17/06/2026 7:35 am
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My 2018 A6 is squealing bad before my road trip next week. I saw online that I need a scan tool to retract the rear parking brake, but others say you can just use a 9v battery. Im confused on what actually works. Anyone got a reliable DIY guide for this?
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12
17/06/2026 7:35 am
Do not mess around with the 9v battery trick! It is super risky and if you fry the parking brake motor, you will be out hundreds of dollars. I did this job on my own A6 and saved a ton of cash. Here is the ultimate budget way to get this done safely:
- Get the Ancel VD700 OBD2 Scanner. It is super cheap, works perfectly for VAG cars, and retracts the calipers with one click! Absolutely amazing tool for the price.
- Buy the Power Stop KOE6375 Front and Rear Brake Kit online. You get awesome OE quality rotors and pads for way less than dealership prices.
- Make sure to clean the carrier brackets thoroughly with a wire brush to prevent squeals. Doing it yourself saves you like 800 bucks in labor! Love saving cash on these easy DIY jobs.
12
17/06/2026 8:00 am
^ This. Also, I would suggest grabbing the Ancel VD700 OBD2 Scanner for seventy bucks. Just make sure your battery is on a charger when you run it so it doesnt lose connection.
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17/06/2026 8:10 am
I did this job last year and honestly, I didnt want to risk manual retraction. I felt way safer using a proper OBD tool to retract the EPB. It worked without any issues. What kind of scan tool do you have access to right now? Are you looking to invest in diagnostic software, or just want a cheap tool for this one job?