Stop the Jetta! Slightly OT
 

I had to pull the 911 out of the garage to fix my daughter's '00 Jetta rear brakes. Did the front brakes recently--easy job, cheap parts, no problems. She said it was making a scraping noise from the rear and a drive the other day confirmed it.

I bought new rear rotors and pads, pulled off the left caliper and OOPS, forgot about the parking brake! Oh well, shouldn't be a problem, just push that piston back in....and.....HMMM?

HOW do you retract the piston on these things???!! I eventually took the whole caliper off and took it apart. I've resigned myself to the fact that I'll need at least one rebuilt caliper, but I CANNOT figure how to push that piston back in. There's a central adjustment screw for the parking brake that runs through the piston and I was able to screw the pad side of the piston back in while applying pressure from a standard piston pushing tool, but without the outer seal around it--not the right way, I'm sure.

Anybody ever work on one of these? Thanks for listening--I'll stick to air-cooled technology from now on.

There is a special tool that makes this VERY easy on Jetta/Golfs. I have a friend who ran into the same problem and had to actually leave his car parked in the garage until he could figure it out. I think he got the tool from the dealer or a NAPA..

I'll email him and see what he says.

If it's like a new beetle the pistons need to be turned as they are pushed back. There is a special tool to do this (naturally) that can be bought for under $40 I believe.

Pete

Ah yes...a special tool. Thanks guys, that makes sense, if it could be turned while pushing in. Uno problemo; here in the woods, 50 miles north of the closest dealer in Tampa, that may not be easy to find tomorrow. (I'll try NAPA though.)

http://www.jcwhitney.com/wcsstore/jc...che/I13669.gif

I think this is the tool. This one is for the rear...

My Accord rear pistons are the same way. The Piston has a large + patern in it. I just used a large L braket from my toolbox, screwed to a block of wood. The wood allowes me to twist while pushing. It's difficult to start, but then speeds up and gets easier.

But, be careful and turn slowly, just as you do with a C clamp on the front. I've been told you can blow seals if you push the pistons in too fast. Don't know if it's true or a myth, and I don't want to find out! Plus, it's a good idea to use silicone spray on the rubber seals so they don't tear.

My VW Passat ('02) were the same way - spin and retract. Bought the tool at Harbor Freight - it made it a 2 minute job. The tool is worth the investment!

That was the tool I used too.

My dad and I got a universal one from Kragen when we did my sisters new Bug for under $10.

I just used a pair of pliars on my mom's 01 Cabrio. It was a pain in the ass, but it worked. It was one of those Sunday Jobs for me. You know the one's that you think you can get done in an hour or so, but ends up taking all day because you didn't realize you needed a different tool that you don't have. And of course, I had to have it done by Monday morning for her.

I'm on my way to the local NAPA to get one now--thanks again guys!

If the piston head has cross slots on the face, use a pair of needle nose pliers in the open position with the tips inserted in one of the slots and turn thread the piston back in. It should turn easy. No special tool needed like CDiercks said.

Picked up the tool at Sears yesterday for $12. Universal style, so when the other kids bring their cars home or brake jobs, I'm set!