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