2004 VW Jetta - Rear Brake System Question

[cyrus buelton]

Just had new tires put on the Jetta.

Long story short, driver's side rear brake system is effed.

No pad left, ground on rotor.

Passenger rear has 50% pad and is fine.


I am having an independent mechanic do the work.

Got some OEM rotors and pads for 65$ (helps to have my wife's family involved in the auto distribution business).


The question..........


Do I need to replace both Calipers or just the malfunctioning rear drivers side one?


Where is a good place to source the purchase of these?

[metallimonster]

Jud,

Just replace the one caliper.  Shouldn't be a big deal.  Try International Parts on Westerville Rd (close to Iron Pony) they should be able to get you the caliper.

[acalles]

Jud,

Just replace the one caliper.  Shouldn't be a big deal.  Try International Parts on Westerville Rd (close to Iron Pony) they should be able to get you the caliper.

check the parking brake cable on that side.

if they get the slightest rust inside they will cause the caliper to drag and wear the pads.. replacing the caliper won't fix the problem.

the cable should move freely when disconnected from the caliper.

the only other dragging caliper problems I've seen are from rust in the pins, they should be pulled, cleaned and lubed anytime a brake job is done.

[vwboomer]

if you're looking for online sources, when I had my Passat I dealt with World Impex, parts4vws.com vwparts.com a lot.
Depending how much they are each, I might consider the classifieds at vwvortex.com for a used one.

[cyrus buelton]

Thanks everyone for the quick replies.



The tire shop was telling me that if I replace one caliper, then both must be replaced.


I didn't really buy that response and it sounds like from the auto guru's that they were full of shit.

I have been checking out some online parts shops and calipers look to be about 142$ a pop

[metallimonster]

check the parking brake cable on that side.

if they get the slightest rust inside they will cause the caliper to drag and wear the pads.. replacing the caliper won't fix the problem.

the cable should move freely when disconnected from the caliper.

the only other dragging caliper problems I've seen are from rust in the pins, they should be pulled, cleaned and lubed anytime a brake job is done.

Duh, Don't know how I forgot about this.  I've probably replaced 25 of these.  Check this first.  Going to be a lot more time involved than just replacing a caliper though.  Let me know if you need me to come by and check it out.

[cyrus buelton]

Duh, Don't know how I forgot about this.  I've probably replaced 25 of these.  Check this first.  Going to be a lot more time involved than just replacing a caliper though.  Let me know if you need me to come by and check it out.

I just got off the phone with my mechanic and he was saying replacing the calipers is premature because and I quote:

"the make the beast with two backsing blah blah blah sticks and it make the beast with two backss up the blah blah blah and it doesnt need to be make the beast with two backsing replaced. god damn assholes at those tire places should be shot"


Didn't mention the parking brake, but I think he said something about a spacer or mounting bracket or something. I dont know, the guy is hard to understand

[OverCaffeinated]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the parking break only on the rear passenger wheel?

I'm curious as to the outcome of this. I've got an 05' Golf. I had my passenger brake smoking the other day, but the parking break wasn't even on.

What I do know is that these VWs have some odd break wear patterns. My wifes 04 Jetta wore down the front rotors and had to be replaced, but the pads looked brand new. Both items were the oem from factory.

Then I've always thought that most cars wear their front pads down two or even three times before the rears has to be changed, like my beemer. But the same Jetta had the rears changed three weeks after the front, and the rears were almost metal on metal. WTF

[cyrus buelton]

I've got 60k miles on the car and the front brakes look great

[OverCaffeinated]

I've got 60k miles on the car and the front brakes look great

Look great sure. But what about the rotors? I'd measure them. The work I mentioned above was all done around 65k. And yes the pads looked new, but shouldn't at 60k. And performance blows, lots of brake fad on these cars.

[acalles]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the parking break only on the rear passenger wheel?

I'm curious as to the outcome of this. I've got an 05' Golf. I had my passenger brake smoking the other day, but the parking break wasn't even on.

What I do know is that these VWs have some odd break wear patterns. My wifes 04 Jetta wore down the front rotors and had to be replaced, but the pads looked brand new. Both items were the oem from factory.

Then I've always thought that most cars wear their front pads down two or even three times before the rears has to be changed, like my beemer. But the same Jetta had the rears changed three weeks after the front, and the rears were almost metal on metal. WTF

1. parking brake goes to both rear wheels each with its own cable and adjustment.

2. Its possible the cable is getting rusted on one side only.. I had a car come in this winter, dragging both rear wheels, because Ice built up in the cables and they didn't release.. 10 minuets with a heat gun she was back on the road.

3. I don't know why the rotors would have worn before the pads. honestly you get about 2 or 3 pads to a rotor unless it warps.

4. vw's always wear out the rear pads about 2-1 over the front, generally about 40k on the rears and 80k on the fronts. This is due to vw's additional brake proportioning going to the rear so the vehicle brakes with significantly less dive then most vehicles.

god damn assholes at those tire places should be shot

yep, usually trying to make a quick sale to people who don't know better. tire shops are good for tires. don't let em make the beast with two backs with anything else.

[acalles]

Look great sure. But what about the rotors? I'd measure them. The work I mentioned above was all done around 65k. And yes the pads looked new, but shouldn't at 60k. And performance blows, lots of brake fad on these cars.

and your sure you've got OEM parts?

Have you had them flushed?

these vehicles are generally very good about not getting fade. they use thinner vented rotors then most manufactures so they can lose heat very quickly, which reduces fade.

brake fluid, being hygroscopic, will absorbe moisture from the air easily, water boils in the brake system at very low temps in comparison to the brake fluids boiling point. this will cause much fade.

[OverCaffeinated]

and your sure you've got OEM parts?

Have you had them flushed?

these vehicles are generally very good about not getting fade. they use thinner vented rotors then most manufactures so they can lose heat very quickly, which reduces fade.

brake fluid, being hygroscopic, will absorbe moisture from the air easily, water boils in the brake system at very low temps in comparison to the brake fluids boiling point. this will cause much fade.

Positive on them being oem. We bought the car new, and it was the first time anything in the front had been changed.

We do both have entry level models though, the GTIs and VR6s are probably better. And both cars could use a fluid flush. But that still doesn't change the fact that I'm not happy with the poor breaking.

I still can't explain why the front rotors wore so fast. I saw it once on a Honda Accord that I put non oem pads on, and they ate the rotors up. Wrong compound, the dealer told me. Understandable

[NAKID]

I just got off the phone with my mechanic and he was saying replacing the calipers is premature because and I quote:

"the make the beast with two backsing blah blah blah sticks and it make the beast with two backss up the blah blah blah and it doesnt need to be make the beast with two backsing replaced. god damn assholes at those tire places should be shot"

I was going to say something similar, but with less swearing. Sometimes the plungers get stuck and won't release, they just need to be greased...

[cyrus buelton]

I was going to say something similar, but with less swearing.

I actually had to censor what he actually said as I really don't want to be called a "racist" as I have been called that here in the past.