Parking brake sounds like rusty barn door : Anyone?

[Deschodt]

One of the (trivial) things while my car was in for service was a simple question on my parking brake. (2010 S4 DSG)
Setting the parking brake (and to a lesser degree taking it off) now makes a lot of noise, sounds like a barn door with rusty hinges. Not very classy, you park somewhere, set it and "wiiiiiiihaaaaaa". Everybody within 20ft looks around to see what that was... It's me, parking brake...Some days the darn thing is quieter, some days it's a regular horror movie sound effect.

I was once told (while under warranty) "we'll look at it when you need pads, no biggie". I let it go because at the time they were giving me a new mechatronics unit (pick your battles;-). Now I'm under CPO instead, and I'm getting a lot less traction... "we can hear it, but we think it's just the motor working longer to engage since pads are thinner". Yes, the "longer" part makes sense... The sound, not so much... because it didn't make *any* noise initially, and nor does the A4 loaner I got...But I could be wrong and have inadvertently discovered a brake pad thickness indicator here ;-)

Anybody else experienced this? I'm not gonna go to war with the dealer over that, but I don't like being given the brush off either. Opinions ?

[AzWildCat04]

Yeah mine has a sound as well, but who cares.

[Deschodt]

Yeah mine has a sound as well, but who cares.

Well me, since I asked, Thank you.

It's so loud people turn around when I use it. It's not right...

[Black_V!per]

Well me, since I asked, Thank you.

It's so loud people turn around when I use it. It's not right...

Same sound, never thought anyone wouldn't like it. Have you spoke to the dealer?

One time I pulled into a spot next to a couple kids in the back of a truck playing. When I put the parking break on they said "it sounds like your gearing up for takeoff, TO INFINITY AND BEYOND"

Sound lets me know that the button is working... Hope you get something.

[Deschodt]

The reason I ask is that it's new. For years it was quiet outside, just a discreet electric motor sound inside. Now, it's a *loud* "rusty hinge on Halloween night" sound ;/)

The service advisor gave me what I thought was a BS line saying it's related to thinner, more worn out pads, hence a longer motor action required. Ok, I get that, but If that were true, it would have always been this *loud* (just for a shorter brake setting time), but the noise is recent and not consistent. Oh well...
Also discovering all the fine print of CPO - not quite like the warranty :-( fees for looking, not everything covered, dissapointing.

[will13k7]

it does sound like shit, not sure why? Always sounded like that to me.

its not becoming of an S4.

[Deschodt]

Alright, I took 2 videos - for the sound - and joined them ;-)

The first one is the loaner A4 and I boosted the volume 400% so you can even hear the handbrake motor ! Pretty quiet, Like my car used to be.
The second is my S4 and the volume is UNBOOSTED ! If you think that's a "cool noise" or a normal noise, I will disagree ;-)

The dealer said as brake pads wear the sound can be hear longer. That's BS to me because we're not talking about the normal electric motor sound which is discrete, this is just louder, not longer in duration. And my car does this on and off, which contradicts the theory.... Anyway, not a big deal but I wanted to share the noise !

[jayts]

Mine does the same thing, does replacing the pads really fix it?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[chaos2984]

first ask him if the parking brake motor is covered under cpo. Then tell him if i replace the read pads and it still makes noise what do we do then, will you replace it. It wasn't like that when i bought the car. Sounds like the cable is a little rusty. Sometimes i have seen electric parking brakes noisy, but not that noisy. I can't even hear mine work right now when it works. Usually i can hear them in other cars at least.

[csullivan]

First part of the video sounds like my car. If it sounded like the second portion, I'd take it in too.

[MrFunk]

Mine does NOT sound like that. 18k miles... sounds like it needs lubing... and yeah - might be the fact that your pads are worn and the mechanical action is longer - and if it's rusted a bit or "dry" it will make the noise... it's quite obvious it's a lube issue IMO... OR replace your pads??

[jayts]

I watched the video and my sound is EXACTLY the same in a 2010 s4, I dont take my car to the audi dealer anymore because the service advisors have lied to me numerous times, I actually take it to an indy shop now

I am taking mine in on Tuesday for new tires and suspension look over, I'll see if there is a way to "lube" the noise away or if my rear pads are ready to go