GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: Steve_B on 04 August 2006, 14:12
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Had some very bad news when I took the old girl for an MOT, was quoted a grand for repairs. Can anyone advise me on what to do for the list here and what parts/tools I will need. Or, if anyone in the london/home counties area fancies some cash in hand work this weekend we could sort someithng out. Here goes:
1. Nearside rear brake cable has restricted free movement - caliper is seized they said, they want to replace it but can it be freed.
2. Rear bias brake valve seized - might be able to free it up but not looking likely.
3. Nearside front lower suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint. Guess the whole hub has to come off to get to this
4. Nearside front macpherson strut has excessive movement at the upper attachment - one of the bearings I was told
5. Parking brake efficiency below requirements - due to number 1 I think
6. Service brake imbalanced on a steered axle - due to the problem I put in a previous post I think about the rusty bleed nipple.
That's it. All stuff I haven't really touched before, my experience and collection of tools will not cover some of this stuff I think. Sorry about the length of this as well, but any suggestions greatly appreciated.
Cheers
Steve
-- She has now passed her MOT, only thing I didn't manage to do was loosen the bolts for front caliper, broke a few tools trying though :smiley: so garage did that. Bill went down to 65 quid instead of a grand, with about 150 on parts so top result there I think.
I'm going travelling for a few months now, car will be off road for the time. Just wanted to say thanks for all the help I've got from here, this is a :cool: site.
Back in a few months!
Steve
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That little lot isnt gonna cost you much at all to fix.
1. New caliper
2. This should free up. If not just replace it.
3. New ball joint. Dead easy to do and no you dont have to take the whole hub off.
4. Never heard of a macpherson other than elle. But im guessing they mean the front suspension has play at the top. This will just be the top mount needing replacing.
5. New caliper
6. New caliper
All in all yes you need a few tools. Socket set. Brake pipe spanners. Strut top tool. Spring compressors. And about 1 days work hopefully. Certainly not 1k teritory!
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they're having a laugh trying to charge you a grand!!
1: replacement caliper if needed is £50-ish,
2:brake bias valve is about £45 from gsf,
3: bottom ball joint will take half hour and cost about a tenner for the part,
4: top mount i assume? around a tenner each,
5: due to number one,
6: not sure. you could do it all yourself in under a day unless you get some unforseen problem. if i was near you i'd help you out! you'll also need a brake fluid flush/bleed if you're changing the bias valve.
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I hate garages!
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Where's best to get replacement calipers from? Or is there a way to free up seized ones?
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http://www.vwspares.co.uk/
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get them from a scrappy, or you can free them up - i done a wee guide oinks ago about it though its not in the maintenance section
basically you just knock the handrake mechanism pin on the caliper out about an inch rub round that inch with a bit of wet n dry till rust free. splash loads of wd-40, and grease all round it and knock it back in
if your getting replacement caliper then get late mk3 94 onwards items as these do not seize like mk2 items
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Good advice. See if you can dig out that how to and move it to the maintainence section.
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Anyone know a good way of getting front caliper bolts out. They're done by allen key, and I really don't think they'll come off just using the key.
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You hate garages??!! I run a garage and sell a fair few used parts, but hey-ho,attitude like that gets you nothing. Admitted a grand is f-ing ridiculous, round this way £300-£350 would do it so Christ knows what their labour rate is, but don't tar us all with the same brush just cos some-ones tried to have your pants down.
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Buy a decent set of allen key sockets. They fit on the end of a 1/2" ratchet and should cope easily with caliper bolts.
Think the quote was a bit excessive and in all honesty would look for another garage to goto. :shocked:
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I hate garages too :angry:
I am sure they use the MOT to take the complete p*ss
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9 time out of ten the bias valve isn't seized but the pivot for the operating arm is. As for MOTs I go to a place that only does exhausts, tyres and basic servicing. They're not into fixing MOT failures, mine could have failed on play on a rear wheel bearing but he just noted it on a bit of paper!
