Hi all,

 

Tried changing rear discs and pads today on my 2001 Fabia Tdi Estate. I'm having a total nightmare getting the carrier bolts off. I thought they were Torx T50 bolts, as the bit fit OK and I was able to do the driver's side. But on the passenger side the bolts are done up soooo tight and I've started to strip the head on one of the bolts.  

 

A bit of searching suggests they are in fact spline bolts which probably explains why the T50 Torx has started stripping the head.  But what size? I ran to Halfords and bought a spline bit set...but  the M8 bit is too small but M10 seems too big. 

 

Can someone who has done this job before please tell me what bit I need? I really need to get this sorted tomorrow morning as I need the car later in the day.

 

Thanks!

M10 according to the item 13 description here. Maybe your attempts with the torx bit have displaced some of the corners of the head pattern making it harder to get the tool in? Is there room to tap it in with a hammer?

You don't need to remove the carrier to change the discs.

Thank you both.

 

Wino - you might be on to something here. It is certainly possible that I've altered the head pattern slightly with my blunt force approach with the wrong tool.. oops. I will try tapping on the M10 bit tomorrow morning (although there isn't much space to wield a hammer behind there!) I have sprayed copious WD40 on the bolts this evening so hopefully that will help.

 

Tech1e - this is an interesting point. The old discs came off fine without removing the carriers. However, the new discs won't fit without removing the carrier! I was fiddling for ages trying to get them on, but I think it must be to do with the new discs having extra meat on them compared with the old ones. Am I missing something? Is there a trick to it?

Edited 12 March, 201610 yr by Del_Fabio

You don't need to remove the carrier to change the discs.

 

Thank you both.

 

Wino - you might be on to something here. It is certainly possible that I've altered the head pattern slightly with my blunt force approach with the wrong tool.. oops. I will try tapping on the M10 bit tomorrow morning (although there isn't much space to wield a hammer behind there!) I have sprayed copious WD40 on the bolts this evening so hopefully that will help.

 

Tech1e - this is an interesting point. The old discs came off fine without removing the carriers. However, the new discs won't fit without removing the carrier! I was fiddling for ages trying to get them on, but I think it must be to do with the new discs having extra meat on them compared with the old ones. Am I missing something? Is there a trick to it?

Techie is 100% correct they go in at an angle it feels like you need to force them but a little tap with the side of your fist and they go in.

You may well have saved me a lot of pain tomorrow in that case. It just felt like there was no way the new disc could clear the carrier when I was trying earlier. Hmmm, I will try the fist tap approach and see if I succeed!

I tended to think along the same lines as you, and succeeded with getting the carriers off on my wife's old Polo, but if you don't try you will not find out I suppose, certainly at that time I seemed to be in the minority with thinking that I needed to remove the carriers.  I hope that is the same with the latest models - when the time comes!

Goes without saying really but....make sure you have fully retracted the piston before trying to fit the disc....

Goes without saying really but....make sure you have fully retracted the piston before trying to fit the disc....

 

Normally, for me, the calliper is already off and out of the way if I'm replacing the disc (and pads), I would not think anyone is trying to replace discs with the calliper still mounted on its carrier, how strange!

Yes, the caliper is off the carrier and well out of the way (piston wound back fine as I've got the right tool for that). As I mentioned above, the old discs came off without a problem with carriers still in place, but the new ones hit the carrier and it didn't seem like there was a enough room.  I'll have another play tomorrow. I really hope I can get the discs on without removing the carrier!

Are the replacement discs definitely the right diameter and thickness?

They're Pagid discs with stated diameter of 232mm, 9mm thick which I believe are the correct dimensions for my car. However I will double check this to make sure I've definitely been given the right part.

Update... managed to get the disc on without removing the carrier. Gave it a bit of a whack with the palm of my hand and it fell into place. Made my day!

Good result then!

 

My "get out of jail free" card for my mistake was that I had previously replaced the rear discs on my Passat 4Motion - and that one does need the carrier removed, so I probably just went ahead and did the same for the Polo.

Yes, on other cars I've worked on the past I've needed to remove the carrier, hence why I thought I'd need to on the Fabia too. I was so relieved when it went on yesterday with a bit of gentle persuasion.

 

In other news, I started the car this morning and I've completely lost power steering. I was meant to be taking the car back to the MOT tester to (hopefully) pass the car now that I've rebuilt the rear brakes and fitted new discs and pads. Now I've got even bigger problems!

Before blind panic takes control, maybe check the battery and give it a re-charge and then see what happens - GOOD LUCK!!