Questions and Answers

Volkswagen Passat Rear Brakes Q. Could you please tell us how to get the calipers and rotors off of our Volkswagen Passat? My husband has done the front brakes already but the back brakes are giving him some difficulty. 1992 Volkswagen Passat 2.0 liter Manual transmission ABS brakes - Yes Cruise control, P/S, A/C Thank you for your time, Susan

A. Here is the procedure Susan:

1. Raise and support vehicle, then remove rear wheels.
2. Disconnect parking cables from caliper.
3. Remove mounting bolts, then the caliper.
4. Remove brake pads.
5. Screw piston into housing using caliper tool 3131 or equivalent by turning clockwise while pushing in firmly. Always remove some brake fluid from master cylinder reservoir prior to installing new pads. When caliper piston is pushed back, fluid is forced out of caliper and into reservoir. After pads are installed, refill reservoir to MAX mark.
6. Install brake pads onto carrier, then the caliper and "new" self-locking mounting bolts. Tighten mounting bolts to specifications.
7. Reconnect parking brake cable, then adjust parking brake.

I think the problem he is having is in retracting the caliper piston back into the caliper housing. The pistons needs to be screwed back in as described in step 5.