46 Q7 MY18 Squeal from front brakes
46 18 88 2050737/2 May 4, 2018. Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 46 number 18-87 dated May 4,
2018 for reasons listed below.
Model(s)

Year

VIN Range

Vehicle-Specific Equipment

Q7

2018

000001 - 039706

With disc brakes in front

Condition
REVISION HISTORY
Revision

Date

Purpose

2

-

Revised header data (Updated VIN break)

1

05/04/2018

Initial publication

Customer reports hearing a squeal noise (1.6 KHz) from the front brakes in the following conditions:
 Slow speeds, usually below 20 mph
 Usually in reverse
 Cold brakes
 Temperature and humidity conditions may vary.

Page 1 of 9
© 2018 Audi of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of Audi of
America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the
publisher.

Please review the audio/video example below:
https://audiexternal.kzoplatform.com:443/swf/player/359.

Figure 1. QR Code for Supporting Video.
Note:
Frequencies can be identified with our Audi Frequency Analysis App, review TSB 2051095: 46 Audi frequency
analysis for further information.

Technical Background
Not applicable.

Production Solution
Not applicable.

Service
Replace front brake pads according to the instruction in Elsa at Repair Manual, Chassis >> Brake System >> 46
Mechanical Components >> Front Brakes >> Brake Pads, Removing and Installing Steel Brakes.
1. Identify the caliper casting lip installed in the vehicle. There are 2 possibilities of lip; large and small. (Figure 1).

Page 2 of 9
© 2018 Audi of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of Audi of
America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the
publisher.

Figure 1. Caliper casting lip configurations.
2. Install spring in the caliper. It is mandatory to install 2 springs per caliper as a final configuration (Figure 2). See
available spring design (Figure 3).
3. According to caliper casting, a specific type of spring must be assembled, as follows:
LARGE CASTING LIP >>> INSTALL SPRING 4M0 615 269 C
SMALL CASTING LIP >>> INSTALL SPRING 4M0 615 269

Page 3 of 9
© 2018 Audi of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of Audi of
America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the
publisher.

Figure 2. Spring configuration, after installation.

Figure 3. Spring designs.

Page 4 of 9
© 2018 Audi of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of Audi of
America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the
publisher.

4. It is mandatory to clean the contact surfaces (red marked with arrows) and coat with lithium grease (Figure 4).
Also, coat the brake pad plate/guide pins and pad contact surfaces with lithium grease.

Figure 4. Clean contact surfaces and then coat with lithium grease.
5. It is mandatory to pay attention to the labeling on the brake pad (Figure 5). In installed position the arrow (1) on
the backing plate must point upward (the pads should be installed with the arrows following the forward rotation of
the wheel). Labeling (2) indicate correct assembly position (left outer/inner, right outer/inner).

Page 5 of 9
© 2018 Audi of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of Audi of
America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the
publisher.

Figure 5. Correct installation positioning for the brake pad.
6. It is mandatory to replace all 4 brake pad intermediate plate per caliper – included in the brake pad box (Figure
6).

Page 6 of 9
© 2018 Audi of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of Audi of
America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the
publisher.

Figure 6. Replace all 4 intermediate plates.
7. Brake Embedding:
a. Perform 10 stops from approximately 35 mph to 10 mph with medium brake application.
b. Drive for approximately 2 minutes 40 mph without braking to allow the brakes to cool down.
c. Repeat steps A and B if necessary.
Note:
A. This bulletin does not apply if there is improper operation or misuse of the vehicle.
B. Do not perform ABS stops as a way of embedding the brakes. Brake pads and discs may be permanently
damaged if brakes are overheated prior to be proper embedded.
C. Do not replace current springs already installed in the caliper.
Tip: Rust/Corrosion build-up, grooves, or glazing on the braking surface of the brake disc may cause noise
and must be considered when replacing brake pads (Also review TSB 2034181: Brake noise analysis and
handling).

Page 7 of 9
© 2018 Audi of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of Audi of
America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the
publisher.

Warranty
Claim Type:

 110 up to 24 Months/24,000 Miles.
 If vehicle is outside any warranty, this Technical Service Bulletin is informational
only.

Service Number:

4636

Damage Code:

0010

Labor Operations:

Wheels remove + reinstall (front)

4405 2000

20 TU

Brake pads front remove + reinstall

4636 2050

70 TU

GFF

No allowance

0 TU

Road test prior to service procedure

0121 0002

10 TU

Road test after service procedure

0121 0004

10 TU

Diagnostic Time:

Claim Comment:

As per TSB #2050737/2

All warranty claims submitted for payment must be in accordance with the Audi Warranty Policies and Procedures
Manual. Claims are subject to review or audit by Audi Warranty.

Required Parts and Tools
Reduced parts availability for the brake pad and spring. Dealer must prioritize the most important
cases prior to starting repairs.
Please check the Repair Manual for fasteners, bolts, nuts, and screws that require replacement during the
repair.
Part Number

Part Description

Quantity

4M0698151BD

Set of front brake pads

01

4M0615269 or

Spring (According to caliper casting design)

02

G052150A2

Lithium grease

0.1

See ETKA

Sender wire (pad wear indicator, replace only if
damaged)

02

4M0615269C

Page 8 of 9
© 2018 Audi of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of Audi of
America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the
publisher.

Additional Information
The following Technical Service Bulletin(s) will be necessary to complete this procedure:
 TSB 2051095, 46 Audi frequency analysis.
 TSB 2034181, Brake noise analysis and handling.
All parts and service references provided in this TSB (2050737) are subject to change and/or removal. Always
check with your Parts Department and/or ETKA for the latest information and parts bulletins.
©2018 Audi of America, Inc. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest
information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of
Audi of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any
time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in
any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these
materials be modified or reposted to other sites without the prior expressed written permission of the publisher.

Page 9 of 9
© 2018 Audi of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of Audi of
America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the
publisher.