Ok, just got back from the Mot on my VRS and I was expecting a fail, but it's got a few more items than I was expecting!

I thought it would fail on front and rear disks being shot and possibly front tyres. The previous owner ignored advisories on the rear discs for two years running and the fronts looked past it when I viewed. However, I didn't pay that much for it, so expected to shell out a bit to get through this MOT.

It's actually failed on the following points;

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated, resulting in excessive movement. (Is marked with chalk but haven't been under car yet - and to be honest the car has started to feel a bit sloppy)

Nearside rear brake caliper leaking - **Dangerous**

Offside front brake binding

Anyone know where I can get a standard rear nearside reconditioned brake caliper, and what sort of price?

Ditto, Front Offside?

I'm going to change all the disks anyway, so wondering if i'd be just as well doing the 312 front upgrade for around £240 all in with reconditioned calipers and carriers and brand new disks and pads?

any views or help more than warmly received

my rear caliper had seized i think my mechnic mate managed to get a new one for £70-£100 that was a couple of months back so not sure on prices now.

As for the fronts. Do the 312 upgrade while you have the excuse

How a bit of time and only £15 get a set of new seals and dust skirts from Skoda!! Remove caliper, using a piston windback tool, unwind piston from caliper body, remove dust skirt and seal....clean piston with 2000grit wet and dry and same with caliper bore...using brake fluid as a lube! Then fit new seal and skirt and refit piston using a push/twist then wind in using the wind back tool! Refill/bleed whole system...fit new pads/discs whatever! I have redone all the calipers on my car this way.....takes a bit of time and can be a bit fiddly.....but very well worth it!!

Edited 28 June, 201115 yr by fabdavrav

How a bit of time and only £15 get a set of new seals and dust skirts from Skoda!! Remove caliper, using a piston windback tool, unwind piston from caliper body, remove dust skirt and seal....clean piston with 2000grit wet and dry and same with caliper bore...using brake fluid as a lube! Then fit new seal and skirt and refit piston using a push/twist then wind in using the wind back tool! Refill/bleed whole system...fit new pads/discs whatever! I have redone all the calipers on my car this way.....takes a bit of time and can be a bit fiddly.....but very well worth it!!

Don't suppose you have the part no's by any chance? also, have you got a link to where I can buy the wind back tool or is it from Skoda? and approx how much?

many thanks.

Don't suppose you have the part no's by any chance? also, have you got a link to where I can buy the wind back tool or is it from Skoda? and approx how much?

many thanks.

Wind back tool is made by Laser, got from a local tool place, and the seals.....I don't have a VRS but the rears might be the same ....will get part nos after 2pm today for you!!

Na, he got all the parts for me, best bet is go to skoda or GSF for the part.

You can get the windback tool from Halfrauds, ebay, machine mart... or just use a pair of long needle nose plyers

or just use a pair of long needle nose plyers

Been there done that.........NEVER AGAIN!!!!! Proper tool for the job makes it sooooooo much easier and saves the dust skirt, and your fingers!!!!

Wind back tool is made by Laser, got from a local tool place, and the seals.....I don't have a VRS but the rears might be the same ....will get part nos after 2pm today for you!!

Don't worry about the part no's, I'll just phone my local Skoda dealer with my reg no. Many thanks though.

Na, he got all the parts for me, best bet is go to skoda or GSF for the part.

You can get the windback tool from Halfrauds, ebay, machine mart... or just use a pair of long needle nose plyers

Am I asking for a 'skoda' rear caliper piston windback tool? or is it just a universal jobbie?

cheers.

Am I asking for a 'skoda' rear caliper piston windback tool? or is it just a universal jobbie?

cheers.

You can get the wind back tool from Halfords. I'd give you a link, but their site is blocked at my work - "shopping". I think it was about £15?

It's the caliper seals and other bits you'll want to ask the dealer about

A brand new green painted rear caliper from vwspares.co.uk is about £100...

When it comes to doing your rear brakes, have a look at this thread http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/137832-handbrake-cable-issue-on-my-vrs/ It may be relevent to your brake bing issue. The handrake operating lever btween the cable and the caliper may be stuck.

When it comes to doing your rear brakes, have a look at this thread http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/137832-handbrake-cable-issue-on-my-vrs/ It may be relevent to your brake bing issue. The handrake operating lever btween the cable and the caliper may be stuck.

The one that is binding is on the front, the one on the back is leaking

Well, Clist and Rattle Skoda Bristol have just confirmed that the caliper rebuild kit is £15 per side - but it's there policy NOT to sell these parts to the public!!

