GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: Dizzie on 18 October 2004, 20:44
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Can we please get a definative guide to what needs to be done to fit mk3 or 4 rear calipers to the back of a mk2 as mine are on the way to seizing up so I want to get this done once and for all.
I read somewhere that as my golf is the first variation built 84 to 88 I will need to swap the handbrake cable over for the longer type found on the 88 and onwards versions.
Can anyone tell me and the rest of the forum how and what is envolved with this conversion?
thank you please.
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dunno about the nahdbrake cable but the mk3 calipers are a straight swap, i havent done it but i have looke at both on and off the cars and they are almost identical. dunno about mk4 ones tho ???
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I agree with the guy above. I had 2 golfs. One with the conversion already done and one without and i wanted to swap them over. It was straight forward, didnt need to change carriers or handbrake cables just the caliper. The one with the conversion already done was H reg and the one i was swapping them to was a G reg.
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its not a definitive guide (sorry dizzie!) but all i know is that when i put mk4 calipers on the rear of my golf you did have to have the handbreak cable running from underneath and to the back of the caliper.
so i assume if yours is the early type then in theory a later handbreak cable would do the job, along with the correct conversion hose.
word of advice though (this may be obvious): the mk 4 calipers are apparently self adjusting to compensate for disc/pad wear so if you are getting them off a crash damaged golf you need to make sure they are set up properly or they will need setting back to factory standard.
when you have the caliper in your hand and move the handbreak lever you can see the piston moves in and stays there. don't play around with this as the first set i had were played around with by the guy who shot blasted mine, so by the time they were fitted i couldn't get them to work properly, so i called c&r, who i bought the conversion hoses from, and it was them that told me that they needed to be put back to factory as the self adjusting mech was assuming my pads had worn out and were not doing what they were meant to do. i asked vw about this and they looked at me like i was an idiot for putting mk4 calipers on a mk2, so in the end i just got a second set didn't touch them (other than a lick of paint) and bolted them up, worked first time!
never tried mk3 ones but as said above i think they are just a direct swap, but again would probably need the longer handbreak cables to pull the lever from the bottom/back. i seem to remember in 'the golf' people not realising the difference between early and late and fitting the mk3 calipers upside down as this looked the same as early mk2 ones.
you'll sus it out!
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early mk2's have side handbrake mechanisms and shorter handbrake cables
late mk2 have rear handbrake mechanisms and longer handbrake cables
early mk3 have late mk2 calipers
late mk3's have different calipers with an inner handbrake mechanism that doesnt seize. use late mk2 cables
mk4s are simply aluminium versions of late mk3 calipers
and as for people putting them on upside down etc, just use a bit of common sense and make sure the bleed nipple is on the top of the caliper then u know its on the right way up
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in all honesty you are better off just freeing up your current items
costs nowt and take about 30mins to sort
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hi dizzie
i has got mk4 callipers on the back of my mk2 and they are the dogs.
i was fed up with me old mk2 callipers seizing and personally i think the conversion is money well spent.
if i get the time i will try to put together a how to and parts list.
some things to remember if you tackle the job.
1. as said already bleed nips to the top.
2. brake hoses must have banjo fitment on calliper end of line. (a good time to get a goodridge upgrade).
3. buy or nick off a mate a brake calliper piston reset tool. this is essential to make sure the brakes will fit and work properly. you can buy them from halfords for about ?25.
i will try to find out about the cable upgrade as mine is a 90 model so conversion was a stright swap.
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so I need special hoses not just the 6 peice braided set in the mag?
cheers for that jimbo.
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in all honesty you are better off just freeing up your current items
costs nowt and take about 30mins to sort
this is what i did, loads of wd40 and the some grease
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3. buy or nick off a mate a brake calliper piston reset tool. this is essential to make sure the brakes will fit and work properly. you can buy them from halfords for about ?25.
a G-clamp is all u need to push the piston back in
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on the mk4 calliper you have to rotate the piston as well as push it in to the calliper. if you are lucky or using brand new callipers you proberly can do it with a g clamp but i would advise using a reset tool as it does the job in about 20 seconds flat and doesnt damage the exterior of the calliper if you have painted them.
why stuggle if you can get the right tool for the job ;) plus when you change pads and discs you will need it then any way. tell everbody you have one and lend it out to them for beer.... always a winner a find? ;D