Hi all,

My Octavia vRS has done about 33K miles and the brake pads (front and rear) are starting to look a little bit low.

1) What is the minimum thickness below which I should get them replaced ?

2) Same for the discs ?

3) Does anyone know the best alternative Haynes manual to get being as they haven't done one for the Octavia yet ? how about the VW Golf manual - that covers the 1.8T model ?

I've only changed pads & discs once before and that was on my old Cavalier using a Haynes manual and I'm not confident of doing it without any guidance at all! (I don't want to pay to have it done if I don't have to - also fancied putting some non-Skoda parts on if possible)

Thanks in advance.

Cheers,

Chris

Hi Mate,

The best alternative to the Haynes manual is... Briskoda.net

I attempted to change the discs & pads myself but came unstuck on the fronts due to being completely unable to remove one of the old discs, but plenty of people on here have done it. (you may find some info if you do a search for brake replacement or somehting like that).

I fitted Black Diamond Discs & pads all round... but there are differing opinions as to what's needed.

Cheers,

Keoghan

i changed mine at about 35k ,pedal travel was getting long,even though the wear light didn't come on,this was due ,i think ,to the wire being severed on the pad.

if you have done them before then i guess VAG ones wil be fine for you,basically two torques bolts and a retaining clip for the fronts,carriers have to come off for the discs though,which will be tight(long bar and plenty of cups of tea )

as posted above,i have come from a SEAT to skoda and lots of bits are inter changeable across the VAG range, so briskoda and www.seatcupra.net are probably the two top sites for technical info imho.

I bought the Haynes Manual (Haynes 4169 - ISBN 1 84425 169 1) for the VW Golf and Bora 2001 to 2003. That quotes minimum brake pad thickness (all models) as 7.0 mm (including backing plate) front and 7.5 mm ( " " ) rear. Minimum front disc thickness is 22.0 mm, but it doesn't have specs for the vRS-size ventilated rear discs. Brake disc removal is covered in the manual.

Thanks for the help, guys. I shall definitely get the Golf manual.

Anyone know if you can put bigger discs on the rear using the same calipers or is that unwise without increasing the fronts as well because of potentially changing the brake bias ? I also noticed there seems to be some sort of guard behind the rear discs - maybe if you try to put bigger ones on it will touch ?

Cheers,

Chris

Don't forget to buy a brake winding tool, Chris, if you haven't got one already. Halfords sell (or used to) a Sykes-Pickavant one - PN: 66066500.

Don't forget to buy a brake winding tool, Chris, if you haven't got one already. Halfords sell (or used to) a Sykes-Pickavant one - PN: 66066500.

Should be about a tenner before you ask

Should be about a tenner before you ask

Nah...you got yours off some Pikey down the Market.

I think I paid around

Just a point to consider.. Even though replacing brake parts is well within the capability of the average DIYer mechanic.. There is the obvious safety issue to think of if you get any of the fitment incorrect then you put your and others safety at risk. If you are at all unsure about doing this correctly then I would STRONGLY recommend paying someone to do it for you.

A normal garage would not charge that much if you supplied you own choice

of parts.

Plus the garage should have all the correct tools and lifting devices, and most importantly a trained mechanic!

cheers

Daz

And to put the other side of the argument:

Changing brake discs and pads has to be one of the most ridiculously easy tasks on any car, and when putting on new parts, doesn't even involve bleeding the brakes as a rule. The only gotcha with the VAG cars is the winder tool required to push the pistons back (rear brakes only). I (and I'm sure many others) will be happy to provide step by step instructions if required, and depending on where you are in the country, there are people with the winder tool who may be willing to lend it to you.

No you can't put bigger discs on using the same calipers unless you get some kind of adapter to move the caliper out along the radial axis. If you meant thicker discs - then I don't believe there are any - your VRS discs are ventilated already.

The Golf Haynes manual should cover things pretty well.

If you really can't get a disc off (it's probably just rust on the face of the hub) as a last resort you could get a hammer and a cold chisel and split it - they're made of cast iron so should shatter in a satisfying fashion

carriers have to come off for the discs though' date='which will be tight(long bar and plenty of cups of tea )

[/quote']

How come? Can't envisage this.... :rubchin:

I think I have to give it a go otherwise I'll never learn - a trip to Halfords for a winder tool and the Golf Haynes manual is in order.

So bigger discs are out - thats ok - where's the best place to buy better discs and pads than the OEM such as the ones mentioned in the first reply - I guess not Halfords - can I get them online ?

Thanks for all the advice. Much appreciated.

Chris

And to put the other side of the argument:

Changing brake discs and pads has to be one of the most ridiculously easy tasks on any car' date=' and when putting on new parts, doesn't even involve bleeding the brakes as a rule. The only gotcha with the VAG cars is the winder tool required to push the pistons back (rear brakes only). I (and I'm sure many others) will be happy to provide step by step instructions if required, and depending on where you are in the country, there are people with the winder tool who may be willing to lend it to you.

No you can't put bigger discs on using the same calipers unless you get some kind of adapter to move the caliper out along the radial axis. If you meant thicker discs - then I don't believe there are any - your VRS discs are ventilated already.

The Golf Haynes manual should cover things pretty well.

If you really can't get a disc off (it's probably just rust on the face of the hub) as a last resort you could get a hammer and a cold chisel and split it - they're made of cast iron so should shatter in a satisfying fashion [/quote']

I agree with you BUT because it is such a vital system then any mistakes

could prove disasterous.... Chris states that he is not confident in doing it..