Most of the bits you've got can be sorted easily but from experience once those rear calipers go stiff replacement is the only answer longer term.
Rejoice in the fact you have a VW, I've spent many a weekend chasing holes with a welder come MOT time in the past :sad:
Barkstar :nerd:
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Actually that reminds me, I had to replace my rear caliper previously on my old Mk2 16v as it has seized, tried to free it up but no joy. Cant you use the opportunity to upgrade to mark 3 calipers ?
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Don't replace the rear bias valve, hit it hard a few times with a rubber mallet, will almost always free it up.
These valves are not always easy to replace, on a mk3 you will probably have to cut it out, a mk2 may be different, i haven't looked at one for a long time :laugh:
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Yeah, same as A100Q said..........the bias valve can be a ball-buster. You need a proper brake pipe spanner although I did get away witha standard 11mm open-ended one on a recent bias valve change (the valve had seized and the minute it freed off it leaked fluid everywhere).
Pity you are so far away cos I could have helped: you're looking at a day with help to fix that lot (with loads of cuppas!) :grin:
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Hi,
Of course they take the piss!
In Sweden they have independent authorities you take the car to for the MOT. The garages are here to earn money out of people, and they do MOT? What a joke.
Comment from Steves Swedish girlfriend. You are a bit too blue eyed sometimes, you lovely English men! :smug:
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Thats it I am going to Sweden for my next holiday lol :tongue:
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In Sweden they have independent authorities you take the car to for the MOT.
thats the same as over here in Northern Ireland. cars have to go to a government run MOT centre
or even better is Isle of Man where your car does not need MOT'd unless its been untaxed for 2 years
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Right. Have replaced the bias valve, the rear caliper and the ball joint. Busy weekend for me!
Still haven't done the front caliper though. I really don't like the look of those bolts. The metal for them seems quite soft and I'm scared of just rounding out the allen key socket in the heads. Anyone had this problem before and what did you do about it?
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The metal for them seems quite soft and I'm scared of just rounding out the allen key socket in the heads. Anyone had this problem before and what did you do about it?
Thats one thing thats bugs me about the mark 2 golfs, the chimp who decided to use allen key bolts in places prone to seizing :rolleyes:
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The mechanic i go to hammered a star head bit into it ito remove.
Then he says after refitting them - "You could really do with some new ones of those you know...." :lipsrsealed:
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definately get some allen key sockets for a 1/2 inch ratchet. i used the fabled allen with bit of pipe technique..worked...just..though i nearly removed my finger on the arch.! :undecided:
o and wd40...lots of..
is the mk3 caliper a direct replacement for the mk2 rears?..does it require extra work?
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Have been looking though the forum, and the bashing a socket onto the head to undo technique seems to work. Anyone else tried it?
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yeah i had a totally rounded one (though it was the caliper bolt not the housing), scratched my head for a while. but in the end i filed (roughly) six sides on to it and bashed a single hex (14mm i think) onto it..once it was fully engaged came off easily..new bolt obviously had to be bought.
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You hate garages??!! I run a garage and sell a fair few used parts, but hey-ho,attitude like that gets you nothing. Admitted a grand is f-ing ridiculous, round this way £300-£350 would do it so Christ knows what their labour rate is, but don't tar us all with the same brush just cos some-ones tried to have your pants down.
Well im glad to hear that you pride yourself on running an honest business. But lets be frank, honesty is few and far between these days at garages.
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Got her through the MOT now :smiley:
Only thing I didn't manage to do was the front caliper, fecking bolts did not want to come off and wasted a few tools trying. Oh well, garage did it in the end. Final bill was 65 quid, plus about 150 for parts, a lot better than the grand I was quoted so pleased with the last weeks work.
Going travelling for a few months now, just wanted to say thanks for all the help I got here, this site and the people on it are :cool:
Back in a few months
Steve
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Glad to hear you got it sorted in the end. And your final bill was much more reasonable.