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Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: fishnchipsx2 on 14 September 2009, 12:33

Title: Rear Calipers
Post by: fishnchipsx2 on 14 September 2009, 12:33
I've been able to hear a wheel-bearing whine from the rear-right wheel for a while.  I went to nip it up a little, but it had already been done up so tight that the split-pin didn't actually sit in any of the recess in the castle nut - so, I bought a pair of rear wheel-bearing kits today.

However, on disassembling the whole lot, I discovered that my rear discs are f**ked:

(http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n471/fishnchipsx2/P9130264.jpg)

That's on the inner side of the right disc - as you can see, there is just one narrow band or shinyness.

Also, the pads aren't exactly in great shape - very uneven wear, and I only changed these a few thousand miles ago.

(http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n471/fishnchipsx2/P9130265.jpg)

Now, does this mean that I need new rear calipers, or is will cleaning them up sort this out?  The rear discs are still nice and thick, so can I keep these without replacing with new items? 

If I do need new calipers: Do I have the pre-88 or post-88 items?  (My car is E-reg 1988!)  Looks to me like they have the external handbrake mechanism... does this mean that if I buy mk3 calipers, I'll need new cables too?

(http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n471/fishnchipsx2/P9130266.jpg)

I don't want to stick the new bearings into a pair of discs which are f**ked, so a quick response would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers,
Calum.



Title: Re: Rear Calipers
Post by: Ben Lessani on 14 September 2009, 12:57
A machining shop can re-surface the disks for you.

Are your handbrake cables above or below the calliper?
Title: Re: Rear Calipers
Post by: fishnchipsx2 on 14 September 2009, 13:01
Handbrake cables and bleed nipples are on top of the caliper, the brake lines are underneath the caliper.
Title: Re: Rear Calipers
Post by: fishnchipsx2 on 14 September 2009, 13:10
Oh, and how much cash should I be looking at for a re-surface? 

My main concern is if I resurface the discs and put everything back together with new bearings, won't the same happen again?  The MOT is due in a month or 2, so don't want to have to do everything twice...
Title: Re: Rear Calipers
Post by: Ben Lessani on 14 September 2009, 13:16
Infact - the first photo makes the discs look cracked - or is that just the surface?

For the sake of about £20 per side, I'd just replace them, with a new set of pads too. And whilst your at it - if you have ready access to some MK3 callipers - I'd put them on too. Going rate is £15 a side in a scrappy.
Title: Re: Rear Calipers
Post by: Mr Blue on 14 September 2009, 13:27
yeh i'd dash the lot in the bin even though the pads look fine.

Cheap enough.

Your calipers may be sticking. I had a similar problem with mk3 calipers. The disks and pads looked like yours
Title: Re: Rear Calipers
Post by: danny_p on 14 September 2009, 13:50
junk the lot
Title: Re: Rear Calipers
Post by: fishnchipsx2 on 14 September 2009, 14:24
Gave everything a good look-over, and it looks to me like the calipers may not be pulling evenly due to play in the slider bolts?

Will get down a scrappy today hopefully to find some mk3 calipers, as I'm supposed to be moving from sunny Bournemouth to Leeds on Wednesday!

Will I need handbrake cables too?
Title: Re: Rear Calipers
Post by: fishnchipsx2 on 14 September 2009, 20:01
Right,
I managed to get a lift to the scrappies, where I acquired for myself a pair of mk3 calipers.  Also got some pads and longer handbrake cables from GSF.

A neighbour from a few doors down wandered over for a nosy, and it turns out he has access to a workshop, even tho he doesn't work there anymore.  I gave him my discs, and by the time I returned from the scrappies, he was back with them shiny as new - what a legend!  :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:

I reckon if I mount the calipers upside down, the cables should still reach? I'm working against a time limit here, as I need to pack my things and move out on Wednesday morning, so not having to change handbrake cables should help a lot!

Priorities first tho, I'm off to the pub and then to get trashed in B-town, I'll reply tomoro to let you know how I'm getting on (with my hangover!)
Title: Re: Rear Calipers
Post by: Wayne on 14 September 2009, 21:35
I would still fit new disks, skimming them could be ok but to fit them and find they are wrapped means doing the job twice.
Title: Re: Rear Calipers
Post by: danny_p on 15 September 2009, 01:29
if theye've been skimed properly they will now run true anyway
Title: Re: Rear Calipers
Post by: AudiA8Quattro on 15 September 2009, 09:12
Whats the point of skimming the discs? they are cheap to replace.
Title: Re: Rear Calipers
Post by: Ben Lessani on 15 September 2009, 09:28
If its just surface rust - then replacing isn't really necessary and a skim should suffice.

1 disk, not that expensive, 2 disks - still not that expensive, 2 disks, 2 callipers, a set of pads, brake fluid ..... it all adds up.

As long as you're not skimping on safety, there shouldn't be any real issue - save money where you can I say! Helps keep more MK2s on the road and more money in our wallets!
Title: Re: Rear Calipers
Post by: Wayne on 15 September 2009, 09:47
Whats the point of skimming the discs? they are cheap to replace.

