MK3 Cabrio Failed MOT + Advisories need advice on parts.

[K3RT]

Hey all
My misses took the cab to VW today for the MOT and it failed on
1. Nearside front (lens loose inside head lamp) aim to low
2. Nearside front brake bulging under pressure
and it had several advisories
1. Offside rear brake pipe slighty corroded
2. Nearside front brake pipe slightly corroded
3. Offside rear (axle bush) bonded suspension unit deteriorated but can function as intended
4. Nearside rear (axle bush) bonded suspension unit deteriorated but can function as intended
5. Petrol flap inop at time of test
6. Rear offside and nearside wheel bearings slightly loose
7. Coolant level low
8. Hand brake leaver slightly high


For the fails I've already ordered 2 pagid brake hoses for the front (I know it only failed on one but thought I might aswell change both) and I'm guessing I just need a new headlight for the other fail since my headlight is one of the ones with the circle on it (hope you know what I mean) does this mean any that look like it will fit it?

Now onto the advisories
1 & 2 I'm going to change all the brake pipes and hoses on the car are there any makes people recommend or any I should avoid?
3 & 4 Is this just the rear axle bushes that need changing?
5 Now sorted
6 Are all rear bearings the same on golfs? If so I've seen some febi ones on vwspares which are pretty cheap do you reckon they will be fine?
7 Since we've had the car the coolant level has always sat just below minimum Ive had it changed twice and it will always go back to the same level after a few days but once there it wont go any lower no matter how many miles you do. Any ideas?
8 Any idea on what would cause this?

Cheers for any info or help 

[K3RT]

Also is it worth changing any parts at the same time as some of the parts I will be changing. For example would it be worth me sticking some new drums on the rear since Im changing all the pipes/hoses and there going to have to come off anyway when the bearings are done.

[VW BUSH]

Rear bearings can be adjusted.
Rusty pipes can be rubbed down with a wire bush and painted with underseal if not too bad
Handbrake can be adjusted, but check rear pads are not to thin
Leave bushes until you have some time as it can be a pig of a job
If you can afford it fit new pads and bleed the system, bulging hoses can mean bad fluid.
what are your discs like?

Buy a new light unit, bung mot guy a drink to set aim

[thai-wronghorse]

How did it fail on low coolant level, did it overheat during it's emissions test?

[K3RT]

Cheers for the replies 

@ VW BUSH: Cheers for the suggestion on the brake lines I did think about just rubbing them down and putting on underseal but I'm planning on keeping the car for a fair few more years so I'm not to sure at the moment

The rear brakes are drums so I'm not to sure on how much is left on the shoes am I right in thinking if there low then that could be the cause of the handbrake being slightly higher then normal? As for the front discs they look pretty good and the front pads are around 10,000 miles old (just under 2 years) do you reckon its worth changing them?

@ thai-wronghourse: It only failed on the headlight and brake hose the low coolant level was an advisory although every other time I've had this car MOTed its never been mentioned and the level was the same then as it is now.

[thai-wronghorse]

I had a brake line corrosion pulled up on my last MOT and it was simply a case of rubbing back the pipes with some emery cloth to reveal the solid metal beneath. They werent even pitted afterwards let alone ready to fail during use.
Id try this first as the MOT tester may have just had his attention drawn in this direction during the nasty cosmetics of them.

[K3RT]

Cheers  I think ill try that first then and see what they look like