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You can compensate for th is sligh t ly reduced
braking power by pushing harder on the brake
pedal. Avoid heavy braking loads during the
break-in per iod.
Operating condit ions and driving habit s
The brakes on today's automobi les are st ill
subject to wear, depend ing largely on operat -
ing conditions and driving habits ¢ .&.. On
vehicles that are either driven mostly in stop-
and-go city traffic or are driven hard, the
brake pads should be checked by your author-
ized Audi dealer more often than specified in
the Warranty & Maintenance booklet. Failure
to have your brake pads inspected can result
in reduced brake performance.
On steep slopes, you should use the braking
effect of the engine . This way, you prevent un-
necessary wear on the brake system. If you
must use you r brakes, do not hold the brakes
down continuously. Pump the brakes at int er-
vals.
Operating noise
Noises may occur when braking depending on
the speed, braki ng force and outside condi-
tions such as tempe ratu re and humidity .
Due to the nature of the materials used in ce-
ramic brake rotors*, noises may become more
apparent at low speeds.
Effect of w ater and road salt
In certain situat ions, for example after driving
through water, in heavy rain, after overnight
condensation or after washing your car, the
braking effect can be reduced by moistu re or
ice on the bra ke roto rs and brake pads. The
brakes must be dried fi rst w it h a few caref ul
brake app lications.
At higher speeds and with the w indshield w ip-
ers turned on, the brake pads press against
the brake rotors for a short amount of time.
This occurs at regular int ervals wit hout the
driver noticing and provides for better brake
response time under wet conditions.
The effectiveness of the brakes can be reduced
when the vehicle is dr iven on a salt -covered
Int e llig e nt technolog
y
179
road and the brakes are not used. Likewise,
you clean off accumulated salt coating from
brake discs and pads with a f ew cautio us ap-
plications of the brake
9
,&..
Due to the ir surface character istics, ceramic
brake rotors* absorb moisture in such condi-
tions. This can cause a tempo rary reduction in
braking force compared to dry brakes. You can
compensate for this by pressing the brake
pedal harder .
Corrosion
There may be a tendency for dirt to build up
on the brake pads and corros ion to form on
the discs if the car is not driven regularly or
only for short trips w ith litt le use of the
brakes.
If the brakes are not used frequently, or if cor-
rosion has formed on the discs, it is advisable
to clean off the pads and discs by braking
firmly a few times from a moderately high
speed
9
&. .
Faults in the brake system
If you shou ld notice a sudden increase in
brake pedal travel, then one of t he two brake
circuit s may have fai led ¢ &. .
Low brake fluid level
Malfunctions can occur in the brake system if
the brake fluid level is too low. The brake fluid
level is monitored electronica lly.
Brake booster
The brake booster increases the pressure t hat
you generate with t he brake pedal. It works
only when t he engine is running .¢
&
Brake lining wear status
Brake lining wear may be checked by visual in-
spection of the condition of the bra ke pads
th rough the open ings in the wheel. If neces-
sary, the wheel may be removed f or t his in-
spection ¢ page 245, Changing a wheel.
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