Braking (Audi A6 C5)

Factors that negatively affect the braking effect

Wear

Wear of brake pads is largely determined by operating conditions and driving style. Wear is significantly accelerated by frequent driving in urban conditions and over short distances or by sporty driving.

Wet weather or road salt

In certain situations, such as after driving through water, in heavy rain or after washing the car, the braking effect may be delayed due to moisture, and in winter, even icing of the brake pads or discs may occur. In this case, dry the brakes by braking.

A delay in braking effect is also possible after a long break in using the brakes when driving on roads sprinkled with salt. First of all, remove the layer of salt on the brake discs and linings by braking.

Corrosion

The appearance of corrosion of brake discs and contamination of linings is facilitated by prolonged idle time of the car, low mileage and low loads of the brake system.

At low load of the brake system, and also in case of corrosion, it is recommended to clean the brake discs and linings by sufficiently strong repeated braking at average vehicle speed.

Brake system failure

A sudden increase in the brake pedal travel may be due to a failure of one of the circuits of the dual-circuit brake system. Immediately contact the nearest specialized enterprise to eliminate the malfunction. At the same time, drive slowly and remember about the increased force on the brake pedal and the increase in the braking distance.



Low brake fluid level

If the brake fluid level drops, the brake system may malfunction. The brake fluid level is controlled electronically.

Carefully

• Never brake lightly unless absolutely necessary. This will cause the brakes to overheat, resulting in longer braking distances and increased wear.
• When driving downhill for a long time, reduce speed first and engage the next lower gear (manual transmission) or lower range (automatic transmission). This utilizes the engine's braking effect and reduces the load on the braking system. Braking should be done at intervals if necessary, rather than continuously.

Brake booster

The brake booster assists braking.

The brake booster increases the pressure when the brake pedal is pressed. The booster only operates when the engine is running.

Note: When the brake booster is not working, for example because it is damaged or the vehicle needs to be towed, the force on the brake pedal must be much greater than usual.

Anti-lock braking system (ABS)

ABS prevents wheels from locking when braking.

The anti-lock braking system (ABS) significantly contributes to increasing the active safety of the vehicle. The decisive advantage of the ABS braking system compared to the conventional one is that the wheels do not lock even during emergency braking on a slippery road. Thanks to this, the controllability and stability of the vehicle are preserved to the maximum extent.

However, you cannot expect that the braking distance will be shorter under all circumstances thanks to ABS. When driving on gravel or freshly fallen snow lying on a slippery road, when it is already necessary to drive extremely carefully and at a minimum speed, the braking distance may even increase slightly.



Operating principle of ABS

When the vehicle reaches a speed of approximately 6 km/h, an automatic control process occurs. The noise of the pump can be heard.

If a wheel tends to lock, the pressure in the brake drive of that wheel is reduced. This regulation process is noticeable by the pulsation of the brake pedal and is accompanied by characteristic noise manifestations. Thus, the driver is specifically given a warning signal about the operation of one or more wheels in a mode close to skidding. To ensure the optimal effect of regulation in this mode by means of ABS, keep the brake pedal pressed and under no circumstances brake in several pumps!

Note: ABS malfunction is indicated by a warning lamp.

Emergency Brake Assist

The emergency brake assist system helps increase braking force.

The brake booster helps to increase the braking force and thus reduce the braking distance. When the brake pedal is pressed very quickly, the brake booster automatically increases the braking force to the maximum, up to the intervention of the anti-lock braking system (ABS). Keep the brake pedal pressed until the desired braking effect is achieved. Immediately after releasing the pedal, the brake booster automatically switches off.

If the anti-lock braking system (ABS) fails, the emergency brake assist does not function.

Power steering

Power steering helps you steer your vehicle while the engine is running.

Power steering makes it easier to control the car. As a result, the driver only needs to apply a small amount of force to control the car.



The power steering only works when the engine is running. In this case, much more force must be applied to the steering wheel.

Each full turn of the wheels when the vehicle is stationary places a heavy load on the power steering and is accompanied by noise. In addition, the idle speed is reduced for a short time.

Turning the steering wheel to the stop with the engine running should not continue for more than 15 seconds - risk of damage to the power steering!

Note: If the power steering fails or if the engine is not running, (towing) the car's controllability is fully preserved. However, more force must be applied to the steering wheel.

Servotronic system

The electronic controller of the Servotronic system controls the power steering.

On vehicles with a Servotronic system, the electronic controller controls the operation of the power steering depending on the driving speed.

If the Servotronic system fails, the steering booster remains functional. However, the booster efficiency is no longer adjusted according to the driving speed. Failure of the electronic controller is most clearly recognized by an unusual increase in the force on the steering wheel when maneuvering (i.e. at low speed). The fault must be corrected as soon as possible at a specialized enterprise.

All-wheel drive (quattro®)

The drive of an all-wheel drive vehicle is carried out on all four wheels.

Your car's all-wheel drive operates fully automatically. Torque is distributed to all 4 wheels automatically, in optimal accordance with the vehicle's driving dynamics and specific road conditions.



Thanks to the all-wheel drive concept, which was developed with the engine's high power in mind, your Audi is an extremely efficient vehicle with excellent driving characteristics both under normal road conditions and in extreme conditions, such as snow or ice. That is why it is essential to observe certain safety regulations.

Winter tires

All-wheel drive vehicles, even with standard tires, have good traction and dynamic qualities in winter conditions. Despite this, it is recommended to install winter tires or all-weather tires on all 4 wheels in winter. This improves braking efficiency,

Anti-skid chains

The rules requiring the mandatory use of snow chains also apply to all-wheel drive vehicles.

Tire replacement

Only the same type of tires may be installed on the wheels of all-wheel drive vehicles.

Is your Audi an off-road vehicle?

Your Audi is not a cross-country vehicle. The ground clearance is too low for this. Therefore, avoid driving on dirt roads.

Material republished from the website: audimanual.ru