+1
Title: Re: Rear Calipers
Post by: fishnchipsx2 on 15 September 2009, 10:01
Getting your neighbour to run down to a workshop and skim them for you for free is £40+VAT cheaper than new discs....  :rolleyes:

GSF also charge £50 a side for calipers, £10 for pads, £20 for a pair of handbrake cables, on top of £7 a side for wheel bearing kits, then a pot of grease and bottle of brake fluid, not to mention the latex gloves I go through, also had to buy an 8mm allen key... if I got the whole lot new, I'd be getting close to £200!

Anyway - should I mount the calipers upside down, or fit the new cables????
Title: Re: Rear Calipers
Post by: AudiA8Quattro on 15 September 2009, 10:05
Getting your neighbour to run down to a workshop and skim them for you for free is £40+VAT cheaper than new discs....  :rolleyes:

GSF also charge £50 a side for calipers, £10 for pads, £20 for a pair of handbrake cables, on top of £7 a side for wheel bearing kits, then a pot of grease and bottle of brake fluid, not to mention the latex gloves I go through, also had to buy an 8mm allen key... if I got the whole lot new, I'd be getting close to £200!

Anyway - should I mount the calipers upside down, or fit the new cables????

Just think how much it would cost if you were paying labour charges as well?  :rolleyes:
I would fit new cables.
Title: Re: Rear Calipers
Post by: fishnchipsx2 on 15 September 2009, 10:34
The new cables are f**king shorter than the old ones.  Must have been given the wrong part. So, old cables are now going back in, and calipers will be going on upside down.

Whilst under there, I also noticed my exhaust has started to wriggle free of the fanimold, and has come off two hangars, one thing really does lead to another!  :rolleyes:

Title: Re: Rear Calipers
Post by: Wayne on 15 September 2009, 10:54
Getting your neighbour to run down to a workshop and skim them for you for free is £40+VAT cheaper than new discs....  :rolleyes:

GSF also charge £50 a side for calipers, £10 for pads, £20 for a pair of handbrake cables, on top of £7 a side for wheel bearing kits, then a pot of grease and bottle of brake fluid, not to mention the latex gloves I go through, also had to buy an 8mm allen key... if I got the whole lot new, I'd be getting close to £200!

Anyway - should I mount the calipers upside down, or fit the new cables????

Sorry but when dealing with brakes and safety issues, costs don't factor into it, thats my view anyway.
Title: Re: Rear Calipers
Post by: fishnchipsx2 on 15 September 2009, 11:33
The rear-right hand side was missing the tabbed washer that goes between the outer bearing and the retaining nut.  Don't ask me why, but it was never there - which explains why the split pin didn't actually sit inside any of the recesses of the castelleted nut.   Lucky it was on the right-hand side I guess, as the spinning wheel would have just tightened up the nut if anything.

Now, where can I get a new tabbed washer - if it's even supposed to have one on the right-hand side?  VW say it comes in their wheel-bearing kits, but they're £26+vat each. 

Does the GSF wheel-bearing kit come with the tabbed washer?

Edit: this thing. (http://www.lovinbuggies.com/product/1575_s.jpg)
Title: Re: Rear Calipers
Post by: AudiA8Quattro on 15 September 2009, 11:35
Getting your neighbour to run down to a workshop and skim them for you for free is £40+VAT cheaper than new discs....  :rolleyes:

GSF also charge £50 a side for calipers, £10 for pads, £20 for a pair of handbrake cables, on top of £7 a side for wheel bearing kits, then a pot of grease and bottle of brake fluid, not to mention the latex gloves I go through, also had to buy an 8mm allen key... if I got the whole lot new, I'd be getting close to £200!

Anyway - should I mount the calipers upside down, or fit the new cables????

Sorry but when dealing with brakes and safety issues, costs don't factor into it, thats my view anyway.

Yep agree 100%.
Even more so if you're doing the job yourself. Do it once, do it properly.
Title: Re: Rear Calipers
Post by: AudiA8Quattro on 15 September 2009, 11:35
The rear-right hand side was missing the tabbed washer that goes between the outer bearing and the retaining nut.  Don't ask me why, but it was never there - which explains why the split pin didn't actually sit inside any of the recesses of the castelleted nut.   Lucky it was on the right-hand side I guess, as the spinning wheel would have just tightened up the nut if anything.

Now, where can I get a new tabbed washer - if it's even supposed to have one on the right-hand side?  VW say it comes in their wheel-bearing kits, but they're £26+vat each. 

Does the GSF wheel-bearing kit come with the tabbed washer?

I would of thought you would be able to pick up a washer from the scrapyard  :smiley:
Title: Re: Rear Calipers
Post by: rubjonny on 15 September 2009, 11:39
you'll want to check your slider pins on the carriers as well, pull all 4 out and give them and the holes a damn good clean. if anything looks pitted or rusty, replace them. MK3 carriers will fit a MK2, but it can be a mare to get the old ones off!
Title: Re: Rear Calipers
Post by: fishnchipsx2 on 15 September 2009, 12:04
Yeah I picked up the carriers from the scrappies with the calipers, although they don't seem much better than my original ones anyway tbh.

It looks to me like scrapyard might be the best way to go for the tabbed washer.  Problem is, I have no way of getting there.  :sad:

Last resort is assemble it with a non-tabbed washer, drive to scrappies, sort it out.  It's obviously had no washer at all since I bought it last year, 10,000 miles ago....  :undecided:
Title: Re: Rear Calipers
Post by: rubjonny on 16 September 2009, 08:50
vag part number if it helps:
311 405 661 - 1.19+VAT