Mk5 2.0 tdi Golf Sticking Rear Caliper

**A440** · 14-04-2019,04:12 PM

My offside rear caliper keeps sticking! I've replaced it twice, the first time with a used unit, the second time with a recon unit from Eurocarparts which is currently on the car now. All is well for a day or two then it starts dragging causing the disc etc to get hot. None of the other discs are dragging, it's just the one wheel so I've discounted it being a faulty servo. A new ABS unit was fitted about 10 months ago so I assume it isn't this (no warning lights on dash) New rear pads were fitted about 6 months ago but this sticking caliper thing has been happening for 2 or 3 weeks. The handbrake is adjusted ok with a bit of free play before it bites.
The brake pedal isn't sagging and therefore cant be lifted to ease the problem.
There are no hissing noises and the brake pedal feels fine as if there wasn't a problem. After about an hour, it cools down and all is well until it randomly starts sticking again!
I'm seriously beginning to despise this bloody car even though it's a cracking car to drive when all is well.
The only thing I haven't changed is the flexi brake pipe btw.
Please can someone, anyone advise what I can do???

Thanks.

**Crasher** · 14-04-2019,08:39 PM

Did you clamp the flexi when changing the caliper?

**A440** · 14-04-2019,09:21 PM

Thanks for your reply. Yes, the hose was clamped but surely if it got damaged causing it to act like a one way valve wouldn't the caliper bind the first time the brakes were used as opposed to getting a day or two trouble free driving and then the problem resurfacing?

**Crasher** · 14-04-2019,09:45 PM

Change the hose, they are Teflon lined but then again recon calipers are ****, we will only fit genuine new TRW units in TRW red boxes.

**A440** · 15-04-2019,12:01 AM

I'll fit a new one and see how things go. Thanks.

**VAG-Abound** · 15-04-2019,08:13 AM

Our Touran (same platform) developed a dragging / sticking OSR pad as well. The caliper seemed to turn back freely when I put new pads in a couple of times, but the problem persisted. I started to suspect the guide shims but cleaning them up (and IIRC adding a smear of grease on them) didn't help. I got a set of "good" pads at the local VAG dealer (not the lower spec they do to price match the cheaper ones at factors) which include the shims in the box, and that fixed it. Whether it really was the shim, something like better tolerance on the "tabs" that guide it, bit of extra dirt that got displaced or just luck I don't know.

**A440** · 15-04-2019,12:29 PM

Strange how it's usually the offside rear caliper that's problematic. Anyway, new rubber hose fitted, guide pins greased (again), bled and working fine, for how long remains to be seen.

I slit the old hose open and it was blemish free like I suspected.

Anyway, fingers crossed.

**Crasher** · 15-04-2019,12:59 PM

I would say we roughly find 90% of the time it is the right caliper but we often fit them in pairs to be sure.

**A440** · 31-05-2019,05:27 PM

Update:

New TRW caliper (red box jobby) fitted, all is well, sort of...
When I drive 'normally' its fine but if I stabbed quickly (on-off) at the brake pedal, I can feel it drag but it's only for a moment or so so I can live with it.
Ok, I know, the answer is don't stab at the brake pedal but its a bit annoying knowing that it shouldn't happen.

My first and last VW I reckon.