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