Changing front brake pads and discs

[KevBrowne]

Hi,
I have a 2001 A6 1.8T Sport Avant (the sport doesn't mean anything other than having less equipment than any other spec model). It has 68,000 miles on it. I am having the Cam Belt and off-side CV joint changed next week at a garage in Southampton. I know the Cam Belt isn't recommended for change until 80,000 miles but I have had one go on another car before so don't want to risk it this time around.

I also need to change my front brake pads, but as the garage is getting paid a lot of beer tokens to do the other work I would like to try and save some money by doing the brakes myself. When the rear pads were changed my mechanic used some special tool for winding out the calipers. Is this tool needed for the front pads as well? Is there anything else I should look out for?

Cheers

Kev

[Niall76]

no need for winding tool. You can just push the pistons back in.

[paul b]

Kev,
68k and the cam belt is definitely due. I had thought the reccommended replacement schedule was 5 years or 60k. However, if a cam belt change is not in the car's service history I would get it done anyway. Wherever it is you are sending the car, insist that it is not only the belt that is changed but all relevant pulleys, tensioners and water pump is changed. Another member on this forum RobDob will testify to this.
Paul

[paul b]

Kev,
Forgot to mention, about the brake pads, there is no special tool required, the fronts are far easier than the rears. However a bit of advice I will give is buy genuine pads, they work better for longer.
Paul