[s-cars] Questions, again...(rear brakes)

[Eric Phillips]

Yeah, Dave - that's the "caliper is stuck, we need to buy a replacement at
100% mark-up" independent shop screw-you for those folks not in-the-know
that own VAG products.  Back when, my then-girlfriend's Jetta GLI needed
rears done, and she took it to a nearby shop.  She called me at work, crying
over the estimate.  When she told me what figure was, my jaw bounced off the
floor.

"Calipers are stuck - can't get the new pads in" sez the guy when I called.
"Oh, yeah - wheel bearings are shot."

Funny, the rear wheel bearings had just been replaced 3 months previous.

I knew something was fishy right then.

"Put it back together, and add up the labor you're into it" sez me.

"I can't let you drive the thing - it's dangerous" sez he.

"Then write up a fucking waiver for me to sign."

"I really can't let this car go out of here."

"I'm coming down there right now.  Have it together and the key in my hand
inside one hour, or I call the sheriff."

The SOB charged me $150 for labor, but it was the best $150 I've ever
spent.  Knowing where not to take your car is very important.  It also gave
me full control over car repair decisions.  Since I married that girl, it
was an excellent investment.  :)

I learned later about the automatic racheting parking brake adjustment
feature.  My Scirocco had rear drums, so I hadn't had the pleasure of the
design knowledge.

Yeah, I'd planned on buying the tool.  It'll save me some labor costs in the
future, enough to pay for itself the first time I use it.  And a vacuum
bleeder.  I suppose I'll need some flare wrenches as well?

Thanks for the info, and the heads-up on the cable thingy.  The rotors do
need to be replaced, and the pads are getting there.  But if I can hold off
on the job until the weather gets warmer, my hands will be happier.  :)

Here's another really dumb question - I have a floor jack and some nice
jackstands, but if I jack it at the indicated points, where do I put the
stands so I don't damage the car?   Am I worried over nothing?  It is a
unit-body car, after all...

Thanks again,

Eric


On 1/9/06, djdawson2 at aol.com <djdawson2 at aol.com> wrote:
>
>   Oh... and if you're doing a rear brake job while you're in there... the
> fun part is retracting the rear calipers for fitment of the new pads.  The
> calipers are rather unique, in that you have to "screw" the piston back into
> the caliper.  This means holding the caliper piston, and turning it
> clockwise.  It threads back into the caliper housing.  This has to be done
> to fit new pads, and it can often be frustrating to get the threading
> process started.
>
> This is one of those occasions where having the "special tool" can
> certainly ease your pain.  The tool is used for holding the piston while it
> is turned.
>
> Dave
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Eric Phillips <gcmschemist at gmail.com>
> To: Kent McLean <kentmclean at mindspring.com>
> Cc: s-car-list at audifans.com
> Sent: Mon, 9 Jan 2006 08:43:26 -0800
> Subject: Re: [s-cars] Questions, again...
>
>
>