GolfGTIforum.co.uk

General => The garage => Topic started by: saalro on 02 June 2009, 23:49

Title: When pushing the brake piston back in do you need...
Post by: saalro on 02 June 2009, 23:49
the piston tool, or can you do it with a C clamp or some kind of plyers!?

Anyone know where i can get genuine front brake pads for my 1.8 T GTI Mark 4 150 BHP, i'm guess VW, anyone got the part numbers and know how much they cost, or alternatively suggest an online site.

Thanks a lot,
Sam.
Title: Re: When pushing the brake piston back in do you need...
Post by: hooblah on 02 June 2009, 23:56
you can use some water pump pliers or you can stick a screwdriver in between the pad and the disc and lever against it to push the piston back. just make sure the brake fluid reservoir cap is off.
Title: Re: When pushing the brake piston back in do you need...
Post by: saalro on 02 June 2009, 23:59
Do you need to take the brake fluid cap of when you use the piston tool?
Title: Re: When pushing the brake piston back in do you need...
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 03 June 2009, 00:54
Yes, it can help to relieve some of the back pressure.
Title: Re: When pushing the brake piston back in do you need...
Post by: rubjonny on 03 June 2009, 08:30
aye or crack the bleed nipple loose. watch the fluid level if you take cap off, you're actually reducing the volume in the system when you compress the pistons so it might overflow if the pads were very worn/fluid level was very high
Title: Re: When pushing the brake piston back in do you need...
Post by: M616VMA on 06 June 2009, 18:41
i would just prize them back with a screwdriver as recomended but would use the unscrew the bleed nipple idea as just taking the fluid top off means your forcing fluid back through the master cylinder which has a shaped diaphram in it which the fluid going the wrong way may distort , then ya gonna need a new one .....as for the pads i cam get adl blueprint cheap enough which are recognised by many dealerships as genuine parts....
hope this helps
 :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:
Title: Re: When pushing the brake piston back in do you need...
Post by: saalro on 07 June 2009, 22:57
I'm not too familiar with the bleed nipple, does this just screw in and out or will i need to crack it off and then replace it with a new one? Or something??? Thanks.
Title: Re: When pushing the brake piston back in do you need...
Post by: Ben Lessani on 07 June 2009, 23:24
You just loosen it and it will start seeping fluid.
Title: Re: When pushing the brake piston back in do you need...
Post by: Diamond Hell on 08 June 2009, 07:42
I think anyone who needs to ask what a bleed nipple is and whether they should replace it should probably either team up with someone who's done the job many times before, to learn what they're doing, or go on a car mechanics course at their local college to achieve the same result.

Brakes are what stop your 1.5t missile.  If you work on them when you don't know what you're doing there's a very good chance you're about to remove their effectiveness, making your 1.5t missile an unstoppable 1.5t missile.  Everyone I know wants you to learn the basics of what you're doing (and not from some interweb forum) before you start working on your brakes, because funerals suck.
Title: Re: When pushing the brake piston back in do you need...
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 08 June 2009, 09:42
Very well put, Mr Hell.
Title: Re: When pushing the brake piston back in do you need...
Post by: saalro on 08 June 2009, 22:24
It will be easy, i've found out all i need too now. All i'm doing is changing the pads!

I'm not really touching the majority of the system, just Loosening a nipple slightly, might even just loosen the fluid cap and push the piston in really slowely bit at a time, besides if i'm worried at all after i'll take it to the garage. But i'll test it loads first!
Title: Re: When pushing the brake piston back in do you need...
Post by: Diamond Hell on 08 June 2009, 22:41
You're aware of the risks then?

Aware of what air in the system will do?

Know how to get it out?

Don't think you need to replace bleed nipples when you've cracked them off?
Title: Re: When pushing the brake piston back in do you need...
Post by: Ben Lessani on 08 June 2009, 23:48
Not sure how its possible to get air in the system changing pads.

Just lever the piston back in, don't bother removing the reservoir cap and loosening the nipple unless you are having too much difficulty.

Title: Re: When pushing the brake piston back in do you need...
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 08 June 2009, 23:56
As mentioned, the reason behind removing the reservoir cap and slightly undoing the bleed nipple is to reduce the risk of deforming the master cylinder diaphragm valve. Air shouldn't enter the system as long as the brake peddle or handbrake isn't depressed, just wind the piston back carefully and do the nipple and cap back up. Bob's ya uncle!
Title: Re: When pushing the brake piston back in do you need...
Post by: Diamond Hell on 16 June 2009, 22:12
Not sure how its possible to get air in the system changing pads.

It happens - I've seen it myself with my very own eyes.  All it takes is you releasing the pressure after it's pushed in, for the seals to allow some air past, especially on the rough end of the piston, which is normally exposed.
Title: Re: When pushing the brake piston back in do you need...
Post by: danny_p on 16 June 2009, 23:08
i allways bleed brakes when changing pads,    it's pritty much garanteed the fluid in the calipers has been cooked at some point  even if air hasent got in so i allways let a at least a guestimated calliper full of fluid out.
Title: Re: When pushing the brake piston back in do you need...
Post by: AudiA8Quattro on 16 June 2009, 23:15
I've never changed the fluid when changing pads, and never had a problem. I've also changed alot of pads in my time, i don't loosen the bleed nipple, just remove the cap off the master cylinder reservoir.
I change the fluid once every two years as of service schedule, unless any other problems occur in between.
Title: Re: When pushing the brake piston back in do you need...
Post by: Paul86S2 on 17 June 2009, 01:17
Get a friend who knows what they're doing to give you a hand. At least to tell you what to do whilst you do it.

Brakes are a very important part of yours and others safety, you really don't want to mess them up.

Paul
Title: Re: When pushing the brake piston back in do you need...
Post by: danny_p on 17 June 2009, 02:35
I've never changed the fluid when changing pads, and never had a problem. I've also changed alot of pads in my time, i don't loosen the bleed nipple, just remove the cap off the master cylinder reservoir.
I change the fluid once every two years as of service schedule, unless any other problems occur in between.

probaly depends what the car is used for.  i've normaly faded the brakes a few times when it comes round to pad changeing
Title: Re: When pushing the brake piston back in do you need...
Post by: AudiA8Quattro on 17 June 2009, 09:14
I've never changed the fluid when changing pads, and never had a problem. I've also changed alot of pads in my time, i don't loosen the bleed nipple, just remove the cap off the master cylinder reservoir.
I change the fluid once every two years as of service schedule, unless any other problems occur in between.

probaly depends what the car is used for.  i've normaly faded the brakes a few times when it comes round to pad changeing

All the cars i work on are just for road use, family, friends, work colleagues etc..
and my own cars.
I suppose on a track car it would certainly be worth changing the fluid when changing the pads.
Title: Re: When pushing the brake piston back in do you need...
Post by: danny_p on 17 June 2009, 12:33
mothers gets fluid at the same time as it normaly get more than 2 yrs to a set of pads   :shocked:  and i sopose it's turned into habbit now
Title: Re: When pushing the brake piston back in do you need...
Post by: Diamond Hell on 18 June 2009, 00:21
It's.... just...... good....... practice.

And I'd rather follow that than using the rule of 'what can I get away with'.