Parking Brake Fiasco

[sutherland]

The story so far:

My offside electric motor failed so it went to the specialist for replacement. They phoned me halfway through the job to say the nearside also needed replaced. I said the only fault code was with the o/s when it left ... not by the time it got there.

They had an o/s calliper, but the n/s was not available anywhere until the beginning of July, so I spoke to A8 Parts who said they could supply the motor. I asked, what if the calliper is seized and was told it is always the motor. In the end the motor was cheaper from Audi than A8 Parts, so the specialist ordered it in, but it turned out the calliper was seized and the new motor got wrecked in the process (unfortunately for them). In fact both callipers were seized and for the o/s VCDS reported 'resistance to movement'.

Anyway, now back to square one with no handbrake and no refurbished callipers available until July. Does anyone know where I might find a n/s calliper in stock? The advertised prices vary from £240-£390, but it seems they all have the same supplier and cannot get them.

I don't blame the specialist--they're good and several folk on here use them.

Any help would be appreciated.

[HPsauce]

I'd be pushing Audi for a courtesy car if they can't supply parts.
(worked for me in the past)

[Dezzy]

Can't help with caliper stock, the company i used are not advertising in the same way anymore and don't seem open to the public, these were done on an exchange basis so still had to be without car for a week and that was D2 calipers.

Interesting about the pricing too, but before i go too far i will just say i do use A8 Parts and will carry on, however it is defiantly worth ringing around just to make sure as there have been comments before about some parts having very similar pricing to new parts and therefore not always viable or worth buying second hand.

I know they have to strip parts not break it and then store it but is this an example of a case where by it is not worth recycling these types of part. If a new one can be bought from the dealer cheaper than a non-guaranteed second hand part then it’s just not worth the work to remove it from the donor.

Originally Posted by HPsauce

I'd be pushing Audi for a courtesy car if they can't supply parts.
(worked for me in the past)

I'm not sure Audi will give courtesy cars for other companys customers while waiting for caliper referbish? Got a feeling they'd tell you to do one or just tell you to buy new calipers. That or you have a very friendly dealer, mine always treats me as if they're doing me a favour.

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

I'm not sure Audi will give courtesy cars for other companys customers

Nor am I. Somewhat misread your post, thinking it said no-one (including Audi) could supply any.

[sutherland]

Thanks. The price from A8 parts was for a new motor not a secondhand part.

These parking brakes really do seem to be a disaster. This is the second A8 to put me through this hassle.

I haven't checked up to see if Audi have supply, but going to them would almost double the cost, so I'm a little reluctant.

[Adrian E]

It's a known weakness across the whole range - they're pants and they shouldn't be!

[paulrstaylor]

Sorry I've just seen this thread....... the calipers are manufactured by TRW, you can get them on an exchange basis from Euro car parts (oddly in a PAGID box) or as I did you can the same calipers from a factors in Brirmingham via ebay for £240, that'f for the caliper and the motor!

Left:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUDI-A8-A8...item27ca673a56

Right:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUDI-A8-A8...item51a0c0e77e

Hope that helps

[sutherland]

Thanks Paul, I did try these sellers, but as they say on the listing they cannot get them until 20 July (and that's an estimate).

I was fortunate, however, and did come across a motor factor in Manchester that had a n/s calliper in stock, so I grabbed and almost £1k later my handbrake is working again. It's a wretched design--almost as frustrating as the exhaust manifolds on the old Ur quattros.

[47p2]

I had the dreaded EPB warning come on last week. The o/s motor was screaming like a banshee so I stripped the motor off and opened it up. As per 99% of these motors the casing cracks and allows moisture to get into the bearings, the bearings cannot be replaced and the only solution is a new motor. £250 for a 12v motor with a couple of gears...what's the world coming to