Brakes and other issues.

[George Harris]

Hi Scott: I don't know about the '99 A6, so I'm going straight to
answering the general question;

 > Even if the fronts were replaced when we bought it, why is one rear
 > significantly worse that the other?

I think it is a common phenomena; the right rear and left front go
first. In fact when I am checking the family cars, I only check these
now. I don't know why. No one has explained it to me.

As for excessive wear, I have found that cars with higher mileage are
quite often less troublesome than the ones that only get out on weekends
for the drive to church. Yours does not have very high mileage for a 4
year old car.

Cheers
George

Suffolk GameServer LAN wrote:
> Q&A:
>
> First I'm going to ask - IS there anything special to the ABS system of the
> 99 A6 avant?
>
> Would it be bled in the tranditional way if I used a "power bleeder"?
> I'm specifically looking for, if there is some special bias porportioning
> valve that would
> need attention, or some other gimmick beyond:
> Don't flush backwards and clog the ABS control unit.....
>
> Why I ask:
> I guess its going to boil down to the basics. - again.
> The car's Audi assured ~9 months old to us, bought around 38K Guessing.
> I'd sware my eye said half the pad was there when we bought it.
> Sandpaper sound from the back pass brakes after simple service -If I knew
> I'd tell ya, 45K?-
>
> Now roughly a month later the pass rear is making all kinds of bad metal on
> metal
> sandpaper sound.  At any speed.  Car now has 50,200 miles.
>
> So I take the first Clue:
> Excessive copper brake dust on that alloy wheel only, and peer
> at the caliper holder, rotor and the outer visible brake pad:
> Scored like you'd make an extreme example out to be.
> Deep gouges and worn metal on the outer brake caliper assembly.
>
> My guess is the piston boot is either torn and the piston froze, or
> something is not letting the piston retract from the brake pedal build up of
> fluid pressure.
>
> So it seems that the brake has "dragged" for some time and the repair could
> be more than pads and rotors.
>
> QUESTION 1:
> Since brake pads and rotors (and fluid flushes Says Audi of Nashua) are not
> warranty items,
> do I have any leverage in claiming that the rear pads should have a
> signifcantly longer life span than 50K?
>
> Since the rears are 30% (15% - a side) of the braking force, won't the
> fronts pads have gone first?
> ( i know the answer, but I'm thinking out loud)
> Even if the fronts were replaced when we bought it, why is one rear
> significantly worse that the other?
> (haven't eyed the drivers rear but there's no dust on the alloy wheel fronts
> or drivers rear.)
> This leads me to believe that the Mrs. DIDN'T drive around with the e-brake
> on.
> Especially with the other side fine.
>
> Question 2:
> Is there something done in the 45K service that would affect the rear brakes
> or is the caliper a
> previously damaged unit prior to or our taking delivery of the car and
> therefore be part of the caliper
> malfunction and be a warranty issue or goodwill item?
>
> Am I dreaming, or should I buy the pads, rotor and caliper and do the repair
> and bleed myself?
>
> -Scott in BOSTON
>
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