These instructions apply to the Porsche Taycan Mk1 (Y1A) 2020-Present. For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
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The Porsche Taycan (J1, 2020–Present) is an EV, but its rear brakes follow Porsche tradition: fixed, opposed-piston rear calipers for service braking and a separate drum-in-hat electronic parking brake with shoes inside the rotor hat. Because regenerative braking does most of the slowing, the friction pads last a long time — but when they do come due, knowing how the EPB is laid out keeps the job safe.
What service mode is and why the Taycan is different
The Taycan’s EPB clamps shoes inside the rear rotor hat; it does not hold the service-caliper pistons. So a pad-only change usually needs no service mode — the fixed caliper’s opposed pistons press straight back. You need the EPB in installation position only when the rear rotor must come off (disc renewal or parking-brake shoe service), so the actuators wind clear of the hat. There is no owner button routine; it is a PIWIS / scan-tool job on the parking-brake module.
Retracting the rear brakes on the Taycan
Park level, chock the fronts and connect a 12 V charger — the EPB module is voltage-sensitive even on an EV.
- Pad-only change. Release the EPB, raise the car, remove the rear wheels. Press the fixed caliper’s opposed pistons in evenly with a flat spreader — straight in, no rotation — and fit the new pads.
- Rotor or shoe change (needs service mode). Connect PIWIS (or iCarsoft POR, Foxwell, Autel), open the parking-brake system and select Move to installation / service position; the actuators retract the shoes so the rotor lifts off.
Never force the EPB actuator or shoes back by hand
Never lever or clamp the parking-brake shoes to free a rotor, and never back-drive the actuator while it is powered. Retract the EPB electronically in installation position only. If the rotor will not release, the parking brake is still applied — stop and run the routine rather than forcing it. The fixed-caliper service pistons are the only thing you compress by hand, and only straight in.
Exit, calibration and bed-in
After rotor or shoe work, command the EPB out of installation position and run the parking-brake adjustment / grind-in and calibration to set the shoe air gap, brakes below 50 °C. Note the Taycan’s brake variants: standard cast iron, PSCB tungsten-carbide-coated (white calipers) and PCCB ceramic (yellow). PSCB and PCCB use special hard-particle pads — always fit the matching compound, and PCCB service pads need no grind-in. Bed the pads in gently with several moderate slowdowns, leaning on regen sparingly during run-in, and confirm the parking brake holds on a slope.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a tool just for rear pads on a Taycan? Usually no — the fixed-caliper pistons push straight back, so a pad-only swap needs no service mode. The tool is only for pulling rotors or servicing the shoes.
Do the pistons screw in? No. The Taycan uses opposed fixed calipers; the pistons press straight in and never rotate.
Are PSCB and PCCB pads interchangeable with iron-disc pads? No — PSCB and PCCB need their own matched pad compound. Fitting the wrong pad ruins the coated or ceramic disc.
EPB stuck in service position? Reconnect a scan tool and command it out; cycling the car will not clear it.
Why did the actuator routine abort? Low 12 V supply. Keep a charger on the 12 V battery and retry — the EPB runs off it, not the traction battery.
If a brake or EPB fault code is stored while you work, decode it on our sister site autodtcs.com.
Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided for general guidance only. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions when working on your vehicle. We are not responsible for errors, omissions, or any damage resulting from the use of this information.
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