Ok so I have my first proper issue with my car after 16 months of ownership... much better than my 3 year old Astra that had so many more problems it was untrue!

So the other night I was crusing along the ring road at a steady 70 and started to get a smokey smell in the car.

Pulled off, checked under the hood, nothing obvious.... Walked round to the rear and there it was.... A smoking rear brake set up (off side).

Although I couldn't say 100% at the time, I was adamant it wasn't me forgetting to release the handbrake before anyone asks!!

Taken her for another drive this evening but this time I have been extra vigilant with the handbrake, but the rear off side calliper is still getting hot to touch and a very slight buning smell, the other rear caliper wasn't hit at all.

Now I read all about the various different issues with the mk1 vRS before I bought it, so have come to the assumption it's the sticking caliper issue. (please correct me if you have another idea!)

So my question is, apart from the disc and pads, which I will be changing once the parts have been delivered, will I be damaging anything else? And should I stop driving it until I have changed the discs and pads and put on the caliper return spring?

And although I have the part numbers for the sharan caliper return spring, is there anywhere other that popping into a dealership where I can buy them online? (I know lazy shopper!)

Cheers people!

£4 springs from a sharan? There are many other issues that it could be, if you handy with tools then try stripping them down and cleaning? Worst case senario is servo/master cylinder which has happened to me and a growing number of others... ( if it is this the front nearside wheel = hotness)

Try here

Edited 3 May, 201214 yr by pieman[vrs]

One of the ones I test drove before I bought mine had this.

I only didn't buy it because the guy refused to knock a bit off

the price. There's a TPS in Brislington, but I haven't used it yet.

Pastyboy has just fitted a set to his new Fabia I think and it has cured

the issue.

£4 springs from a sharan? There are many other issues that it could be, if you handy with tools then try stripping them down and cleaning? Worst case senario is servo/master cylinder which has happened to me and a growing number of others... ( if it is this the front nearside wheel = hotness)

Try here

Yeah those £4 jobbies! Thought I would try that first as the cheapest fix, but may take the caliper off when I replace the disc and pads then to take a look..... But then I know I wo t be able to resist giving them a fresh lick of paint!

One of the ones I test drove before I bought mine had this.

I only didn't buy it because the guy refused to knock a bit off

the price. There's a TPS in Brislington, but I haven't used it yet.

Pastyboy has just fitted a set to his new Fabia I think and it has cured

the issue.

Cheers Garry, might pop over tomorrow if I finish filming in time!

I'm also after some of the rear caliper helper springs, is there anywhere Online to buy them from? As my TPS is quite a trek away.

I'm also after some of the rear caliper helper springs, is there anywhere Online to buy them from? As my TPS is quite a trek away.

How locals your nearest vw dealer? Or perhaps ford as may have same helper springs on galaxy

www.theskodashop.co.uk/

http://stores.ebay.c...eskodapartsshop <-call them they may list the part for you

Edited 3 May, 201214 yr by pieman[vrs]

So my question is, apart from the disc and pads, which I will be changing once the parts have been delivered, will I be damaging anything else? And should I stop driving it until I have changed the discs and pads and put on the caliper return spring?

And although I have the part numbers for the sharan caliper return spring, is there anywhere other that popping into a dealership where I can buy them online? (I know lazy shopper!)

Cheers people!

I'm getting the same thing. You're perfectly fine to drive it, once you've parked somewhere flat and then with the engine off and in gear, you can reach around the back of the wheel and pop the handbrake arm up by hand. This will free the wheel up so it's no longer getting stupidly hot (as it's the heat that's likely to cause problems), although you'll probably find if you use the handbrake at any point, you're back to square one. For the moment, I'm just parking in flat places and leaving the car in gear, until I can get my 256mm rear setup fitted.

edit - for the record, I've got Sharan return springs fitted (the 7M0 type from the "Useful info" thread). Even with those, the offside caliper sticks on, so I would say either go for the beefier Golf ones (1K0 part number, I think) or just accept that even with the external return springs to help, the calipers can gum up.

I would say they jusy need freeing up abit.

Mine were sticking a bit and I took them off while replacing the discs and pads anyway. I wound them in with the rewind tool then pumped the brake to get them all the way out and then wound them back in. Cleaned them all up and they've been fine.

Also if you had left the handbrake on you would have known as it beeps at you if you do that. Unless, of course, it was only just on a tiny bit and not enough to trigger the switch.

Phil

Pastyboy has just fitted a set to his new Fabia I think and it has cured

the issue.

I actually haven't got around to buying or fitting any yet.

I took my car back to the dealer and had the rear brakes stripped, cleaned and lubed under warranty and the binding has stopped.

Am still planning on (eventually) getting to my dealer to get some springs though "just in case"

I'm also after some of the rear caliper helper springs, is there anywhere Online to buy them from? As my TPS is quite a trek away.

I used these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-SKODA-SEAT-AUDI-N-S-R-LEFT-REAR-HAND-BRAKE-SPRING-1K0615295-/320846784442?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&fits=Car+Make%3ASkoda&hash=item4ab3f567ba

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-SKODA-SEAT-AUDI-O-S-R-RIGHT-REAR-HAND-BRAKE-SPRING-1K0615296-/380410515008?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&fits=Car+Make%3ASkoda&hash=item58923bce40

If you go for these, you will save a lot of swearing and cut fingers if you compress them with a cable tie before fitting, then cut the cable tie off when you are done:

Thanks guys for all your input.

I'm probably going to buy the springs regardless but will give them a spruc up when I replace the discs and pads.

Is there anything in particular I should pay special attention to....I mean I've changed brakes before but never needed to "clean them up" to make them work properly!?!

Cheers again people!

It's possible that the carriers for the pads will be crudded up. If they paint is broken then it could be down to corrosion so you will need to wire brush them down and re-paint. Otherwise you may just be able to brush the crud off and clean it up. This is usually cause to sticking brakes as the metal carriers get stiff on the pads and stop them moving freely.

Make sure you have some copper grease to hand of course and stick plenty on anything that moves and on the back of the pads.

They're the steps I've always taken and managed to sort out many sticking brakes etc.

Phil

It's possible that the carriers for the pads will be crudded up. If they paint is broken then it could be down to corrosion so you will need to wire brush them down and re-paint. Otherwise you may just be able to brush the crud off and clean it up. This is usually cause to sticking brakes as the metal carriers get stiff on the pads and stop them moving freely.

Make sure you have some copper grease to hand of course and stick plenty on anything that moves and on the back of the pads.

They're the steps I've always taken and managed to sort out many sticking brakes etc.

Phil

Awesom cheers Phil just what I needed to know!