Genuine 1999 Volkswagen Cabrio Brake Pad Set

1999 Volkswagen Cabrio Brake Pad Set Parts and Q&A

• Q: How can a rear Brake Pad Set be installed and bedded-in for optimal braking efficiency on 1999 Volkswagen Cabrio?

  A: New pads will never give maximum braking power until they have bedded-in, hence the importance of avoiding hard braking during the first hundred miles of a new pad. The first step would be to loosen the lug bolts of the wheels, block the front tires, lift the back of the car and place it safely on jackstands before removing the rear wheels. Put a drip pan under the brake and spray the caliper and surrounding with brake system cleaner. Lightly loosen the cable of the parking brake with a thin open-ended wrench, and take off the caliper guide pin bolts, leaving the guide pin bolts where they are, and discarding the old ones and attaching new ones on installation. Detach the caliper, and attach to the strut of the suspension, with a piece of wire, but do not leave it floating on the flexible brake hose. Take off two brake pads out of caliper mounting bracket and retrieve the anti-rattle springs and keep record of their correct position. Test the thickness of each brake pad; should any of them be worn out to the required minimum thickness or less, all four pads need to be changed and those that are oily or greasy also changed. When the pads are being used, in case they are worn out or contaminated, then find out the reason and correct this during reassembly. Ensure that the guide pins slide easily in the caliper bracket and that the dust boots are in good condition cleaning the caliper and mounting bracket where necessary. Check the dust seal on the piston, examine whether it is damaged and whether there are any corrosion or fluid leakages. When installing new pads, when the pads are being installed, make sure to attach the piston deep into the bore of the caliper by turning the piston clockwise and keeping an eye on the master cylinder reservoir to avoid overflowing. Fit the anti-rattle springs and pads in the mounting bracket, with assembly being done correctly towards the brake disc and insert the caliper again. Unless the new guide pin bolts have locking compound applied prior to use, apply a non-hardening thread-locking compound, then press the caliper into place and insert the bolts then tighten them to the required torque. Press the brake pedal several times until firm contact of the pads with the brake disc is achieved, then the normal pedal force is regained. Proceed with the rest of the rear brake caliper, re-hook the parking brake wires, adjust the parking brake, fit the wheels, and drop the vehicle and screw the wheel bolts to the recommended torque. Lastly, test the amount of brake fluid.