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Inte l ligent
Technology
Braking
What affects braking efficiency?
New brake pads
During the firs t 25 0 miles (400 km), new bra ke
pads do not possess their full braking effect , they
have to be "broken in" first ¢ & .
Operating conditions and driving habits
The brakes on today 's automobiles a re sti ll sub-
ject to wea r, depend ing la rgely on ope rating con-
d itions and dr iving habits
c::>
.&,. .
On veh icles that
are either dr iven most ly in stop-and -go city traf -
fic or are driven hard, the brake pads should be
checked by your authorized Audi dea ler more of-
ten than spec ified in the Warranty & Mainte-
nance booklet. Failure to have your brake pads
inspected can result in reduced brake perform-
ance .
On steep slopes, you shou ld use the braking ef -
fect of the eng ine. This way, you prevent unnec-
essary wear on t he brake system . If you must use
your brakes , do not hold the brakes down cont in-
uously . Pump the brakes at interva ls.
Operating noise
Noises may occur when braking depend ing on the
speed, braking force and outs ide cond itions such
as temperature
and humidity .
Effect of wat er and road salt
In certain situations, for example after driving
through water, in heavy ra in, after overnight con -
densat ion or after washing your car, the braking
effect can be reduced by moisture or ice on the
brake rotors and brake pads . The brakes must be
dried first with a few careful brake applications.
At higher speeds and with the windshie ld wipers
turned on, the brake pads press aga inst the brake
rotors for a short amount of t ime. This occurs at
regular intervals w ithout the driver noticing and
provides fo r bette r brake response time under
wet conditions.
The effectiveness of the brakes can be reduced
when the vehicle is dr iven on a salt-covered road
and the brakes a re not used . Likewise , you clean
off acc umu lated salt coat ing from brake d iscs
190
and pads with a few cautious app lications of the
bra ke
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& .
Corrosion
There may be a tendency fo r dirt to build up on
the bra ke pads and corrosion to form on the discs
if the car is not dr iven regu la rly or only for short
trips wit h little use of the brakes .
If the bra kes are not used frequent ly, or if cor ro-
s io n has formed on the discs , it is advisable to
clean off the pads and discs by b raking firmly a
few times from a moderately high speed
c::>
& .
Faults in the brake system
If you s hou ld notice a
sudden
increase in brake
pedal travel, then one of the two brake circu its
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 electronically.
Brake booster
The brake booster increases the pressure that
you generate with the brake pedal. It only oper-
ates wh ile the eng ine is running or w ith the igni-
tion switched on (hybr id d rive*) ¢ & .
Brake lining wear statu s
Brake lining wear may be checked by visual in-
spection of the condition of the brake pads
through the openings in the wheel. If necessary,
the wheel may be removed for t his inspection
¢ page 255, Replacing wheels .
A
WARNING
- New brake pads do n't have the best st op-
ping power and m ust be "broken-in" du ring
the initial 2 50 miles (400 km) . You can
compensate for this by pressing the brake
pedal more firmly . This a lso applies later
when new pads are installed.
- You shou ld perform braking maneuvers for
the purpose of cleaning the brake system
only if road condit ions permit. Other road
users must not be put at risk - you may
cause an accident!
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