If I'd like to go along with a mechanic who can 'prove' he is qualified they'll order the bits for me !

haven't picked my jaw up off the floor yet.

that rear or front?

that rear or front?

Rear

Am I asking for a 'skoda' rear caliper piston windback tool? or is it just a universal jobbie?

cheers.

The Laser tool that I use is 1314 code about £15 to £22 cost from any tool place. Also used (briefly) a brake cylinder honing tool Laser code 2243?? about £10 to £15.

Be care full ordering the seals tho' as on my car the kits were one kit of one seal and one dust skirt per front caliper and on the back it was just one kit of two seals and two dust skirts for both calipers!!!! And just give them your reg no or VIN no!

When doing the job remove discs and pads then before stripping the piston first clean all the crap of the caliper and bracket with meths! Then remove/rip off the dust skirt then invert the caliper (piston facing upwards) and spray penetrating oil in the now exposed join between the piston and the caliper body (this softens the old seal). Leave for 10mins then I pressured the brake system using my Gunsons Easy-bled and or apply brake pedal to push piston out! Place a tray under the caliper to catch the fluid and an axlestand to support the caliper!

Then use 2000grit wet and dry and brake fluid as lube to polish/remove crap from the piston....must end up smooth and shiney...used some 120 grit on the pad contact face of piston. Then using some cheap pointy "pickers/scapers" get the rust/crap out of the groove that the dustskirt sits in, in both the piston and the caliper body. Then gently use either 2000 grit WD or the honing tool do the caliper body (should be clean anyway) then clean everything with meths then wipe the piston and the inside of the caliper bore with new brakefluid.

All the seal and skirt grooves must be clean and everything inside like new!!!

Then lube the new seal and fit in place. Now the tricky bit!!!

First lube the dustskirt and the piston with either the fitting paste or new brakefluid. Fit the dustskirt (stretch it) over the piston but do not fit it so that the narrow part of it fits into the piston groove (it should do and will later!) fit it so that this bit is down at the the other end of the piston (still with the piston and skirt the correct way around). Then using one hand to hold the skirt just onto the piston with the main bit of the skirt extended/hanging over the end (end that is inside the caliper) of the piston...use your other hand to guide this bit of the skirt into the caliper groove for the skirt. Once you have the skirt sitting in the caliper correctly (will take a bit of time and you can push piston in abit by hand and then check for correct seating of the dustskirt by pulling using your hand on the skirt and looking at the exposed join to the caliper)..... then push and twist the piston (clockwise) into the caliper......this may require the use of the windback tool as you are now pushing the piston through the seal and the dustskirt seal!!! Continue until the piston is fully pressed in....the final seal will automatically fit inplace....you may have to relive the pressure on the skirt by using a blunt small tool to lift the final seal edge before it seats!!

On the rears the pistons HAVE to be unwound (anticlockwise) from the caliper and wound in (clockwise) using the windback tool...other than that fitting is the same.....but the force required to initally catch the centre post of the internal HB mech is a bit more....so take care pushing/twisting clockwise!!....errr remember to remove the handbrake cable on the rear before doing any work and readjust it after!!!

EDIT = spelling is k.o.!!...O>K?? ish

Edited 28 June, 201115 yr by fabdavrav

Well, Clist and Rattle Skoda Bristol have just confirmed that the caliper rebuild kit is £15 per side - but it's there policy NOT to sell these parts to the public!!

If I'd like to go along with a mechanic who can 'prove' he is qualified they'll order the bits for me !

haven't picked my jaw up off the floor yet.

4uck that!! thats a load of *******s!!! I went to my local Skoda dealer and got them do probs, and I'm not a "mechanic"......I'm far better than most who call themselves that tho'

P.S. the code for my new seals (complete kit for rear axle) was 8D0-698-671 ......ONLY NEED ONE KIT AS CONTAINED 2X SEALS AND 2X DUSTSKIRTS

Edited 28 June, 201115 yr by fabdavrav

Rear

TBH mate i would just replace the part, mine was sticking, they broke it down and fixed it then it only lasted 2 weeks.

I know its a bit doom and gloom but if its not a seal and somethng has got in and notched the casting and not even a new seal fixes it then thats £15 + labour wasted.

When it comes to brakes i would say NEW evey time.

The Laser tool that I use is 1314 code about £15 to £22 cost from any tool place. Also used (briefly) a brake cylinder honing tool Laser code 2243?? about £10 to £15.

Be care full ordering the seals tho' as on my car the kits were one kit of one seal and one dust skirt per front caliper and on the back it was just one kit of two seals and two dust skirts for both calipers!!!! And just give them your reg no or VIN no!

