01/05/2026 8:35 am
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My 2017 Audi A4 is literally screaming every time I touch the brake pedal and it is driving me insane. I have a trip up to the mountains this Friday and I cannot deal with this noise for four hours straight plus I am pretty sure I am down to the metal at this point. I checked with the dealership and they want nearly seven hundred bucks which is just not happening right now since my budget is more like $350 max for everything including tools.
I am basically torn between two ways to handle this. I could buy the Akebono ceramic pads because everyone says they are the best for low dust but then I have to figure out how to retract that stupid electronic parking brake in the rear. My buddy says I can just use a 9v battery and some jumper wires to retract the motor manually but that sounds like a recipe for a broken caliper honestly. The other choice is just getting a cheaper PowerStop kit from RockAuto and using the extra money to buy an OBDeleven scan tool so I can actually do the job the right way without breaking anything. I am leaning toward the cheaper pads and the tool because I am terrified of bricking my daily driver right before a trip but I hate brake dust so much. Should I go with the high end pads and the risky battery hack or just get the cheaper kit and the proper scan tool?
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01/05/2026 8:35 am
honestly man dont do the battery hack on a b9 audi. those calipers are expensive and you really dont wanna fry the motor right before your mountain trip. it works for some people but its way too risky imo when you can just do it properly. id go with the tool every time because it saves so much headache and you can use it for diagnostics later too.
- get the OBDeleven NextGen Bluetooth OBD2 Scan Tool for the electronic parking brake service mode
- the PowerStop Z23 Evolution Sport Brake Pad and Rotor Kit is actually decent for the price and fits your budget better
- use a wire brush to clean the hub surface before putting the new rotors on if you go with the cheaper pads now you can always swap to Akebono Euro Ultra-Premium Ceramic Brake Pads later when you have more cash. definitely worth it for the peace of mind knowing the rear motor isnt toast.
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01/05/2026 8:50 am
Quick reply while I have a second! Are you planning to replace the rotors along with the pads? If you're hearing metal-on-metal, those discs are likely compromised. One vital tip: ensure you have a dedicated triple square socket set for the carrier bolts. I find the OBDeleven NextGen Diagnostic Tool makes the retraction process fantastic and professional. Im gonna suggest the Hawk Performance HPS 5.0 Brake Pads because they are amazing!