To those of you have done their own brake pad changes....is there anything I need to watch for out of the norm with doing a disc brake pad change? The OEMs finally have sad nite nite and so I'm gonna put on my new Mitex REDs. I was looking at the DIY and it doesn't look too difficult. Thanks In Advance.
brake pad change question....
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Re: brake pad change question.... (mr_e1974)
as long as you have the proper tool to depress the pistons after you have taken out the old pads its not really that hard. The vw piston need a special tool that twist the piston to reset them. You cannot use a c-clamp to depress the piston
as long as you have the proper tool to depress the pistons after you have taken out the old pads its not really that hard. The vw piston need a special tool that twist the piston to reset them. You cannot use a c-clamp to depress the piston
Re: brake pad change question.... (mr_e1974)
just the rears -- gotta have the correct tool for the job, since you need to push and turn at the same some. Any shops can rent you the tool for it (or just buy it -- in my case).
If you are due for a brake fluid flush, good time to do it also.
just the rears -- gotta have the correct tool for the job, since you need to push and turn at the same some. Any shops can rent you the tool for it (or just buy it -- in my case).
If you are due for a brake fluid flush, good time to do it also.
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or you can use two people like i did yesterday, on person used the c clam and the other twisted the piston with a wrench worked liek a charm
Re: brake pad change question.... (jdgang)
Cann't I rent/borrow that tool from Autozone?
| Quote, originally posted by jdgang » |
| as long as you have the proper tool to depress the pistons after you have taken out the old pads its not really that hard. The vw piston need a special tool that twist the piston to reset them. You cannot use a c-clamp to depress the piston |
Cann't I rent/borrow that tool from Autozone?
Re: brake pad change question.... (mr_e1974)
you can buy it for $20 from harbor freight....don't use the 2 man method mentioned above, as you can damage the piston....then you're screwed...
also, remember to OPEN the brake bleeder as you press the psiton back into the caliper......if you press the old/conminated brake fluid back into the ABS pump/assembly, you chance damaging it....
Good luck!
| Quote, originally posted by mr_e1974 » |
Cann't I rent/borrow that tool from Autozone? |
you can buy it for $20 from harbor freight....don't use the 2 man method mentioned above, as you can damage the piston....then you're screwed...
also, remember to OPEN the brake bleeder as you press the psiton back into the caliper......if you press the old/conminated brake fluid back into the ABS pump/assembly, you chance damaging it....
Good luck!
Re: brake pad change question.... (jdgang)
Uh, I beg to differ. A C-Clamp and a pair of vicegrips works perfectly. Just be carefuly of the rubber boots...
| Quote, originally posted by jdgang » |
| as long as you have the proper tool to depress the pistons after you have taken out the old pads its not really that hard. The vw piston need a special tool that twist the piston to reset them. You cannot use a c-clamp to depress the piston |
Uh, I beg to differ. A C-Clamp and a pair of vicegrips works perfectly. Just be carefuly of the rubber boots...
Re: brake pad change question.... (lsinlv)
I never did this while changing pads on any car....
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Just open up the filler cap on the master cylinder so there's no pressure when you press in the piston.....
| Quote, originally posted by lsinlv » |
also, remember to OPEN the brake bleeder as you press the psiton back into the caliper......if you press the old/conminated brake fluid back into the ABS pump/assembly, you chance damaging it.... |
I never did this while changing pads on any car....
Just open up the filler cap on the master cylinder so there's no pressure when you press in the piston.....
Re: brake pad change question.... (bongoRA3)
http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif Wrapping a rag around the top of the brake fluid reservoir (master cylinder, whatever) will help catch any brake fluid that backs up and tries to overflow. But, if it overflows alot, you're SOL. Brake fluid is not fun to clean up. Some people use a "turkey baster" to remove some fluid from the reservoir so it won't overflow whilst compressing the caliper pistons. I have not had to do this on my MKIV, I just remove the cap as stated above. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
| Quote, originally posted by bongoRA3 » |
Just open up the filler cap on the master cylinder so there's no pressure when you press in the piston..... |
http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif Wrapping a rag around the top of the brake fluid reservoir (master cylinder, whatever) will help catch any brake fluid that backs up and tries to overflow. But, if it overflows alot, you're SOL. Brake fluid is not fun to clean up. Some people use a "turkey baster" to remove some fluid from the reservoir so it won't overflow whilst compressing the caliper pistons. I have not had to do this on my MKIV, I just remove the cap as stated above. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
Re: brake pad change question.... (bongoRA3)
I never had to do that on my previous cars when changing brake pads...I mean I haven't added any fluid since I got the car so since I"m putting on pads like she had when she was new should't I be able to just put in the new ones???
| Quote, originally posted by bongoRA3 » |
I never did this while changing pads on any car....
Just open up the filler cap on the master cylinder so there's no pressure when you press in the piston..... |
I never had to do that on my previous cars when changing brake pads...I mean I haven't added any fluid since I got the car so since I"m putting on pads like she had when she was new should't I be able to just put in the new ones???
