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190
Intelligent
technolog
y
Operating conditions and driving habit s
The brakes on today 's automob iles are st ill
subject to wear, depending largely on operat -
ing conditions and driving habits
c::>
,& . 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 inter-
vals.
Operating noise
Noises may occur when braking depending on
the speed, braking force and outside condi-
tions such as temperature and humidity .
Effect of water and road salt
In certain situat ions, for example after driving
through wate r, in heavy rain, after overn ight
condensation or after washing your car, the
braking effect can be reduced by moistu re or
ice on the brake roto rs and brake pads. The
brakes must be dried fi rst with a few caref ul
brake app lications .
At higher speeds and with the w indshie ld w ip-
ers turned on, the brake pads press agains t
the bra ke rotors for a short amount of time.
This occurs at regular intervals without 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 driven on a salt-covered
road and the brakes are not used. Likewise,
you clean off accumulated salt coating from
brake discs and pads with a few caut ious ap-
plications of the brake
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,& .
Corrosion
There may be a tendency for dirt to bui ld up
on the brake pads and corrosion to form on
the discs if the car is not driven regu larly or
on Ly for short trips with litt le use of the
brakes.
If
t he 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
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.&. .
Fault s 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 fai led
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.&.
Low brake fluid level
Malfunctions can occur in the brake system if
t he brake fluid level is t oo low. The brake flu id
level is monitored electronica lly.
Brake booster
The brake booster increases the pressure that
you generate with the brake pedal. It works
only when the engine is runn ing
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.&
Brake lining wear status
Brake lining wear may be checked by visual in-
spect ion of the condition of the brake pads
th rough the open ings in the wheel. If neces-
sary, the wheel may be removed fo r t his in-
spect ion
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page 255, Changing a wheel.
.&,
WARNING
- New brake pads don' t have the best stop-
ping power and must be "bro ken-in" dur -
ing the initial 100 to 150 miles (150 to
200 kilometers) of normal city driving.
You can compensate for this by pressing
the brake pedal more firmly. This also
applies later when new pads are instal-
led.
- You shou ld perform braking maneuvers
for the purpose of cleaning the brake
system only if road conditions permit.
Othe r road users must not be put at risk -
you may cause an accident!
- Before descending a steep grade, reduce
speed and shift transmission into a lower
gear or lower dr iving range. Do not ride
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