many issues
2019 DS. Terribly unreliable.
Sold DS for a 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Fingers crossed....
Sold Outlander for a 2014 SD4 SE Tech because I’m mental
Now greatly regret selling the Outlander. MPG of the FL2 is atrocious and so are the fuel bills. Fun though 😎
Couldn’t afford the fuel bills so back to an older Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Significantly better than I remembered it to be…

Best talk to the garage concerned. It'll be interesting to see whether they have a proper EPB release tool or whether they have a work-around. I'd be loathe to let them gave another go at it. Unfortunately they probably won't be able to give a full refund and refit your old parts back on. One idea might be to ask for a refund less the cost of the parts then go get them refitted properly elsewhere? Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
Evoque SD4 Dynamic Lux Auto
Present: Audi A3 S Line.

I'll be honest, I'm struggling to see anything wrong with them, other than the pad shim a little close to the caliper in the first picture
Easily resolved with a screwdriver, and lever it away from the caliper, back towards the carrier

Thanks for the input. Mikey - do you know what the metal strip is that has the holes in it that looks like it has been bent back in on itself? FL2 TD4 GS 60 reg Facelift - so many issues
2019 DS. Terribly unreliable.
Sold DS for a 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Fingers crossed....
Sold Outlander for a 2014 SD4 SE Tech because I’m mental
Now greatly regret selling the Outlander. MPG of the FL2 is atrocious and so are the fuel bills. Fun though 😎
Couldn’t afford the fuel bills so back to an older Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Significantly better than I remembered it to be…

Looks like a wear indicator to me

http://repairpal.com/brake-pad-wear-sensors-mechanical

If in any doubt, go back to the garage, explain your concerns, and see what they say

Thanks. I have emailed asking if he could comment on what they were as I was concerned they had been bent to fit.

Will let you know what he says. FL2 TD4 GS 60 reg Facelift - so many issues
2019 DS. Terribly unreliable.
Sold DS for a 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Fingers crossed....
Sold Outlander for a 2014 SD4 SE Tech because I’m mental
Now greatly regret selling the Outlander. MPG of the FL2 is atrocious and so are the fuel bills. Fun though 😎
Couldn’t afford the fuel bills so back to an older Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Significantly better than I remembered it to be…

Let us know what they say

Steve D wrote:

Bit of a bodge that! In your top picture the spring is fitted incorrectly. Have a look at the top two pictures in my post in this thread and you'll see what I mean. http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic15628.html

It wouldn't have hurt them to run a wire brush over the callers either. Personally, I wouldn't even take it back to that garage for rectification as they are clearly incapable.

Steve D wrote:

Best talk to the garage concerned. It'll be interesting to see whether they have a proper EPB release tool or whether they have a work-around. I'd be loathe to let them gave another go at it. Unfortunately they probably won't be able to give a full refund and refit your old parts back on. One idea might be to ask for a refund less the cost of the parts then go get them refitted properly elsewhere?

If you approach them with an attitude like this, i don't think you would be welcome back

Guy has replied and has included photos of the old parts to show they have similar ribbons just not as visible and has offered to show me them in person at the garage tomorrow. I would assume he is genuine so may leave it as is if those ribbons are indeed meant to look like that.

Appreciate all the input. FL2 TD4 GS 60 reg Facelift - so many issues
2019 DS. Terribly unreliable.
Sold DS for a 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Fingers crossed....
Sold Outlander for a 2014 SD4 SE Tech because I’m mental
Now greatly regret selling the Outlander. MPG of the FL2 is atrocious and so are the fuel bills. Fun though 😎
Couldn’t afford the fuel bills so back to an older Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Significantly better than I remembered it to be…