Blog For Technicians

VW / Audi: Electronic Parking Brakes (EPB)

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Your driving your car and stop at a red light but you noticed that slowing down was a little rough than usual or that there's a noise coming from your brakes. That is a definite sign that you need to get your brakes maintenanced. In most older cars we have the traditional hand brakes that is used to keep the car stationary. Since 2004, VW / Audi has implemented their newer models with Electronic Parking Brakes (EPB). EPB was introduce for a few reasons:

• Mostly all functions in cars these days are controlled by electronics
  
  
• Can be used together with other systems; like stability control without involving hydraulics

• Less space needed in the interior for a brake pedal or a handle

• Lowering cost; Uses existing CAN controlled systems to control EPB

EPB allows you to engage and disengage your brakes at the touch of a button on your console but many EPB systems are programmed to self-release with a simply switch in your gears from the park position. Yet replacing your brakes which used to be a simple task has now become more complicated since VW / Audi implemented Electronics Parking Brakes. Processing any repairs on your brakes require a factory level scan tool to open and close your brake calipers.

Below are the instructions to open your rear calipers with screeshots from the AUTOBOSS V30 / PC Max scan tool:

1) Select "Diagnose" and choose with or without CANbus

2) Then Chassis

3) Select "53 - Parking Brakes"

4) Then choose "04 - Introduction to Basic Setting" 

5) Enter Channel No. 007 and click "GO"

6) Listen carefully as you will hear the EPB open wide

Below are the instructions to close your rear calipers:

1) Select "Diagnose" and choose with or without CANbus

2) Then Chassis

3) Select "53 - Parking Brakes"

4) Then choose "04 - Introduction to Basic Setting"

5) Enter Channel No. 006 and click "GO"

6) Listen carefully as you will hear the EPB closing

7) Enter Channel No. 010 to perform a function test on the EPB which will cycle s number of times

8) Click "BACK" and then select "02 - Interrogate Fault Memory"

If "No Fault codes found" then you have completed your tasks!