retracting pistons on rear brakes

[oprn]

Our '05 Golf is in need of rear pads. In the past I have never been able to get the rear pistons to retract on these cars (Jetta and Golf) and have ended up taking them into a shop to be done. The fronts are easy.

When taking them in the shop always insists on new rotors. The rotors are nearly perfect but that is their company policy, new pads + new rotors, always.

Rumor has it there is a special tool needed because the rear calipers have the E brake and the pistons need to be rotated? to retract?
_________________
Our cars get old, we get old but driving an old VW never gets old!

[TDCTDI]

Yes, there is a special tool that rotates the piston as it compresses it, something like this…

https://www.amazon.com/DNA-MOTORING-TOOLS-00243-Co...mp;sr=8-28


If you have a Autozone near you, they usually have a free tool loan program.
https://www.autozone.com/brakes-and-traction-contr...liper+tool
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[oprn]

Thank you!

Autozone does not exist in my part of the world but I have no problem investing in tools.
_________________
Our cars get old, we get old but driving an old VW never gets old!

[oprn]

The tool arrived as did the brake pads but the pads were completely wrong. They were 3 times too big. Re-ordered them and they came right the second time. Weird thing is that both boxes had the same part number... even the boxes were completely different sizes.

The right side is done and went as expected apart from the lower caliper mounting pin. It was seized in place and took about 3 hours to get it out. Ended up taking the caliper mounting bracket off, putting it in a vice and between penetrating oil, breaking it loose with a long swing handle and using a slide hammer alternately it finally came out.

The top and bottom pins are different. The top one is tapered in steps while the bottom one is the same size all the way down but has 3 flats machined on it. The top one was well greased while the bottom one was dry. I don't know if this is normal. I will see if the other side is the same.
_________________
Our cars get old, we get old but driving an old VW never gets old!

[oprn]

Same horse manure on the other side! Why the heck do they lube the top pin well but nothing on the bottom one?!
_________________
Our cars get old, we get old but driving an old VW never gets old!

[oprn]

No mucking about this time, penetrating oil, break it loose with a swing bar, then straight to the slide hammer!

It was not stuck near as bad as the last one.

Shine up the pin.

Drill out the rust.

Here are the two pins. Not sure why they are different.

All back together and good to go.
_________________
Our cars get old, we get old but driving an old VW never gets old!