Re: brake pad change question.... (mr_e1974)
You should be able to without any problems (I did when I changed my pads, see my post above). But it is probably a good idea to just watch the brake fluid reservoir just in case. You really don't want brake fluid everywhere (trust me on this one). So, it's easy enough, just take the cap off the reservoir, and visually check the fluid level each time you compress a caliper piston. So, if you see it is getting close to the top, you can drain some out. Again, you shouldn't have a problem, but a few extra minutes can potentially save you from a big mess. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
| Quote, originally posted by mr_e1974 » |
I never had to do that on my previous cars when changing brake pads...I mean I haven't added any fluid since I got the car so since I"m putting on pads like she had when she was new should't I be able to just put in the new ones??? |
You should be able to without any problems (I did when I changed my pads, see my post above). But it is probably a good idea to just watch the brake fluid reservoir just in case. You really don't want brake fluid everywhere (trust me on this one). So, it's easy enough, just take the cap off the reservoir, and visually check the fluid level each time you compress a caliper piston. So, if you see it is getting close to the top, you can drain some out. Again, you shouldn't have a problem, but a few extra minutes can potentially save you from a big mess. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
Re: brake pad change question.... (cxg231)
Coolio...thanks for the advice...I think I'm gonna try to do it Friday morning....shouldn't take too long should it?
| Quote, originally posted by cxg231 » |
You should be able to without any problems (I did when I changed my pads, see my post above). But it is probably a good idea to just watch the brake fluid reservoir just in case. You really don't want brake fluid everywhere (trust me on this one). So, it's easy enough, just take the cap off the reservoir, and visually check the fluid level each time you compress a caliper piston. So, if you see it is getting close to the top, you can drain some out. Again, you shouldn't have a problem, but a few extra minutes can potentially save you from a big mess. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif |
Coolio...thanks for the advice...I think I'm gonna try to do it Friday morning....shouldn't take too long should it?
Re: brake pad change question.... (mr_e1974)
Well, that depends - if you are anything like me, you'll get halfway through and need to run to Sears for a tool
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But if you have all the right tools, and a floor jack, you should be able to change the pads in about 2 or 3 hours (sounds high, but I think it always takes longer the first time you do something on the car). If you are changing the rotors too, tack on another hour or two.
Now that I have done it a few times, I can swap out the rear pads in about half an hour (same with the fronts) - not including the time to get the car up and the wheels off & on.
Conning a friend into helping (
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is a good bribe) will cut that time down alot. Have fun
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| Quote, originally posted by mr_e1974 » |
Coolio...thanks for the advice...I think I'm gonna try to do it Friday morning....shouldn't take too long should it? |
Well, that depends - if you are anything like me, you'll get halfway through and need to run to Sears for a tool
But if you have all the right tools, and a floor jack, you should be able to change the pads in about 2 or 3 hours (sounds high, but I think it always takes longer the first time you do something on the car). If you are changing the rotors too, tack on another hour or two.
Now that I have done it a few times, I can swap out the rear pads in about half an hour (same with the fronts) - not including the time to get the car up and the wheels off & on.
Conning a friend into helping (
Re: brake pad change question.... (cxg231)
Actually...the step dad... http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif so we've got some experience changing brakes....just not on this GTI...
| Quote, originally posted by cxg231 » |
Well, that depends - if you are anything like me, you'll get halfway through and need to run to Sears for a tool
But if you have all the right tools, and a floor jack, you should be able to change the pads in about 2 or 3 hours (sounds high, but I think it always takes longer the first time you do something on the car). If you are changing the rotors too, tack on another hour or two. Now that I have done it a few times, I can swap out the rear pads in about half an hour (same with the fronts) - not including the time to get the car up and the wheels off & on. Conning a friend into helping (
|
Actually...the step dad... http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif so we've got some experience changing brakes....just not on this GTI...
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5,342 Posts
Re: brake pad change question.... (mr_e1974)
the Mintex Reds are nice pads by the way...thats what i have http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
the Mintex Reds are nice pads by the way...thats what i have http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
Re: brake pad change question.... (bongoRA3)
FYI - I was an ASE certified/Porsche Factory trained tech...I'm NOT a fan of giving incorrect info...if you want to do the brakes CORRECTLY and per the Factory Manual, then you need to OPEN the bleeder when pushing the pistons back in....otherwise you chance getting contaminates into the ABS controller...
Don't listen to me, not my car, and could care less if you listen to me or not, I just wanted to put the CORRECT info out there...
| Quote, originally posted by bongoRA3 » |
I never did this while changing pads on any car....
Just open up the filler cap on the master cylinder so there's no pressure when you press in the piston..... |
FYI - I was an ASE certified/Porsche Factory trained tech...I'm NOT a fan of giving incorrect info...if you want to do the brakes CORRECTLY and per the Factory Manual, then you need to OPEN the bleeder when pushing the pistons back in....otherwise you chance getting contaminates into the ABS controller...
Don't listen to me, not my car, and could care less if you listen to me or not, I just wanted to put the CORRECT info out there...
Re: brake pad change question.... (bongoRA3)
Is that smell sarcasm or did somebody fart?
| Quote, originally posted by bongoRA3 » |
| I'd have to disagreee on mintex being nice pads..... Well they're close to oem and less dusty, but not an upgrade by no means. 
|
Is that smell sarcasm or did somebody fart?
Re: brake pad change question.... (lsinlv)
Not saying that your wrong...you are a certified prosche mechanic
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....but I'm just sayin its not worth the hassle for someone going and opening up bleeder screws that might not be familiar with brake calibers that well. Im first to say Im not and rather not mess with that aunless I have to do a fluid change. Just opening up the tank and pushing the piston in a little to make room for the new pad is enough and is pretty bullet proof.
http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
| Quote, originally posted by lsinlv » |
| FYI - I was an ASE certified/Porsche Factory trained tech...I'm NOT a fan of giving incorrect info...if you want to do the brakes CORRECTLY and per the Factory Manual, then you need to OPEN the bleeder when pushing the pistons back in....otherwise you chance getting contaminates into the ABS controller... |
Not saying that your wrong...you are a certified prosche mechanic
http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
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Re: brake pad change question.... (bongoRA3)
thats why i like them, less dust. i never said they were an upgrade....
| Quote, originally posted by bongoRA3 » |
| I'd have to disagreee on mintex being nice pads..... Well they're close to oem and less dusty, but not an upgrade by no means.
|
thats why i like them, less dust. i never said they were an upgrade....
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