UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

Hi,
I have jut joined this forum to get some help in resolving some issues with my daughter's 2003 1.2 Polo.
First thing to be tackled is replacing front brake discs and pads and rear brake shoes.
Everything looks pretty straightforward but being new to VW's I am unsure as to which are the best on line suppliers to start looking at for replacement parts.
If it is not in breach of forum rules can anyone recommend suppliers who specialise in VW parts ( and ones to be avoided)

Thanks

welcome

GSF car parts or euro car parts are two of the biggest suppliers. Best to go for their premium options though such as brembo ferodo or pagid. Their budget components can be of questionable quality

+1 to the above!

Personally, I'd go with Pagid from ECP - but that is just me as GSF is about 30 miles away.

One thing to try to remember, if you can or intend to pick up locally, ALWAYS order on-line as you will invariably not get the same price if you just walk in and ask for the parts - "on-line prices" is clearly declared as being what you see when on-line, so ECP are not playing silly games, it is just how they and no doubt other operate.

Unless things have changed, rear brake shoes are not available from "good" brands at ECP, so content yourself in having to buy SBP or is it SBS (Scandinavian Brake Parts/Supplies) - seems like brake shoes are poor relations to brake pads!

Maybe make life easier and buy a Haynes repair manual as they are useful for torques etc.

Go easy on the calliper mounting guide pins as they are screwed directly into what is part of the hub carrier - and not into mounting brackets - some people have been known to destroy the thread!

My logic for using "order on-line and collect" is that you have a chance to check all the bits before taking the car to bits - though I'd doubt that you will have many problems getting parts for a 2003 1.2 Polo.

One other thing as you are new to VAG products, there is an up to date on-line VAG parts E-Cat, maybe get used to using it to get part numbers as it can be very handy to be able to work out the "VAG system"!

Link:- http://www.partscats.info/

Many thanks for your answers

But If I can pick your brains again?
The 2 suppliers mentioned offer a variety of front brake discs with varying diameters and thicknesses and also list a model reference e.g. PR1-LM. Where can I find this model reference? I don't see anything like this on the VIN plate
From my own measurement I established that the disc diameter is 239mm x 18 mm which somehow I managed to check on the E Cat site that RUM4MO advised but confess to not being quite sure how I did it. I found the reference to PO, POC and POCC a bit confusing but got there in the end. I had tried to use the VIN number as a means of establishing the parts I wanted but the program seemed to get lost in cyberspace and went on a continuous search. Is there a shortened version of the VIN that is more commonly used rather than the full number on the plate

Thanks again

Whats the reg of your polo? I should be able to dig out what it needs

Thanks Alex
It's SN03SCV.
I can't see any suitable discs in Euro Car Parts but GSF have some that match the measurements I took - but your confirmation will be welcome

Yes these E-Cat are an acquired taste! Practice makes perfect, I've never bothered to try stuffing in the VIN - there was a thread somewhere recently on a VAG forum on how to strip down the VIN into the short form used to specify chassis ranges. Another very handy tool is a CAR DATA listing, just ask for that at your local VW dealer's parts department - they normally hand it out freely and it lists the PR codes of stuff fitted to your actual car.

6Q0615301 thats the part number for the 239/18mm discs

As yours is an E model, that should be right

My apologies to Alex and RUM4MO It seems I am incapable to measuring correctly - at least not without dismantling first
After ordering the 239mm x 18mm discs that I as sure were correct I discovered that they don't fit.
The initial problem was that they did not fit over the driving hubs. It was only after lining up old and new that it transpires that the old discs are 256mm dia. with an internal dia. of 133mm BUT the thickness IS 18mm. The new discs have an internal dia. of 125 mm. I have searched umpteen suppliers sites and cannot find discs with measurements that match my old discs i.e. 256mm x 18 mm thick with an internal dimension of 133 mm (Note that the 18mm is measured right on the rim of the discs and I don't think this area is subject to wear) All other dimensions match

I can find 256 mm dia. with an internal dimension of 133 mm but not at 18mm thick.

Has anyone come across discs that match my old ones and if so where can I source them.?
If not can 22mmm thick discs be substituted without having to change the calipers?

Thanks
Tom

Have you tried looking on the Pagid for instance, website, they tend to fully define "what" a disc is - ie DIA, CENTRE BORE, WHEEL BOLT NUMBERS AND PCD, HEIGHT and VENTED/NON VENTED and THICKNESS.

One thing, why not wander along to Western VW and at their parts area,ask for a "CAR DATA" print out - this they should give you free of charge and it lists all the possible options fitted to that car during initial build - you just give them the reg number - getting this print out is one of the first things I get when I get a new VAG car, having this information makes using ECP/GSF etc so much easier and not just for brakes, but battery, alternator etc.

From that you will find both the disc brake diameter and the relevant PR code, and that will let you match that up with what ECP etc have to offer and let you check the full list of parameters for your discs.

Haynes quotes 256mm diameter for all normal Polos 22mm thick when new with a minimum thickness in service of 18mm.

I've only ever replaced the front (and rear) discs of wife's late 2002 1.4 Polo once, bought ATE discs from ECP - right first time - these should be exactly the same as your 2003 1.2 Polo front discs.

One other thing, the callipers will also be the same as the 1.4 Polo, ie FS111 - you can read that of the outer body of the calliper fist.