I'm quite familiar with changing brake pads, and changing the rear pads on my 2018 Golf GTI looks no more complicated than usual.

 

It looks like you can change the pads without VCDS, simply by dropping the EPB gearbox off and winding the drive shaft (i.e. backing off) while compressing the piston back into the calliper.

 

Has anyone done it, and is it that simple?

 

Ta

 

Gaz

 

Some people do it yes. Do i recommend it, no.

 

The motors are made to apply a specific amount of torque to the piston screw and wind on and off a set amount to prevent binding.

 

When you do it manually you override these values and can cause either excessive drag or can cause the motor to twist past its stops and can break the lugs off the motor.

 

In the short term you may not have any issues, in the long term you may not have any issues, but there is still the chance you will do it wrong and something will have extra wear on it. 

41 minutes ago, ApertureS said:

...... but there is still the chance you will do it wrong and something will have extra wear on it. 

 

Thanks - and I'm a great believer in that particular law.  My local independent garage said the same as you 👍  So I opted out of DIY.

 

It was done a couple of weeks ago (Edit: I see from the 'What annoyed you' thread that it was actually 27 April ), and unless it's a placebo effect, the brakes do feel better.

 

Gaz

Edited 29 May, 20233 yr by Gaz
Age-related disconnect with the space-time continuum

It may be the same as my VW CC, you remove the electrical connector from the brake, apply 12v to one of the two pins, if it winds in great, if it winds out, put the live on the other pin.