Braking
General information
What affects braking efficiency?
O p e ra tin g co ndition s a nd d ri vi ng ha bit s
The brakes on today's automobiles are still subject to wear,
depending large ly on operating conditions and dr iving habits~
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On vehicles that are either driven mostly in stop -and -go city traffic
or are driven hard, the brake pads shou ld be checked by your autho-
rized Audi dealer more often than specified in the
Warranty & Main -
tenance booklet.
Failure to have you r brake pads inspec ted can
resu lt in reduced brake performance.
On steep slopes, you shou ld use the braking effect of the engine.
This way, you prevent unnecessary wear on the brake system. If you
must use your brakes, do not hold the brakes down continuous ly.
Pump the brakes at intervals.
Moi sture or road s alt
If you are driv ing faster than 50 mph (80 km/h) and the windshie ld
wipers are on, the brake pads wi ll briefly touch the brake discs in
regu lar intervals so as to improve reaction time when braking on
wet surfaces. You, the driver, wil l not notice anything.
Under certa in conditions, for example, when dr iving through water
or very heavy rain, or even after washing your vehicle, the braking
effect can be reduced due to moisture (or in freezing conditions ice)
on the brake pads. A few cautious brake applications should dry off
the brake pads or remove any ice coatings .
At speeds
over80 km/h and with the windshie ld wiper turned on, the
brake pads are app lied briefly to the brake discs. This occurs at
regu lar interva ls wi t hout the driver not icing and provides for better
brake response time under wet conditions.
The effectiveness of the brakes can be reduced when the vehicle is
driven on a salt-covered road and the brakes are not used. Likewise,
Controls and equip-
ment
Safety first Vehicle operation
Int e llig e nt t ec hnol o gy
you clean off accumulated salt coating from brake discs and pads
with a few cautious applications of the brake ~
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Cor rosi o n
There may be a t endency for dirt to build up on the brake pads and
corrosion to form on the discs if the car is not driven regularly or
only f or sho rt trips with little use of the brakes.
If the brakes are not used frequently, or if corrosion has formed on
the discs, it is advisable to clean off the pads and discs by braking
firm ly a few times from a moderately high speed~
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Fa ults in the brake system
If you shou ld notice a sudden increase in brake pedal trave l, then
one of the two brake circuits may have failed ~
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Low brak e fluid leve l
Ma lfunctions can occur in the brake system if t he brake fl uid level is
too low . The brake fluid level is monitored electronically .
Brake lining w e ar st atu s
Brake lining wear may be checked by visua l inspection of the condi -
tion of t he brake pads through the open ings in the wheel. If neces-
sary, the wheel may be removed for this inspection
~
page 293,
"Whee l change".
& WARNING
• You should perform braking maneuver s for the purpo se of
cleaning th e brake system only if road condition s permit . Other
road users mu st not be put at risk - you may cause an accident!
• Before descending a steep grade, reduce speed and shift tr ans-
mission into a lower gear or lower driving position . Do not ride the
brake s or hold the pedal dow n too long or t oo often . This could
cause the brake s to get hot and dimini sh brakin g efficien cy. _.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data
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