Rear pad replacement.

**Justinos** · 25-04-2016,10:55 AM

I have just replaced my front brake pads, and so now need to tackle the rears. I have VCDS so can disengage the parking break etc, but my question is, once it is disengaged, does the piston just push back in, or is it 'wound' back in as some are?

**niall campbell** · 25-04-2016,11:19 AM

wound back in with a 3 pronged VW shaped tool

its different to the one supplied in most tools. check out ebay or amazon

right hand thread tool !

**Justinos** · 25-04-2016,12:16 PM

Hi, thanks, did it actually wind the piston in, or just push it in?

The ones on eBay for Audi are saying left hand thread?

**Justinos** · 25-04-2016,12:50 PM

Sorry, my mistake, they are right hand. Does it make a difference if all it is doing is pushing not twisting the piston like on older VAG's with cable handbrake S?

**boidy** · 27-04-2016,09:29 PM

when i did mine i used a screwdriver to lever them back using the old pads and then just wound them back 1 turn with the proper tool.

**Justinos** · 13-05-2016,04:44 PM

In the end I bought the tool that screws in the piston as it pushes. As the piston has indentations for the tool to fit into, I assume it is meant to be screwed in rather than just pushed, as otherwise why would they be there.

**Crasher** · 13-05-2016,05:12 PM

The pistons must be pressed back only using a propriety piston resetting tool such as the VAG T10145

**RhysoTDI** · 13-05-2016,06:47 PM

I didn't use any special tool

i disengaged the brake via VCDS, left the computer and ignition switched on and battery hooked up to a trickle charger

when I was finished I used VCDS to rengage the parking brake; job done. I have since done over 500 miles and everything seems to be working fine

**B5NUT** · 13-05-2016,09:16 PM

Sometimes you may find that after using VCDS to wind the piston back there is still not enough room to fit the new pads and put the caliper back in place, even more so if you have also replaced the discs. So you sometimes need to use a tool as shown in Crasher post to push the piston all the way back.

You don't need to use a wind back tool (that is for the non electric rear calipers).

**Crasher** · 16-05-2016,03:31 PM

Yes, I should have made it clearer but I couldn't find the VAG text I have read where it specifically states that the pistons MUST NOT be would back as it can damage the mechanism, they just need pushing back, even a big pair of grips will do.