| Maintaining and changing brakes on your own | | | | case you have trouble. In that way, you have |
| VW vehicle is not as hard as you may think. | | | | one side to use as a reference. Remember that |
| But, keep in mind that when you change your | | | | your front brakes provide most of the |
| own brake pads, there are some other aspects | | | | stopping power for your vehicle. |
| that should be checked also to ensure that | | | | |
| your brake pads are safe and dependable. If | | | | Changing the front brake pads require setting |
| the brake pads or brake shoes are worn and | | | | of your parking brake, and block the rear |
| need to be replaced, chances are other VW | | | | tires so your vehicle will not move. Loosen |
| brake parts in the brake system may require | | | | the lug nuts. Using a jack, raise your |
| attention too. The most obvious ones would be | | | | vehicle and place it securely on jack stands. |
| the brake rotors or drums and brake calipers | | | | Then, remove the lug nuts and remove the |
| or wheel cylinders. Both the front and rear | | | | wheel. |
| brakes should be inspected. | | | | |
| | | | Now you can see the brake calipers holding |
| A quality brake job should cover everything | | | | the brake pads against the rotors. There are |
| from the brake master cylinder where you add | | | | 2 pads in each wheel that squeeze the rotor. |
| the brake fluid, to the calipers and wheel | | | | Unbolt the caliper mounting bolts and pull |
| cylinders. | | | | the caliper back from the rotor. Be careful |
| | | | not to bend or break the brake hose. |
| Changing the brakes include inspecting all | | | | Sometimes the caliper mounting bolts require |
| the mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical | | | | you to use a Torx or Star bit instead of a |
| components in both the front and rear brakes. | | | | normal socket set. These can also be |
| If necessary, replace the front and rear | | | | purchased at your local auto parts store and |
| brake pads. Then, inspect or replace brake | | | | an employee will help you to purchase the |
| rotors or disks. | | | | size that is just right for your VW vehicle. |
| | | | Plan ahead and make sure you have the right |
| Brake rotors require a clean, smooth, flat | | | | tools for the job to save you a trip back to |
| surface on the rotors. Otherwise your brake | | | | the auto parts store. |
| performance will suffer. A rough surface will | | | | |
| accelerate pad wear. It will also increase | | | | After you remove the caliper, remove the |
| the risk of noise. An uneven surface or | | | | front brake pad and leave the rear pad in |
| variations in rotor thickness can cause | | | | place. Using a C-clamp, compress the caliper |
| vibrations, noise and annoying brake pedal | | | | piston into the caliper housing. Make sure |
| pulsations. Brake drums that have grooves or | | | | you remove the cap off the brake reservoir |
| any kind of damage should be replaced | | | | before you do this. This needs to be done so |
| immediately. Sometimes, you cannot do all | | | | that when you put the new pads in the |
| auto work by yourself. Your local auto parts | | | | caliper, it will create a space to put the |
| store can help you turn the rotors for these | | | | caliper back on. |
| discs to have extra life so you do not have | | | | |
| to buy new. | | | | Examine the break pads for unusual or uneven |
| | | | wear. These could be signs of a problem that |
| The next thing to do is to check the level | | | | need to be taken care of immediately. |
| and condition of your brake fluid. Changing | | | | |
| the fluid is recommended to get rid of | | | | While doing this, it is also a good time to |
| moisture contamination. Always follow vehicle | | | | examine the condition of the rotors. You will |
| manufacturer's recommendations. | | | | need to get the rotors turned or replaced if |
| | | | they have deep groves or if you have noticed |
| Changing the brake pads is the next step. | | | | that the car shudders when you hit the |
| Remember that there are books at your local | | | | brakes. |
| auto parts store, on eBay, and at any | | | | |
| bookstore that you can also buy. These will | | | | Install the new pads in the caliper. Usually |
| give you step by step instructions along with | | | | it is best to place the inner pad first, then |
| picture illustrations as to how to change and | | | | the outer pad second. Before you install the |
| maintain brake pads. | | | | pads back on to the caliper, make sure the |
| | | | piston is fully depressed. Once the pads are |
| First off you need to purchase break pads, | | | | properly seated in the caliper, put the |
| which are available from any local auto parts | | | | caliper back on the rotor and bolt it firmly |
| store. You can also purchase the pads from a | | | | in place. |
| dealer but they run a lot more than the local | | | | |
| auto parts store. There are many different | | | | If everything is correct, then you can put |
| brands of brake pads but what you have to put | | | | the wheel back on, hand tighten the lug nuts, |
| on my vehicle are the ones that are | | | | and lower the car to the ground. Finish |
| considered lifetime. These run a little more, | | | | tightening the lug nuts in a start pattern so |
| but the cost covers itself in the long run. | | | | that they are even. |
| The next time you do a break job you take the | | | | |
| lifetime ones back in and they exchange them | | | | The last thing to do in doing a brake job is |
| free of charge. | | | | to test the brakes. Carefully check your |
| | | | brakes and brake fluid levels before entering |
| Do not hurry up. Take your time in | | | | traffic. Sometimes some air can get into the |
| familiarizing yourself with the brakes on | | | | brake lines when you change the brake pads. |
| your car before you begin work. It is also a | | | | If this happens, you will need to bleed the |
| good idea to work on one side at a time in | | | | brakes before you try to move the car again. |