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