Brake Fluid for Audi Allroad

Tropheus

Hi,

The pad wear indicator has just come on so the front pads and disks are due for replacement. The rears still have plenty of meat on them.

The brake fluid hasn't been done in 3 years so I'll do that as well. I've had a look in Halfords, but they seem to only do their own brand stuff which I don't fancy.

Any recommendations of brands and where to get hold of it? I'm based in Dublin.

Cheers,

Nissan doctor

ksimpson wrote: »

Hi,

The pad wear indicator has just come on so the front pads and disks are due for replacement. The rears still have plenty of meat on them.

The brake fluid hasn't been done in 3 years so I'll do that as well. I've had a look in Halfords, but they seem to only do their own brand stuff which I don't fancy.

Any recommendations of brands and where to get hold of it? I'm based in Dublin.

Cheers,

Halfords own brand fluids are perfectly fine. Brake fluid is a much less technical liquid then engine/transmission oil or even coolant so for the most part, once its the specified DOT 4 or higher then it will be fine.

Wheelnut

Nissandoctor is absolutely correct, any reputable brand will do. However just be careful with the statement "once its the specified DOT 4 or higher" because DOT 5.0 is not suitable (it's a silicone fluid). To confuse matters a little more, DOT 5.1 is suitable.

This is all probably a bit academic because most fluids on sale are DOT 4 and that is totally suitable.

Nissan doctor

Wheelnut wrote: »

Nissandoctor is absolutely correct, any reputable brand will do. However just be careful with the statement "once its the specified DOT 4 or higher" because DOT 5.0 is not suitable (it's a silicone fluid). To confuse matters a little more, DOT 5.1 is suitable.

This is all probably a bit academic because most fluids on sale are DOT 4 and that is totally suitable.

Very hard to find a DOT 5 fluid for sale on the shelf though.

DOT 4 and DOT 5.1 are normally stocked. No great benefit of using a 5.1 in a standard road car tbh.

Tropheus

Thanks, I just wanted to make sure that I was using the best. Glad to hear that it doesn't really matter regarding brand as long as it's Dot 4.

I've done the brakes before on the car, but it's a heavy job especially with the car on the ground. Given the cold weather and the need for a fluid change, I think I'll leave it with the local mechanic who does a lot of work for me. Call me a wuss, but the front calipers on the allroad are about the size of my forearm and weigh a ton. Not easy to work with when winding back the piston an fitting pads especially as I have back trouble.

Anyone who sees the front calipers remarks that it must have terrific brakes. Unfortunately, that couldn't be further from the truth. When I got the car new back in 2003, I brought it back to the dealer after a couple of weeks as I felt there was something wrong the brakes. I was told that they were fine despite the spongy feel and lack of bite.

After many sets of OEM pads and disks, I decided to try EBC pads last year. I fitted their Red Stuff pads and found a considerable difference. This time I'm going to try the Yellow Stuff pads and their grooved disks to see if they provide further improvement. They work out much the same as OEM price wise so it's win/win.

Nissan doctor

ksimpson wrote: »

Thanks, I just wanted to make sure that I was using the best. Glad to hear that it doesn't really matter regarding brand as long as it's Dot 4.

I've done the brakes before on the car, but it's a heavy job especially with the car on the ground. Given the cold weather and the need for a fluid change, I think I'll leave it with the local mechanic who does a lot of work for me. Call me a wuss, but the front calipers on the allroad are about the size of my forearm and weigh a ton. Not easy to work with when winding back the piston an fitting pads especially as I have back trouble.

Anyone who sees the front calipers remarks that it must have terrific brakes. Unfortunately, that couldn't be further from the truth. When I got the car new back in 2003, I brought it back to the dealer after a couple of weeks as I felt there was something wrong the brakes. I was told that they were fine despite the spongy feel and lack of bite.

After many sets of OEM pads and disks, I decided to try EBC pads last year. I fitted their Red Stuff pads and found a considerable difference. This time I'm going to try the Yellow Stuff pads and their grooved disks to see if they provide further improvement. They work out much the same as OEM price wise so it's win/win.

The yellow stuff are not really geared towards road use though. They need a fair bit of heat build up before the bite properly and give almost no bite when really cold.

I'd stick with the red stuff on the grooved disks.

Wheelnut

ksimpson wrote: »

... the front calipers on the allroad are about the size of my forearm and weigh a ton. Not easy to work with when winding back the piston...

Do the front pistons need to be wound back?

Tropheus

Wheelnut wrote: »

Do the front pistons need to be wound back?

Yes they do. It's a large single piston.

Tropheus

Nissan doctor wrote: »

The yellow stuff are not really geared towards road use though. They need a fair bit of heat build up before the bite properly and give almost no bite when really cold.

I'd stick with the red stuff on the grooved disks.

Already went with the Yellow Stuff so I'll let you know what I think in comparison to the Red Stuff Pads. It says on their website that they bite well in lower temperatures, but I suppose their website would say that.

Tropheus

ksimpson wrote: »

Yes they do. It's a large single piston.

Just read your post again. To be accurate, pushed back instead of wound back.

Wheelnut

ksimpson wrote: »

Just read your post again. To be accurate, pushed back instead of wound back.

You had me wondering there. AFAIK you only need to wind the pistons if the parking brake works through the caliper so I wondered if there is a different set-up on the Allroad, it seems not.

Generally the parking brake (wind-back) is on the rear but a few cars, mainly French, have had them on the front.