re:'92 100S brakes

[steve@ipecac.engr.sgi.com (Steve Valin)]

> Anyone with a '92 or newer 100 (or A6 with V-6?) replaced their brakes? If
> so, how much was it? Did you put OEM parts in? From the dealer? Or did you
> put in some aftermarket parts, and if so, where from, and how much?

I recently replaced the rear pads on my '93 100CSQ at about the 88K mile mark.
The fronts were fine (they must have been replaced at some point) so I 
didn't mess with them.

> New front rotors: $119.00
> New rear rotors: $ 67.00

I couldn't find rotors this cheap, either from the dealer or a local 
import parts place.  I ended up having them turned instead.

> New front pads: $111.00
> New rear pads: $74.00

This sounds about right.  The dealer was cheaper than the import parts place.

> The rest is labor; he said roughly 4 hours or so. This seems long to me...
> an hour for each wheel? Come on... is this rocket science, or what? I don't
> think this guy really knew what he was talking about...

The job wasn't too hard, and I didn't have a manual.  It took me about 45 min
a side.  The problem I had was that I couldn't get the piston to compress back
into the caliper.  I ended up removing the caliper and disassembling it on
the bench to see how it works.  The piston is connected to a course threaded
rod, and is simply screwed back in.  At least that's what I did on the bench.
When I tried this on the other side, it spun but didn't go back in.  I ended
up removing this one, too, and then it threaded back in.  It took me a while
to bleed the brakes, but then I figure that most of the brake fluid was
changed in the process!

I'm still not sure what the trick is to screwing the piston back in...

-steve