Hi everyone, it seems as though my rear brakes have been wearing much faster than my front, so it's time to replace my pads. I was curious if anyone here knows if we need the Porsche Diag tool for pad retraction since we have an electric handbrake. I know some Audi's require this.

THANKS

 

No the electric handbrake is on the inside of the rotor. You just have to make sure it's not on when you remove the rotor, then retract the pad actuators by usual means.

 

Recommend you buy a pair of sensors, as you will likely break them when trying to remove. That is assuming you use them and have not tied them off already.

 

Agreed that it is nearly impossible to get the sensor out unbroken, so new ones will make your life easier. No diag tool is used, but a nice pad spreader is handy. I got this one from Amazon... it's cheap but effective:
By the way, your rears are wearing faster because you're PTV system is kicking in and using the inside rear brake to assist on corners. You must like cornering!

 

+1, I use the same one and it works as intended for very little $$

 

I am planning on changing my pads soon. Are the sensors really that hard to take out without destroying? Can you disconnect the molex connector first, take out the pads, and then work on removing the sensor?

 

I reused all 4 without any problems, just careful wiggling. I may have gotten lucky though you can tell they're very brittle.

 

I have this exact one already on order

I will pickup the sensors when I get my pads as well.

 

Do you have a recommended technique? Would it be best to remove the pads first as suggested?

 

Dewintor ^^ is a better man than I. Was careful removing the sensors on all four corners and most of them crumbled. IIRC purchased sensors at Pelican for approx $ 7.00 a corner. I went with Centric low dust pads and did not feel any diff in stopping power. May also want to bleed the brakes WIT. To avoid down time, wait until parts/fluids are in hand and line someone up to turn rotors before taking off the wheels. T

 

I think I used a 90 degree bent nose needle nose pliers with cardboard taped onto the tips. I'm not sure if I took the pads off first or not, I think I did it however they said on YouTube.

 

I have not removed sensors in quite awhile, since I got rid of them. From what I remember, the breaking of them was a direct correlation to the heat they sustained and over how long. Since I track my car, the sensors were brittle.

 

Yep, mine mostly crumbled too despite trying to be ever so delicate with them from prior experience. I'd recommend at least having replacements on hand from your local dealer as a backup plan, but just don't open their packages so you can return them if not used. And officially, Porsche recommends new caliper bolts each time too. I'd guess their tensile strength changes under heat cycling and retorquing them might stretch them more than desired for best reliability. They aren't that pricey so I just replace them too... although I know many don't.

And yes, removing the pads first to pull the sensors probably works best. You'll be able to access the little catch springs more easily in my opinion.

 

Yeah honestly I don't know why I didn't just get new sensors. I got new bolts though, and glad I did because of how much torques they call for.

 

So, what's the concensus on getting new bolts. True, they are not expensive, but can't see why they can't be reused. Torque of 63 ft/lbs is not that much. I don't know -- probably better to be safe than sorry, I guess . . .