UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

k-o, well, im strongly considering getting a mk2 manual just for the extra photographs on that front. seems they made a very good mk2 manual ages ago...... then when the mk3 came along they split the information halfway between the two manuals with just some basic updating for the brake servo, electronic injection etc.

had a browse in it in halfords and it made everything a lot plainer. except that the mk3 one says you only have to undo one spring and a couple bolts in order to free the cylinder.... and the mk2 manual states a complete shoe removal

need to figure out what the grease is that needs to be used - the hub-cap came off pretty easily and "cleanly" with a small chisel and a rubber mallet, but it was hard to see what was going on inside - there was the vague shapes of a bearing ring, nut and surprisingly large split pin, but it was all obscured by a super thick slathering of dark grey-brown gunge that took a lot of fairy liquid to get off my hands! and i would think the stuff is fairly necessary too..

would the drum/shoe internals (not the shoe linings!) need any lubrication of some kind? there some definate binding going on... you can hear it quietly squeaking/rubbing away when going down a quiet road..

careful kam, we know what you look like now.... we have pictures.... they can go on posters with the previous statement!

oh shi....
hehe, ahh well.

b*stard f***ing things

cant seem to get any kind of allen doobry that will both fit the cylinder bolts AND fit nicely inside the wheel arch (wheel off & jacked) without hitting on the damper or the bodywork.... that isn't so small as to be unusable. even after a trip to halfords. they're either all massive or all tiny, no bloody middle ground. argh. might have to go back.

and i cant seem to find a 30mm socket anywhere in the garage. this is bloody annoying - might end up taking it to the garage anyway as it'll cost less in labour than it does in tools (and all the hassle!)

had a browse in it in halfords and it made everything a lot plainer. except that the mk3 one says you only have to undo one spring and a couple bolts in order to free the cylinder.... and the mk2 manual states a complete shoe removal

Bear in mind that the haynes was written based on the very first mk2's.. there was a major overhaul on the mk2 in 1986 including new brakes which the manual touches on briefly in the supplement, and then the brakes were changed again for the mk3.. so in that instance I'd go with your manual

need to figure out what the grease is that needs to be used

Just use normal high temp lithium based grease, it'll do the job fine. Don't know about the drum internals, a bit of lubrication can't hurt I guess, just make sure it's not going to run onto the shoes or the drum lining

right o....

had a nice beer-b-q night at mates with some random folks, now back to the toole shoppes again

just in case anyone was in any doubt, the whole thing sucked, and though the brake went back together again - as a 3 man job - it doesnt seem right

today, i am scouting for any garages that are open saturday afternoon