VW content - changing Golf Mk4 front brake pads

Post by **campbell** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:25 am

Anyone done this before?

Wondered if there are any special procedures or known pitfalls to watch out for? Have done it a couple of times on the Elise and seemed pretty simple.

Golf service due in a couple of months but thinking of changing these now as the new disks fitted last year are showing early signs of ridges near the edges, think it's cos the pads are giving out.

cheers

Campbell

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:28 am

I was talking about this with Steveweegie. He says his S3 brakes were really simple, and reckons the brakes on my Gti (mk5) are the same.

The place to ask may be; http://www.vagscotland.com (or .co.uk)... though you will need to pick out the good advice from the bad on there.

Post by **campbell** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:56 am

Ta! I've got membership to a couple of the Gti forums but I don't know the guys as well, so it's harder to gauge what they really mean when they say "it's easy"

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 11:29 am

campbell wrote:Ta! I've got membership to a couple of the Gti forums but I don't know the guys as well, so it's harder to gauge what they really mean when they say "it's easy"

I know what you mean. Easy as in, 'easy to change wiper blades', or easy as in 'easy to change an engine'

steve_weegie · Post by **steve_weegie** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 1:35 pm

Oh, its easy like changing rear brake discs

A wee bit more complicated than the elise fronts, as the caliper needs to come off, but this is no biggie. If you're replacing the disc too, the caliper bracket will need to come off as well, but again this is no biggie.

Assuming the VAG caliper hasnt changed too much, it should be just a case of removing the sliding pins from the inside and popping the caliper off. A c-clamp would be usefull for pushing the piston back, but remounting the caliper temporarily and putting some leverage on works fine too.

Clean and lube the pins and reassemble with threadlock in the right places and youre done

Post by **campbell** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 1:47 pm

Thanks Steve. Robin and I did the discs about a year ago, so calipers have been off and on without much incident once already. I reckon I can just about live with that bit - will be careful to support the unmounted caliper to avoid stressing brake lines etc

Only changing pads on this occasion...unless the old wear patterns on the outgoing pads have done for the newish discs in which case I'll be a bit p!ssed off! Should be OK once the new pads get bedding in I hope.

ta

Campbell

steve_weegie · Post by **steve_weegie** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 1:56 pm

Cool. Cable ties are your friend for keeping calipers out the way! Torque for the slider pins is 30nm

If you want a hand, let me know & i'll gladly help out. IIRC, we've still got doms (neighbours?) to do at some point too....

Cheers,

Steve

Post by **campbell** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 2:35 pm

Cheers Steve. Pressure of time with the family may yet consign this to a paid job for the garage during forthcoming service, but if I do manage to block off some time to do it myself I shall certainly bear that in mind.

Campbell