When doing the job remove discs and pads then before stripping the piston first clean all the crap of the caliper and bracket with meths! Then remove/rip off the dust skirt then invert the caliper (piton facing upwards) and spray pemetrating oil in the now exposed join between the piston and the caliper body (this softens the old seal). Leave for 10mins then I pressured the brake system using my Gunsons Easy-bled and or apply brake pedal to push piston out! Place a tray under the caliper to catch the fluid and an axlestand to support the caliper!

Then use 2000grit wet and dry and brake fluid as lube to polish/remove crap from the piston....must end up smooth and shiney...used some 120 grit on the pad contact face of piston. Then using some cheap pointy "pickers/scapers" get the rust/crap out of the groove that the dustskirt sits in, in both the piston and the caliper body. Then gently use either 2000 grit WD or the honing tool do the caliper body (should be clean anyway) then clean everything with meths then wipe the piston and the inside of the caliper bore with new brakefluid.

All the seal and skirt grooves must be clean and everything inside like new!!!

Then lube the new seal and fit in place. Now the tricky bit!!!

First lube the dustskirt and the piston with either the fitting paste or new brakefluid. Fit the dustskirt (stretch it) over the piston but do not fit it so that the narrow part of it fits into the piston groove (it should do and will later!) fit it so that this bit is down at the the other end of the piston (still with the piston and skirt the correct way around). Then using one hand to hold the skirt just onto the piston with the main bit of the skirt extended/hanging over the end (end that is inside the caliper) of the piston...use your other hand to guide this bit of the skirt into the caliper groove for the skirt. Once you have the skirt sitting in the caliper correctly (will take a bit of time and you can push piston in abit by hand and then check for correct seating of the dustskirt by pulling using your hand on the skirt and looking at the exposed join to the caliper)..... then push and twist the piston (clockwise) into the caliper......this may require the use of the windback tool as you are now pushing the piston through the seal and the dustskirt seal!!! Continue until the piston is fully pressed in....the final seal will automatically fit inplace....you may have to relive the pressure on the skirt by using a blunt small tool to lift the final seal edge before it seats!!

On the rears the pistons HAVE to be unwound (anticlockwise) from the caliper and wound in (clockwise) using the windback tool...other than that fitting is the same.....but the force required to initally catch the centre post of the internal HB mech is a bit more....so take care pushing/twisting clockwise!!....errr remember to remove the handbrake cable on the rear before doing any work and readjust it after!!!

Magic Post, thanks very much !!

TBH mate i would just replace the part, mine was sticking, they broke it down and fixed it then it only lasted 2 weeks.

I know its a bit doom and gloom but if its not a seal and somethng has got in and notched the casting and not even a new seal fixes it then thats £15 + labour wasted.

When it comes to brakes i would say NEW evey time.

Yeah but looking a buying two new calipers as he is thats expensive.....plus how long befor the other two screw up???

Oh and I recon that your lot probably didn't polish the piston properly....standard practice is to do the job ASAP so that means just replacing the seals!! Thing is that the piston getts alot of burnt on rubber/fluid which screws the seals!!!!

This is what my "sticking" front passenger side piston looked like.....and belive you me after using 2000grit WD on it was as good as new!!! And no leaks so far!!! after 3months!!!!

Edited 28 June, 201115 yr by fabdavrav

Every cloud has a silver lining,

Many thanks to all the advice and posts on this and the 312 upgrade thread.

Now going to 312's with fully refurbished calipers and carriers for £165 delivered and virtually free nearly new discs and brand new pads (courtesy of Gareth and Gr666 - top gents)

A different Skoda dealer, Blade Bristol, will have the caliper rebuild kit in by Thursday with no B******T about qualified mechanics!

Just need to source some rear discs (not that they failed the Mot but doing them anyway) and console bushes and jobs a good-un !!

Well, Clist and Rattle Skoda Bristol have just confirmed that the caliper rebuild kit is £15 per side - but it's there policy NOT to sell these parts to the public!!

If I'd like to go along with a mechanic who can 'prove' he is qualified they'll order the bits for me !

haven't picked my jaw up off the floor yet.

We had similar when purchasing a gearbox for a VW Bora , which I recall was the best part of £1,000. Our local VW garage informed us that once we had fitted the gearbox, they will need to inspect the installation at a cost to us of £75, so that they can 'activate' the manufacturers warranty on it. We were told that it was VW policy.

We got the gearbox from another dealer who hadn't heard of this policy.