what to do to the polo next

[dizzypolo]

I've now had my car for almost 3 weeks. So far has been a bit of a rollercoaster learning about the car, common faults and fixing most of the Gremlins, she is bright red in really good condition body work and paint wise but I am looking to make her a project. Having had some free time I have spent alot of my own time getting this car running as it should. Body, engine and interior wise she is completly stock at the moment.

So far I have

* Fully Serviced the car, Filters, Oil change, Fuel filter.
* Replaced all spark plugs and coils NGK Plugs, Bosche Coils - Threw up a P0304 error last week.
* Cleaned both the Throttle body - Helped with the judder, turned out to be the coil in the end.
* Lubricated all locks, car lock now sort of works.
* Fixed 2 leaks in the windscreen washer - Loose in back boot, passenger side, and hose clip loose near the pump.
* Fixed a coolant leak, a washer had rotten near a radiator. Although radweld initially fixed this too.
* Replaced the CD headunit for a sony USB and bluetooth system.
* Fitted front and rear dashcam.
* other odd bits like replaced a fuse for 16V socket to work again.

Good bits on the car.

* Although tires are "arrowspeed" they are all practically brand new
* Battery seems to be brand new

upcoming work.

* Front discs are almost worn through- no pitting but there is 1.75mm wear, rear ones are just as bad.
* Clutch is alittle high and needs to be monitored. Not yet slipping.
* I think the exhaust is a little "Raspy" my guess it my be the original one!

I will be changing the break pads and disc as a priority, not sure wither to use mid or high end parts yet. I have been qouted around £150 for Brembo parts, will i notice the difference? next in line will be the exhuast I figure this will be my first mod, and plan to fit a aftermarket stainless steel system, can anyone suggest a link to a good all round system.

I have posted some photos of her in the gallery. The photos are quite feable and were taken late. I do plan to take some better ones later on.

[bvs]

Sounds like good progress
Re Brakes - I know some people do not like Pagid but I have always found them to be fine.
I have used Brembo before as well - really depends on offer prices to me.
Our Polo has excellent Brakes with Discs all round,much better brakes than the Fabia 2 we had for a while LOL

[dizzypolo]

To be honest I am alittle hesistant to fit the breaks and discs myself, dont want to feel stranded if something goes badly wrong. I know what I need to do, its just doing it. The motivation is that a well known garage wanted £450 for the front and rears, fitted, I think they are having biggest laugh ever. I found a small back street garage who can fit Brembo's for £240 however on going to the local motor factors myself I should be able to get the parts for less then £100, maybe cheaper if I buy it online. Big motivation for me to do the job myself.

At the moment I only have a very basic toolkit. Can anyone give me a shopping list of tools I will need to fit the breaks.

Many Thanks

[bvs]

If you have never done Brakes before - do you have any friends who are experienced (and trustworthy/sensible) who could do the job with you and show you the correct/safe and proper procedures to safely replace all the parts ?Any job on a car can go badly wrong very quickly and experience gives you a better chance of recognising the signs of defects and incorrectly fitted parts,especially with safety related components like Brakes etc.
Even though I am a fairly experienced car diy'er there are always jobs on cars I am happy to 'farm out' to trusted garages for various reasons.
I got the water pump/cambelts/tensioner etc replaced by a local VW specialist a few months ago for £400 (genuine parts) because it looked like a really 'fiddly/tricky' job (AUB engine),I took time to search for him online so was happy he was trustworthy and ultra experienced on V dubs.

[dizzypolo]

If you have never done Brakes before - do you have any friends who are experienced (and trustworthy/sensible) who could do the job with you and show you the correct/safe and proper procedures to safely replace all the parts ?Any job on a car can go badly wrong very quickly and experience gives you a better chance of recognising the signs of defects and incorrectly fitted parts,especially with safety related components like Brakes etc.
Even though I am a fairly experienced car diy'er there are always jobs on cars I am happy to 'farm out' to trusted garages for various reasons.
I got the water pump/cambelts/tensioner etc replaced by a local VW specialist a few months ago for £400 (genuine parts) because it looked like a really 'fiddly/tricky' job (AUB engine),I took time to search for him online so was happy he was trustworthy and ultra experienced on V dubs.

Ok So I have done the front breaks but it was a very difficult job.

It seems that somehow I have got air in the system, as my break pedal is going futher down. drivers side went ok, the 7mm pin had siezed and I broke a allen key in getting it off, eventually worked it free without stripping the thread. Nearside, seemed easier then when putting the caliper back one of the pins went in at an angle, it was then a struggle to get the wheel back on as everthing was so tight. although everything seems ok, and they seem quiet and working, maybe need to get a garage to check my work over.

I plan on doing the backs, hopefully wont be so bad? what are they like compared to the front? Also is there a quick fix for the air, or will the entire system need bleeding.

[bvs]

Did you change both Discs and Pads ?
Sometimes new Brakes can feel 'spongey' until they are operated for some miles whilst driving so that the pads can 'bed in' to the discs (the americans used to call it 'Burnishing') - so as long as the brakes are holding and not leaking any fluid etc it might be worth a careful/slowish drive and see if the Brakes 'firm up'.


Are the back brakes Disc or Drum ?
If the rears are disc then the pistons need to be 'wound in'(retracted) using a winding in tool (quite cheap) and no they are not any easier than the fronts.

If the rear brakes are drums you quite often have to loosen off the automatic adjusters inside the drums through a hole drilled in the drums so that you can remove the drums outwards past the brake shoes. (I have done this on a few different cars but not on a Polo - ours has Discs all round)

[bvs]

Nearside, seemed easier then when putting the caliper back one of the pins went in at an angle

I am assuming that the pin was eventually straight and true ??

[dizzypolo]

Today has been a very bad day

No it didnt go in stright and true.

The brakes seemed ok for the first few days. After 50 miles I braved up going onto the M1 for just 2 junctions . After 5 miles, I started to loose power, the car felt like it was dragging and my friend in the passenger side heard some faint grinding. We got off on junct 28, A38 and pulled into Alfreton, the pins had become loose, it seems that piston inside looks stuck and I reacon that the 2 threads will need a helicoil so the pins can fasten back stright as they should..

The car on the way back sounded like a sewing machine and everytime I pressed the brake the clunking went away. i think the caliper is banging agiast the wheel

At this point I am getting a local garage to take care of this for me, as its now going out of my comfort zone. (Safety and all on brakes). I can either:

* find a garage that is willing to helicoil the threads. (Thinking im looking an hours labour), and also clean up the piston and any rust.
* If the garage will want to replace the entire caliper - and wont recon the caliper,,,,,. The Pagids run at around £110 on ECP, plus fitting! Could be expensive but I dont wanna muck around with breaks outside my comfort zone.
* Or do I buy a cheapy aftermarket from a known auction site, I found one for just under £30? (but will garage even touch these crappy parts)
* Could I goto a scrappy and try and find a good one, try and clean it up and recon it myself? I presume garage wont touch this, so would have a find a mate to fit this. I know the scrappy option is penuts. not sure if this is a viable or safe option.

The drivers side brake on the front is fine. I think ive just been hit with some very bad luck.

ideally I want it to be properly fixed. So abit unsure. Any help appreciated

[bvs]

That is the trouble with doing brake jobs - everything has to refit absolutely straight/square and cleanly so that everything slides/operates freely,you will be doing the right thing by getting it checked out by a garage.