My A6 has been complaining about needing brake pads changed for a while and I think I've ignored it long enough now and should get it sorted. However, I have the 'electric' rear calipers with handbrake controlled by a button rather than the conventional cable.

A bit of googling suggests that I need to use a diagnostics tool to wind back the rear calipers to the 'pad change' position, but of course I don't want to have to take it to a dealer to do something as simple as changing brake pads, so I started looking for cheap diagnostics kit.

That's when I stumbled on 'VAS5054a' tool, which seems to interface with the Audi software (I assume a pirated copy) and do dealer level diagnostics on the car. However, the kits are about £100, and there seems to be very little 'real world' information out there about them.

Does anyone have experience of this hardware? Do you get a 'real' dealer level view or is it limited? Can it wind back the calipers for me? Can I do things like re-code modules? (eg I want to fit DAB at some point, but I have to recode my MMI to tell it I have the DAB radio).

Or would I be better off splashing out on a vag-com? Can that do the caliper wind back?

Any advice gratefully received!

Cheers, Chris

Hi Chris,

I have a VCDS cable (used to be Vagcom) - I think this can do the job - see link here,



http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/Working_on_the_Electro-Mechanical_Parking_Brake_%28EPB%29


You are more than welcome to try it, if you are ever up near Milton Keynes.


I know some of the cheaper non-original diags cables are limited in what they will allow you to do.



Cheers

Thanks for that. I did read a similar article about using VCDS (aka vag com, for those not familiar) but it was saying something about needing the dealer kit. I wasn't sure if that referred to one of the more expensive versions, or whether it was just a way of describing the product. Guess the best thing to do would be to email ross tech and ask!

Chris

Snap on diagnostic gear certainly winds back the calipers which a lot of independents use. Not sure if it can reprogram the modules for dab radio tho.

Do an ebay or google shopping search on Autel EST201 --- should be about £50 from a UK supplier.

see http://www.auteltech.com/est201.htm

Not sure if it much help but a mate of mine runs a garage and regularly hits this problem on new cars. All he does is leave the engine running with the handbrake off while the car is up on his two-post lift

Thanks for the input, guys.

That £50 box looks like it will do the job, but if I'm going to spend money on a diagnostics tool I'd rather spend a little more and get something that can do other jobs too. For £50, plus pads, plus my time, I might as well take it to a local vag specialist.

Considering getting a VAG-com, but they are a LOT more money. Would still appreciate any advice about this VAS thing on eBay.

Chris