Rear caliper seized again!
 

Got to love these D2 rear calipers, before I sold my last S8 the left rear caliper seized and had to be replaced.

Now on my current S8 the left rear caliper seized also (causing me to fail the MOT +++). Rather than messing around i will replace it. Weird, why is it always the left side caliper that fails first.

Looking around for options, there's a Remy one on ebay for £132, and there is a remanufactured one by Budweg for £95 here:
http://brakeparts.co.uk/#!/shop/AUDI...el%20cylinders

Does anyone know what the difference is? Remy vs Budweg?
Anyone know how much they are from TPS?

Thanks

Oddly, my left rear had to be replaced a while back. At least they are still available. At a price... :(

I replaced the right rear on my D2 as the handbrake lever was sticking on a regular basis and I got fed up of keep trying to free it off

Is it because that side always gets exposed to the puddles and dirt?

My car spent most of its life in Germany. Good idea though.
I suspect there is a dirt ingress point at the handbrake cable lever, where it enters the casting to push the piston. There appears to be no rubber boot at that location?

I'm leaning towards the remanufactured calipers from brakeparts, since I'm doing both it is £70 less than Remy, plus I assume it will be the original OEM part with a few new bits.

Anyone have Remy calipers on their D2?

Hi Goran, a few years ago i had a go at my rears as the handbrake was always sticking. There is a rubber seal but its in the caliper body rather than a boot as such. And you're right it is dirt and rust build up at the point you suspect that eventually stops the handbrake from returning. That or the cable its self sticking in the liner, but i would go with rusty pin into the caliper. There are a few photos of what i took off my 8 just for reference so you can see the part that sticks HERE and HERE

Unless you have a bit of time, want to play or have a MOT needed badly and no way of getting remanufactured parts to you in time :o then go with the referb'd calipers.

Thanks Dezzy, good guide and lots of good pictures. I wish I had more time to have a go fixing it myself, but my MOT has expired so I'm in a bit of a rush to get the car road worthy again. I ordered the remanufactured calipers, fast service, should arrive tomorrow.

The caliper I replaced on the old car may have been so corroded I couldn't see the rubber washer. As soon as I saw the handbrake lever assembly I was disappointed that Audi didn't add a large gaiter between the caliper body and the handbrake cable arm. Just going to borrow your picture, something like this.

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1437384455

I was almost going to glue a rubber glove (onto the casting) over that area as a makeshift gaiter, but I doubt that would last so I didn't bother.

Snap, the rubber washer type seal i could not see until i scraped all the rusty crud off.

A rubber boot like your drawing would have been a good idea.
I think knowing that they will end up seized at some point, it is an area that needs maintenance. Keep packed with copper grease around that pin. I'm sure a glove or similar would help +++

I'll give it a go, don't want the brand new calipers to be ruined too quickly. I have some silicone sealant somewhere I wonder how well it will stick to cast aluminium.

Could a track rod end gaitor like these be used to protect that area do you reckon?