Driving
Corrosion
WARNING
Corrosion may form on the brake rotors if there is
no heavy braking, if the vehicle is not driven for
long periods of time, or if the vehicle is not driv-
en frequently or for long distances. In this case,
braking heavily several times while driving at
– Only apply the brakes for the purpose of
cleaning the brake system when road and
traffic conditions permit. You must not en-
danger other road users because this in-
creases the risk of an accident.
high speeds can clean the brake rotors ð
.
– Due to the risk of injury, only have an au-
thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility work on the brake system.
Incorrect repairs could impair the function.
– Never let the vehicle roll while the engine is
stopped because this increases the risk of an
accident.
Applies to: vehicles with plug-in hybrid drive: Se-
lect the “N” position so that recuperation is not
used for braking.
Brake pads
New brake pads do not achieve their full braking
effect during the first 250 miles (400 km). They
must be “broken in” first. However, you can com-
pensate for the slightly reduced braking force by
pressing firmly on the brake pedal. Avoid heavy
braking during the break-in period.
– During automatic braking maneuvers, the
brake pedal may move downward automati-
cally. To reduce the risk of injury, do not
place your foot under the brake pedal.
Note
Brake pad wear depends largely on the way the
vehicle is driven and on operating conditions.
Brake pad wear increases when driving frequently
in the city or short distances or when using a very
sporty driving style.
– Never let the brakes “rub” by pressing the
pedal lightly when braking is not actually
necessary. This can cause the brakes to over-
heat and increases braking distance and
causes wear.
Applies to: vehicles with plug-in hybrid drive: Be-
cause recuperation is also used for braking, the
break-in period for new brake pads is 500 miles
(800 km).
– Observe the important information for driv-
ing downhill ðpage 113. This especially ap-
plies when towing a trailer.
Tips
Automatic post-collision braking system
– If you retrofit your vehicle with a front spoil-
er, wheel covers or similar items, make sure
that the air flow to the brakes is not ob-
structed. Otherwise the brake system can
overheat.
The automatic post-collision braking system can
help to reduce the risk of sliding and of addition-
al collisions after an accident. If the airbag con-
trol module detects a collision, the vehicle is
braked by the ESC.
– Also refer to the information about brake
fluid ðpage 260.
The vehicle does not brake automatically if one of
the following occurs:
– You are pressing the accelerator pedal.
– The braking force generated by the pressed
brake pedal is greater than the braking force
that would be initiated by the system.
– The ESC, the brake system, or the vehicle elec-
trical system is not functioning.
Messages
The following messages may appear, depending
on the vehicle equipment:
/ Brakes: malfunction! Safely stop ve-
hicle
There is a malfunction in the brake system. If
/ and also turn on, there is a malfunc-
tion in the ABS, ESC, and braking distribution. If
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