He might not have the correct tools. He might damage something taking

the caliper off etc etc.. There is plenty of things to go wrong even on a simple job like this...

All I'm saying is if someone is not confident in doing this job then it is best

to let someone who knows what they are doing... This goes for other 'simple' things, like changing mains plugs etc....

Also your advice of 'splitting the disk' could damage the wheel bearing or hub and

also cause injury when the disk shatters... brilliant advice!

Block of wood, rubber mallet and plenty of WD40.... This should be sufficient..

Dazz

How come? Can't envisage this.... :rubchin:

look at the carrier ,its wrapped around the disc,very liitle room between them infact,a few mm at most.i can only speak of the last 2 set ups i have had,but the VRS looks no different ,apart from the locating spring on the front

Hi, I got my Black Diamond stuff from www.needforspeed.co.uk . I'm sure other peop's have some ideas too

Can't remember how much it cost me though, sorry (about

Don't forget to buy a brake winding tool, Chris, if you haven't got one already. Halfords sell (or used to) a Sykes-Pickavant one - PN: 66066500.

or Laser tools PN 1314 ... about

Also your advice of 'splitting the disk' could damage the wheel bearing or hub and

also cause injury when the disk shatters... brilliant advice!

Block of wood' date=' rubber mallet and plenty of WD40.... This should be sufficient..

Dazz[/quote']

Indeed - twas rather tongue-in-cheek, as no doubt you guessed. Personally I've never even needed the WD40 but there's always a first time.

:cheers:

look at the carrier ,its wrapped around the disc,very liitle room between them infact,a few mm at most.i can only speak of the last 2 set ups i have had,but the VRS looks no different ,apart from the locating spring on the front

Well I've just been out and looked and, apart from the caliper, can't see anything on the wheel side of the disc, so can't see how anything other than the caliper needs to come off. No doubt I'll find out when I come to do them, though.... ta for the tip.

there you go.i knew i'd done some

http://www.seatcupra.net/guide_leonbrakes.htm

same as

btw thats me in the last pic,getting a phone call from the mrs,as to when i'm "going to stop mucking aboutwith cars and pick her and our eldest from the trafford centre"

That's really weird - looking at the caliper in the first couple of pics it looks like it bolts on at the back and slides off sideways like they normally do, but then when it's removed, there's those two arms you couldn't see with the caliper in place. Strange :rubchin:

2 things:

- on the models with the 288mm brakes there's no such problem - the caliper comes off, and then the disc is free.

- an impact driver makes a big difference to getting the locating screws out - better than drilling if it works

Nice writeup - we should try and do similar stuff here to show people it's not that scary!

imagine the caliper off,the carrier has next to no room between itself and disc,take off the reataining screw,the disc is free to pull off,but due to the depth between the disc and hub(an inch or two)you need this amount of room to remove the disc.the carrier is not going to allow this.therefore you need to remove carrier to get the disc off.

now if you are just changing discs you"could" just take off the carrier bolts and refit,but the pads are a bitch to fit this way.make sense?

btw if briskoda need any write ups just let me know what needs to be covered and i wil soon be attempting some.TIP on the VRS is probably my next venture

I put my Ferodo pads back in today so I took a few pics along the way. Hopefully they'll be useful to Chris.

@Jason - I guess Leon brakes are different - as you can see, once the caliper is removed, there's no impediment to removing the disc apart from the retaining screw and any corrosion that may be present.

@Chris - Hope you can see the steps: remove wheel, on one side disconnect the wear sensor by lifting the little tab on the connector and sliding it apart. Unbolt the caliper, slide it off the disc to the side, then replacement of the pads should be pretty straightforward. Don't forget to put the anti-rattle springs back when you've finished - be prepared for some sore finger ends and a few curses here ! (in case anybody was idly speculating - yes you can get them back on without taking the wheel off again :P )

I put my Ferodo pads back in today so I took a few pics along the way. Hopefully they'll be useful to Chris.

@Jason - I guess Leon brakes are different - as you can see' date=' once the caliper is removed, there's no impediment to removing the disc apart from the retaining screw and any corrosion that may be present.

@Chris - Hope you can see the steps: remove wheel, on one side disconnect the wear sensor by lifting the little tab on the connector and sliding it apart. Unbolt the caliper, slide it off the disc to the side, then replacement of the pads should be pretty straightforward. Don't forget to put the anti-rattle springs back when you've finished - be prepared for some sore finger ends and a few curses here ! (in case anybody was idly speculating - yes you [i']can[/i] get them back on without taking the wheel off again :P )

:eek: :eek: :eek: Look at the state of those calipers. :eek: and one just for luck. :eek:

:eek: :eek: :eek: Look at the state of those calipers. :eek: and one just for luck. :eek:

They stop the car, don't they?! :P OK so there's a teeny-weeny bit of brake dust on them ... you saying I should CLEAN them, or something?

Got me all embarrassed now ... mumble mumble

They stop the car' date=' don't they?! :P OK so there's a teeny-weeny bit of brake dust on them ... you saying I should CLEAN them, or something?

Got me all embarrassed now ... mumble mumble [/quote']

I'm a bit puzzled, as you drive like a granny when would you us the brakes, why would they get dirty in the first place. :ne_nau: