Laser 1314 Re-wind Tool

[djgilson]

I was trying to replace the rear pads on my wife’s A3, using the Laser 1314 Re-wind Tool. But I found it impossible to wind-back the pistons with the tool. With it’s reaction plate in place, I simply could not turn the tool. Without the reaction plate in place, the tool and the piston would turn OK but the piston refused to retract. After much heaving and straining and frustration, I had to give up in disgust and re-install the old pads to get the car back on the road.

I’d noticed that with the reaction plate in place, the tool did not line up truly concentrically with the piston. More in hope than expectation, I filed the plate to allow a better fit, and tried again. Hey presto! - it worked - pistons re-wound beautifully!

Here’s the simple mod. http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii187/djjgilson/A3BrakesLaser1314/Laser1314ReactionPlate.jpg
You only need to remove a mm or so of material from the corners of the plate. It seems that the plate is just a bit too large and this causes a jamming action, though it’s not clear how exactly - I only know it made it impossible to turn the tool. My A3 is the 2.0TDi S-line DSG - rear brake code 1KD. Whether all variants of the A3 have the same problem, I can’t say.

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii187/djjgilson/A3BrakesLaser1314/Laser1314RewindTool.jpg

Lasertools supply other re-wind tools for particular vehicles as well as professional kits of re-wind tools. The 1314 is billed as suitable for most cars, including Audi. It is stocked by Halfords, etc so there must be lots around - I’m surprised other forum members haven’t mentioned the problem.

Anyway, don’t be put off buying the 1314 - just be prepared to make the mod described if used on the A3 (or any other car where the tool does not line up perfectly with the piston, presumably).

[Edit: But see post #5 for an even simpler solution!].

[Alan02]

The piston should retract with the plate fitted (as it shold be). It needs the `pushing force` to wind it in. I know some models are more difficult to retract than others. Eg : commercial T4/5 vans where much easier then Caddy vans to wind back in. Try turning the tool slowly to see if it starts to retract the Piston.

[NHN]

Had no issues at all with the tool on 2 A3 8P's, so it must be just a mistake in how its used.

[NickPicks]

Had no issues at all with the tool on 2 A3 8P's, so it must be just a mistake in how its used.

Since the OP only filed off a millimetre, he might just have been unlucky to get one at that end of the manufacturing tolerance.

[djgilson]

Many thanks to all for the replies.

I must admit there has not been an overwhelming rush of support for my findings, so I seem to be in a minority of one - that’s not unusual!

But I’ve now realised there is an even simpler solution to the problem I experienced - just fit the reaction plate the wrong way round!

Conventional.
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii187/djjgilson/A3BrakesLaser1314/Laser1314RewindTool004.jpg

Unconventional - the plate turned 180 degrees.
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii187/djjgilson/A3BrakesLaser1314/Laser1314RewindTool001.jpg

The unconventional way seems "wrong" but it works because the plate is now free to find its own position and the slot is long enough to still engage the tool. It certainly works on the old A4 caliper seen here, and I’ve no reason to suppose it won’t work on the A3.

So I suggest the new message from this thread should be:- "With any luck, you won’t have the problem I found using this tool on the A3, but if you do, just try fitting the reaction plate the wrong way round".