I did pads on my wife's 03 A6 and after doing the pads the brakes where quite spongy. I never opened the bleed valve or removed any parts. I just spread the calipers and R&R'd the pads... any idea what's up? Should I just go ahead and bleed the brakes?

 

I would flush and bleed the system, could be that your fluid got overheated with the worn pads in there. The brake fluid should be flushed once every couple of years

 

Assuming your calipers aren't sticking:

Soft pedal = fluid.
Hard pedal = pads.

Flush your fluid using good quality brake fluid.

Bob

 

Sounds like a fluid flush. Can I replace the fluid by having someone pump the brakes 10-15 times or do I need some other solution?

 

Gravity is your friend

 

anyone know off the top of their heads what size of tubing fits so I can drain the fluid into a bottle?

 

They sell a brake bleeding kit at pepboys (or any other mainstream autoparts place) that lets you drain into the bottle and also makes the job quite a bit easier. Its cheap too.

 

I picked one up but the bottle is retardedly small and it won't screw onto anything else... VIP auto is a sorry excuse for a parts store

 

Small fluid bottle thing is worthless. If you have the dough, then get a pressure bleeder like the motive powerbleed. If you are a cheap bastard like me, and still want something that actually works, then get a hand pump type bleeder like Mityvac. I noticed that Sears actually has a full metal body one that is cheaper than the plastic Mityvac.

 

Any wife that is allowed to drive an Audi had better be willing to sit in the vehicle and pump the brakes while your bleeding them.

Make sure the master cylinder is full of fluid and have her press on the brake peddle. Open the bleed valve (with a small hose attached whose end is in a jar) and tell her to let you know when the peddle hits the floor, tell her to keep it pressed down. close the valve and tell her to pump the brakes a few times --Repeat this multiple times at each wheel making sure you refill the master cylinder.

If your wife isn't willing to help tell her that she will soon be driving a Yugo...and the cute blond at the office will be driving her Audi.

PS If you follow these instructions and she slaps you up-the-side-of-the-head Don't blame me --Your the one that married her! not me!