| Bringing your VW car to a mechanic will | | | | For the floating caliper, remove the two |
| give you less hustle in labor. Replacing | | | | caliper guide pins or bolts. Look at the |
| your deteriorated brake part may be very | | | | locations and positions of any bushings |
| labor intensive. But for car owners who | | | | or guides so that they can be |
| want to save money for an auto repair, | | | | reinstalled properly. Rock the caliper |
| doing it yourself is the answer, | | | | back and forth to push the piston back |
| regardless of the labor and time it will | | | | enough to slide the caliper off. The |
| incur you. | | | | floating caliper is now ready to be |
| A guide, like this, for replacing your | | | | removed. By using a large C-clamp, push |
| VW ceramic brake pads and removing | | | | on the inboard pad to move the piston |
| calipers will help. | | | | back into the caliper. Do it slow and |
| First, you will need materials such as | | | | steady. If you did not remove half the |
| wrenches, jack, jack stands, wire brush, | | | | brake fluid, make an appointment to have |
| screwdriver or pry bar, pliers or vise | | | | your vehicle repainted. |
| grips, hammer, large C-clamp, | | | | Another type is the sliding caliper. |
| high-temperature lubricant, latex | | | | A support key or retaining clip holds |
| gloves, and of course, new brake pads. | | | | the caliper to the caliper bridge. |
| Gather together all those mentioned | | | | Remove the retaining bolt or screw |
| tools and supplies before you begin. | | | | holding the key. Then, drive the key out |
| Allow plenty of time to do the job so | | | | with an appropriate tool. Note the |
| you don not have to hurry and cram. | | | | position of any springs or clips before |
| Safety is important whenever you are | | | | you remove them. The retainers will |
| working around machinery. So, beware of | | | | simply lift off. Observe and note the |
| hot objects, sharp instruments and | | | | position of the retainers before you |
| hazardous materials. Though economizing | | | | remove them. After this, the sliding |
| in terms of money is your goal, do not | | | | caliper is now ready to be removed. |
| substitute tools unless you are sure you | | | | Through the use of a large C-clamp, push |
| will not compromise either your safety | | | | on the inboard pad to move the piston |
| or the performance of your vehicle. Say | | | | back into the caliper. Do it slow and |
| for instance, never work on a vehicle | | | | steady. If you did not remove half the |
| that is only supported by a jack. Use | | | | brake fluid, make an appointment to have |
| jack stands to support the vehicle while | | | | your vehicle repainted. |
| you are working. Work on a solid and | | | | The sliding caliper can also be removed |
| level surface. Never jack a car up on | | | | by separating the pads from the caliper. |
| dirt or grass. Do one wheel at a time so | | | | The inner pad must be clipped to the |
| you can use the other wheel as a | | | | piston. The outer pad may be pinned, |
| reference in case you get confused. | | | | clipped or pressed tightly on the |
| Check for any fluid leaks or cracked | | | | caliper. Some pads may remain on the |
| brake lines. If there is any, replace | | | | adapter or anchor when the caliper is |
| them as necessary. | | | | already removed. |
| Brake linings contain asbestos. Avoid | | | | Clean the caliper mounting surfaces with |
| creating or breathing dust when changing | | | | a wire brush and remove all the rust and |
| the linings or cleaning the parts. Use | | | | dirt. The sliding surfaces must be as |
| water to wash down the brakes before | | | | clean as possible for proper brake |
| starting and wear gloves to avoid | | | | operation. You need to wet down the area |
| prolonged contact with your skin. Any | | | | with water to prevent dust from |
| contact of these materials to your skin | | | | sticking. Allow parts to dry. |
| may have bad effects. | | | | Fixed Caliper, on the other hand, can be |
| To finally start, remove about half the | | | | removed by removing the caliper mounting |
| brake fluid from the master cylinder and | | | | bolts only if the pads will not come out |
| put it into a sealed container. Dispose | | | | the back of the caliper. Push back the |
| it off properly. Do not reuse old brake | | | | piston before removing the old pads. |
| fluid. Always use fresh brake fluid from | | | | Again, if half the brake fluid was not |
| a sealed container. Brake fluid messes | | | | removed, make an appointment to have |
| up with paint so do not get it on your | | | | your vehicle repainted. |
| vehicles finish. If you do, wash it off | | | | Check the rotor or disc for scores, |
| with plenty of water. After all, brake | | | | rusting or pitting. It is recommended |
| fluid is water soluble. | | | | that the rotors be resurfaced to remove |
| Using a lug wrench, crack the wheel | | | | any imperfections and true up the |
| lugs. You need to loose one or two | | | | braking surface to prevent brake |
| turns. Do not remove them completely. | | | | pulsations. Then, remove the pads from |
| Jack one side of the vehicle up and | | | | the calipers and remove any pins or |
| support it with a jack stand. Do the | | | | retainers. Push pads back and pull them |
| same for the opposite side. Remove the | | | | out. |
| lugs and then take the wheels off. | | | | You are done replacing your VW ceramic |
| You might ask yourself how to remove the | | | | brake pads and removing calipers. Labor |
| calipers. Listed are the steps on how | | | | intensive, but money saving. |
| to. | | | | |