Front brake pad renewal

[BLASTER]

I'm about to change the front brake pads on my 02 1.9 SE-Estate, I’ve checked the Haynes manual for pointers before I start but it's quite vague, anybody out there with detailed pics and advice on the subject??

[snapdragon]

If you've done them on other cars, they're pretty much the same as most cars, not really any tricks, you should ideally replace the slider pins, or at least clean them up and use brake grease and threadlock on the threads.

[Sam]

As above, they're fairly simple and standard to do.

Get all the tools before you start - you can't drive a car with no front brakes to Halfords to buy that 7mm (I think) allen key you thought you had.

[BLASTER]

Thanks fellas, I've not done them on this car before but done plenty on astras I've had in thew past, many thanks, I'll crack on then!!

[davelebarr]

I did mine recently...fairly easy used a large g-clamp to push the piston back and vented excess fluid out of bleed nipple at same time....have heard it's not recommended to send the fluid back up the system as is dirty?

When all back together had to bleed each side a couple of times as was spongy pedal and reacting late....came good in the end though.

[Clinterous]

Very straight forward to do and it is definitely a 7mm hex bit required. In fact the longest part of the job for me was lining up the wheel bolt holes with the hub and disc!

[passat tdi130]

no hex key needed at all... i have done mine today on 03 tdi sport estate... and many times before in fact i fitted bosch disks and bosch pads front and rear....

you need ...

18mm socket
short extention bar for ratchet + wrench
torque wrench (not nessercery)
good hefty ratchet
pair of plier's to put rattle springs back on after job done
flat blade screw driver to get the bloomin rattle springs off..
some copper grease to grease slides back up
wire brush to clean up the caliper's

oh yes the new pad's

i think thats it....!!!

firstly turn your steering left if doing right side brake's first easier to get at calpier bolts and vice versa
then get your large flat screwdriver and put inbetween the pad and pot and use the pad back as a guard from the disk push rather hard and the pot will slowly go back in...

i personaly just let the fluid go back into system but thats upto you it also save bleeding at the end of job

when the pot is all the way back in (check it actually is )

remove the rattle spring on front of caliper (carefully...!!!!!)

undo the two 18mm bolts on the rear of the strut / caliper one bottom one top you will need the short ext bar there

remove the caliper

remove pad's pull slide off the caliper you will see what i mean clean em all up with wire brush getting rid of all the muck and gunk and brake dust get some brake cleaner from halfords ...its ok

when all thats nice and clean get copper grease and grease slides up the 2 shiny metal rod's not to much grease....!!!

wash or wipe hand's

then get new pad's out try not contaminate them with any oil / grease

the first pad with clip on rear(if ATE pads) push into pot dont squeeze the clip or your pad will rattle afterward's make sure you put pad sensor wire (if equipped) through the caliper first

wash hands if full of grease

get second pad put a touch of copper grease on the rear of pad and the guide's on either end ( NOT TO MUCH...!!!)



put pad in caliper replace the caliper on the leg replace bolts tighten (quite tight)

replace the rattle spring ( try not to bend it to much...!!!)

some recommend a new spring to be honest i would as well stops your pads rattling about and annoying the life out of you....!!!


do other side exactly the same .....

dont forget to tighten the wheel nuts back up


get in car start engine pump brake pedal till hard then take for a test drive

( DO NOT DRIVE ERRATIC FOR AT LEAST 100MILES TO ALLOW BEDDING IN )

(AND ONLY ROLL A FEW FEET FORWARD TO CHECK YOUR BRAKES ARE WORKING OK AND THEY STOP THE CAR OK BEFORE YOU DRIVE OFF )

try car around block

come home put kettle on have a fag ( if you smoke )

smile and just say to yourself i have saved myself hundred odd quid there from gastly garage fee's

then after brew and cig go and have a shower and dont forget to clean in ur ears its amazing where that brake dust get's..... haha

now im sure there will be a ton of peter perfects going to pull something about all that but believe me its the easiest way and you cannot go wrong


if you have lucas type fitting i have just wasted about 15 mins typing all this.....

ITS VERY EASY good luck.....!!!!


P.S. THE REAR'S ARE A DIFFERENT STORY MY FRIEND

but still easy enough any further help i would be glad to help email me and i will give you my mobile number and chat on phone....

[BLASTER]

Job done!! thanks fellas, I fitted new discs too, it was a doddle just had to put new retaining springs in!

[PETER G]

ANy chance of a guide for rear brake pad renewal????