Technical Service Bulletin
46 Q7 MY17 Squeal from front brakes
46 18 02 2050735/4 November 21, 2018. Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 46 number 18-95 dated
September 4, 2018 for reasons listed below.
Model(s)

Year

VIN Range

Vehicle-Specific Equipment

Q7

2017

All

With disc brakes in front

Condition
REVISION HISTORY
Revision

Date

Purpose

4

-

Revised Warranty (Updated Labor Operations)

3

09/04/2018

Revised Warranty (Updated TU)
Revised Required Parts and Tools (Removed remark)

2

06/08/2018

Revised Service (Updated procedure)
Revised Required Parts and Tools (Added part number)

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
Please review the audio/video example below: https://audiexternal.kzoplatform.com:443/swf/player/359 (Figure 1).

Figure 1. QR Code for supporting video.

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.

Technical Service Bulletin
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 of the installed caliper in the vehicle. There are two possibilities for the 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.

Technical Service Bulletin

Figure 1. Caliper casting lip configurations.

2. Install one new lower spring in each caliper. Final configuration must have two springs per caliper (Figure 2).
See available spring designs (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 or 4M0 615 269 B

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.

Technical Service Bulletin

Figure 2. Spring configuration, after installation.

Figure 3. Spring designs.
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.

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.

Technical Service Bulletin

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). When installed the arrow (1)
position 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.

Technical Service Bulletin

Figure 5. Correct installation positioning for the brake pad.
6. It is mandatory to replace all 4 brake pad intermediate plates 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.

Technical Service Bulletin

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. It is mandatory to install two springs per vehicle.
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: 46 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.

Technical Service Bulletin
Warranty
Claim Type:

 110 up to 48 Months/50,000 Mile.
 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

See SRT

Brake pads front remove + reinstall

4636 2050

See SRT

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 #2050735/4

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
Part Number

Part Description

Quantity

4M0698151BD

Set of front brake pads

01

4M0615269 or

Spring (According to caliper casting design).

02 springs per vehicle/repair.

4M0615269B or
4M0615269C

Note:
Packaging may vary with 1 or 2 parts, according to the
supplier.

G052150A2

Lithium grease

0.1

See ETKA

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

02

See ETKA

Fasteners, Bolts, Nuts and Screws as needed per the
Repair Manual

See ETKA/ELSA

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.

Technical Service Bulletin
Additional Information
The following Technical Service Bulletin(s) will be necessary to complete this procedure:
 TSB 2051095, 46 Audi frequency analysis.
 TSB 2034181, 46 Brake noise analysis and handling.
All parts and service references provided in this TSB (2050735) 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.