[Vwdiesel] bad brakes on 2001 Jetta

[William J Toensing]

I am no brake expert, have never worked on any VW brake system because I haven't had to -yet. However just finished replacing front pads on our 1995 Olds Cutlass Sierra as the left front pad was down to the metal & scored the brake disk. Was told by the local machine shop the L F disk was too thin to resurface which would have cost $15 to resurface. However, new disks were only $16 each & you can easily guess where they were made-China despite being a major USA brand, Wagner or Raybestos, don't recall which. 

The brake fluid looked like crud so I replaced the fluid with Dot 3, as the Haynes manual & the GM factory manual recommended this as the Olds has ABS. The manuals recommended against Dot 5 silicon fluid, which I prefer, & didn't mention Dot 4. Why Dot 3 & not Dot 4 or Dot 5? I used a one man brake bleeder which somehow uses an air compressor to create a vacuum to suck the brake fluid out of the brake cylinders & lines. Was able to get the air out at all wheels except the left rear what made me not trust the system so re-bled the system using someone to pump the brakes for me inside the car. Got good air free flow from all but the left rear. However I did flow from the left rear, first air & then fluid after pumping the old fashioned 2 person way. I shared my experience with a professional mechanic who said he always removes the brake bleed screws & cleans them before bleeding the brakes, something I will do from now on. 

It was interesting that the Olds had a diagonal braking system like the Saab which GM must have copied when they owned Saab. I thought dual master cylinders were, except for Saab & possibly Volvo, were connected separately to the front & rear brakes.

Bill Toensing, Nevada City, CA