'01 Jetta brake job. anyone done one?

[Evan]

Im doing brakes for a friend this weekend on a 01 Jetta.
Anyone ever done them before on this car?
If so any quirks or things I need to know?

Im assuming that its standard fare easy-as-pie slide off slide on disc brakes. But those germans can do some wonky shit sometimes, so Im curious if there is anything out of the ordinary

[JohnC]

Not sure if its the same or even close, but I did the brakes on our old '99 Golf, and they were plain-jane standard. No problems at all.

[ScottyB]

because it's an '01, i have a feeling its similar to my audi, which was no big deal.

if it's front pads....the pads may have wear sensors and you'll know it...just unplug those. then to get the caliper off, you'll most likely have two 7mm hex bolts to unscrew. i used a common c-clamp to push the piston back in.

if it's rear brakes, be advised you will most likely (again, not sure) have to get your hands on a VAG specific brake tool that spins the piston as it is compressed, when the time comes that you need to push the piston back into the caliper. it's also a particular shape, to fit the grooves in the piston face. its just VW's way of making your life just that much more inconvenient.

[Evan]

thanks scotty, you are right its probably similar.

it sounds similar to Integras that you have to turn the rear piston to retract it, and there is a big notch in the piston that you can fit a screwdriver or something else to turn it. (although im sure that you are supposed to use a specific tool)
is it a similar configuration where i could use a screwdriver instead? Or is it shaped such that I must have the specific tool?

[Sijray21]

thanks scotty, you are right its probably similar.

it sounds similar to Integras that you have to turn the rear piston to retract it, and there is a big notch in the piston that you can fit a screwdriver or something else to turn it. (although im sure that you are supposed to use a specific tool)
is it a similar configuration where i could use a screwdriver instead? Or is it shaped such that I must have the specific tool?

i just use a pair of needle nose pliers and twist it that way. you might need something larger than a flat head screw driver.

[ScottyB]

is it a similar configuration where i could use a screwdriver instead? Or is it shaped such that I must have the specific tool?

what Jay said...you could probably wing it. to be honest i haven't had the chance to do my rear pads yet so i have no idea how hard it would be.

all i know is that VW peeps bitch about it so i figured you should be given some kind of warning :lol:

[CaptainHenreh]

is it a similar configuration where i could use a screwdriver instead? Or is it shaped such that I must have the specific tool?

When dad and I did the rear on the 2000 TDI, a screwdriver/needlenose pliers/disk brake "cube"/ would NOT work. We had to apply pressure AND twisting force, using a special toolset.

But it was 30 bucks and A-Zone.

[.RJ]

I have a 3/8" drive hex socket set if you want to borrow it

[Evan]

thanks guys, dang germans!
Hopefully Advance lends out that tool, because Im not spending the cash on it.

[ScottyB]

thanks guys, dang germans!
Hopefully Advance lends out that tool, because Im not spending the cash on it.

good luck, i'd bet they lend that tool out...there are alot of jettas out there!

[Maengelito]

thanks scotty, you are right its probably similar.

it sounds similar to Integras that you have to turn the rear piston to retract it, and there is a big notch in the piston that you can fit a screwdriver or something else to turn it.

or you can be like gerald and try with a c-clamp for about 2 hours to get the rear piston back into the caliper before i pass by noticing he's on the same corner of the car from 2 hours earlier and tell him just to twist the piston

[Evan]

lol I remember that.
Kind of like the engine hoist assembly that took him 4 hours to attatch 2 legs

[JohnC]

thanks scotty, you are right its probably similar.

it sounds similar to Integras that you have to turn the rear piston to retract it, and there is a big notch in the piston that you can fit a screwdriver or something else to turn it.

or you can be like gerald and try with a c-clamp for about 2 hours to get the rear piston back into the caliper before i pass by noticing he's on the same corner of the car from 2 hours earlier and tell him just to twist the piston

As I recall, didn't we seize a brake piston on one of your cars, doing the exact same thing?

[Maengelito]

thanks scotty, you are right its probably similar.

it sounds similar to Integras that you have to turn the rear piston to retract it, and there is a big notch in the piston that you can fit a screwdriver or something else to turn it.

or you can be like gerald and try with a c-clamp for about 2 hours to get the rear piston back into the caliper before i pass by noticing he's on the same corner of the car from 2 hours earlier and tell him just to twist the piston

As I recall, didn't we seize a brake piston on one of your cars, doing the exact same thing?

nope, that piston was actually seized. gerald's caliper was perfectly functional, he was just not turning it like he should

[Jeff]

The rear calipers on those cars are bullshit. So are the wheel speed sensors for the ABS should you ever need to replace them. Don't even bother trying to do the rears without the tool. I've done it with a HUGE set of pump (channel lock) pliers and a pair of needle-nose before...it sucks. If they are stuck in any way you will damage the inside of them (with the needle-nose) and then you will be SOL. (If I remember right, we almost chipped a piece off of the piston that would have made it impossible to turn it, then my buddy showed up with the tool.)

[Evan]

fuck "German Engineering"

id like to unpimp ze auto on this pile of ass

[white_2kgt]

fuck "German Engineering"

id like to unpimp ze auto on this pile of ass

Did you spend 2hrs trying to get the rear rotors off, kicking it, beating it with a hammer, prying it off the axel, curssing, only to find the owner had left the parking brake on and the parking brake is a drum/shoe style that presses against the inside of the rotor, thus keeping it from coming off, then when it is finally released it falls off onto the ground?

yea....

[Evan]

lol

no, but that would have been pretty funny to see

[Chris]

fuck "German Engineering"

id like to unpimp ze auto on this pile of ass

Did you spend 2hrs trying to get the rear rotors off, kicking it, beating it with a hammer, prying it off the axel, curssing, only to find the owner had left the parking brake on and the parking brake is a drum/shoe style that presses against the inside of the rotor, thus keeping it from coming off, then when it is finally released it falls off onto the ground?

yea....

haha I've done that :oops:

[Mike]

fuck "German Engineering"

id like to unpimp ze auto on this pile of ass

Did you spend 2hrs trying to get the rear rotors off, kicking it, beating it with a hammer, prying it off the axel, curssing, only to find the owner had left the parking brake on and the parking brake is a drum/shoe style that presses against the inside of the rotor, thus keeping it from coming off, then when it is finally released it falls off onto the ground?

yea....

haha I've done that :oops:

so has g... except he was lucky i came out sooner than 2 hours in to it