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New rear discs, pads, and calipers

Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2019 11:43 am
by littlepolo
Just replaced the rear discs, pads, and calipers on my 2002 9n due to an MOT coming up next month. I'd planned to replace discs and pads for a long time but on the previous attempt could not rewind the piston, hence new calipers. Let's just say the old discs looked like they had been sitting in a farmer's field.

Used Febi discs, Mintex pads (no wear indicator), and TRW/Lucas calipers. One of the caliper sliding pins had seized up so had a delay to proceedings. Got it on the bench with some penetrating oil and manipulated it until loose. The pin was corroded. It looks like whoever did the job previously did not correctly refit the rubber boot, enabling moisture penetration. Other than that it was a straightforward job. Also flushed through some new VW spec brake fluid as I was not sure how long the old stuff had been in there.

I'll post some pics shortly.

Re: New rear discs, pads, and calipers

Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2019 1:09 pm
by RUM4MO
Did you buy VW Group's own branded brake fluid, I'm just asking the question as someone said that his dealer told him that VW Group dealerships no longer stock 1 litre tins of it, maybe only now selling TRW branded brake fluid in 1 litre containers or maybe none at all as the workshop buys it in in bulk?

I have never had trouble with these guide pins, I have never ever done anything other than checking that these slider/guide bolts do slide, it might help to grease them with silicon grease as that stuff does not annoy the rubber gaitors - that is what I do with the front guide bolt at every brake service.

Re: New rear discs, pads, and calipers

Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2019 8:44 am
by littlepolo
It was VW brand fluid, purchased from TPS. Available in 250ml, 1L, and 5L. I purchased a 1L and used just over half.

The slide pin problem was on one side only. I'm pretty sure it was due to the boot fitting.

Re: New rear discs, pads, and calipers

Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2019 10:19 am
by RUM4MO
Interesting about the brake fluid, I've never been near a TPS, possibly for fear of getting told to "clear off, we only sell to trade customers". I plan to check the brake fluid story out at my local dealership later this week as it could just be that someone upset their local dealer a bit, so they got nasty.

Re: New rear discs, pads, and calipers

Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2019 5:16 pm
by LeonSymnz
vw brand break fluid? The f**k are you guys on about? lol

Re: New rear discs, pads, and calipers

Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2019 9:40 am
by littlepolo
Here's a few pics of the old and the new:

Old
IMG_20190708_102840.jpg
IMG_20190708_102850.jpg
IMG_20190708_102857.jpg
New
IMG_20190708_124914.jpg
IMG_20190708_124919.jpg
IMG_20190708_124927.jpg
IMG_20190708_124942.jpg
IMG_20190708_124935.jpg

Re: New rear discs, pads, and calipers

Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2019 9:58 am
by RUM4MO
LeonSymnz wrote: Sat Jul 20, 2019 5:16 pm vw brand break fluid? The f**k are you guys on about? lol
Well there you go then, we are not planning on breaking anything, just replacing the brake fluid, and some people like to stick with using what was already in their cars, and a lot of the time, using the original stuff is cheaper than buying cheap stuff that costs more.

@littlepolo - I did find a need to visit my local VW dealership and can confirm that they still stock and sell VW branded brake fluid, I bought a litre tin while I was there, when I told the older parts guy about someone in London getting told silly stories about VW no longer stocking it, he just laughed the laugh of someone hearing a stupid/wrong fact, so anyone down there in London - your VW dealership might just be being lazy and wrong!

Re: New rear discs, pads, and calipers

Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2019 10:05 am
by RUM4MO
Ah, that left side disc does look a bit nasty!

Avery good plan to replace both sides at the same time, I only replaced one side on my previous car a 2000 Passat 4Motion and I found that possibly the thread pitch on the handbrake operating screw was different on the new one, which meant that I had to readjust the cable on one side as on that car there were 2 handbrake cables and no equaliser yoke, so one side needed to be binding slightly to get both wheels locked when the handbrake was on. Not so much an issue on the Polo with its equaliser yoke.

Re: New rear discs, pads, and calipers

Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2019 10:15 am
by littlepolo
RUM4MO wrote: Sun Jul 21, 2019 9:58 am
LeonSymnz wrote: Sat Jul 20, 2019 5:16 pm vw brand break fluid? The f**k are you guys on about? lol
Well there you go then, we are not planning on breaking anything, just replacing the brake fluid, and some people like to stick with using what was already in their cars, and a lot of the time, using the original stuff is cheaper than buying cheap stuff that costs more.

@littlepolo - I did find a need to visit my local VW dealership and can confirm that they still stock and sell VW branded brake fluid, I bought a litre tin while I was there, when I told the older parts guy about someone in London getting told silly stories about VW no longer stocking it, he just laughed the laugh of someone hearing a stupid/wrong fact, so anyone down there in London - your VW dealership might just be being lazy and wrong!
The dealership is a last resort for me. I've found them to be absolutely useless when it comes to requirements for parts for older vehicles. They do have nice glass/concrete/stainless steel showrooms though, footballers haircuts, and skinny suits. The new generation?

Re: New rear discs, pads, and calipers

Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2019 10:16 am
by littlepolo
RUM4MO wrote: Sun Jul 21, 2019 10:05 am Ah, that left side disc does look a bit nasty!

Avery good plan to replace both sides at the same time, I only replaced one side on my previous car a 2000 Passat 4Motion and I found that possibly the thread pitch on the handbrake operating screw was different on the new one, which meant that I had to readjust the cable on one side as on that car there were 2 handbrake cables and no equaliser yoke, so one side needed to be binding slightly to get both wheels locked when the handbrake was on. Not so much an issue on the Polo with its equaliser yoke.
I had to do both sides. The pads were almost like cigarette papers. Also the pistons were stuck.

Re: New rear discs, pads, and calipers

Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2019 8:31 pm
by LeonSymnz
Thanks for labelling which are the old and which are the new :lol: