Guys and Gals,

I have just changed the front discs and pads on my 06 Superb after the garage said it wasn't covered by warranty due to them being warped.

Anyway, changed them ok, got the callipers off and the discs and replaced them with new ones, all went back together ok. Just one question though, since I have done them one of the discs has a bronze colouring on part of the disc around near the hub - where the pad touches. Does anyone have any idea why this is doing this?

I have covered about 150 miles since doing them, all pulls up in a straight line, no apparent binding etc.

So I am confused! I also replaced the pads with new ones too.

Any help would be gratefully appreciated!

Regards

SJ

The "bronze" colouring is in fact a light coating of rust. One pad is not properly bedded to the disk and rust is forming - accelerated by the wet weather. Were your pads of reputable make and did you thoroughly clean the guides and check for free movement? I would keep a careful watch on this because if the pads do not bed fully soon, the disk will be damaged through corrosion. Where did you get your new pads and what make are they?

rotodiesel.

Did you put the pads in correctly, they are handed.

I used Skoda Original parts, did not know they were handed. I know the ones on the back have the clip on them with the wire so they go the place they do. Will have to take a look at the weekend to make sure all is present and correct.

Next time, buy your pads at German Swedish & French. After the dealer kindly sold me a used Superb with 2mm of friction material left on the rear pads I fitted replacements from GSF for a lot less money than the VAG parts. They were identical in every respect to the originals, even down to the numbers stamped on the backing plates. New slider bolts with locking compound were included in the kit.

The front pads are handed if you have Teves calipers, the rears are not, but you need the piston winding tool.

rotodiesel.

Next time, buy your pads at German Swedish & French. After the dealer kindly sold me a used Superb with 2mm of friction material left on the rear pads I fitted replacements from GSF for a lot less money than the VAG parts. They were identical in every respect to the originals, even down to the numbers stamped on the backing plates. New slider bolts with locking compound were included in the kit.

The front pads are handed if you have Teves calipers, the rears are not, but you need the piston winding tool.

rotodiesel.

Teves callipers? how will I know that?

The Teves calipers have a long wire anti-rattle spring which you can see clearly from the outside. They are also the ones for which you use a 7mm hex key (after removing the rubber bungs - unless the dealer has already lost them) to free the sliders. The alternative front calipers (Lucas/Girling) are more like the rears - sliders held in with hex head bolts coated with locking compound. I've only ever seen Teves calipers fitted to Superbs but the B5.5 Haynes manual details both types.

rotodiesel.

Ok, thanks for that. Looks like I have these Teves callipers. How do I check if the pads are handed? I have the ones with the clip and wire on at the rear / behind the disc and the other one at the front outside face, are the pads rotational? (meaning they only are supposed to wear one way?)

Although the Teves pads are handed, I doubt whether you would get it wrong as the inner pads have the clip securing them to the piston inner bore. I'm reluctant to give detailed instructions for such a safety critical job, but if you look in the B5.5 Haynes manual (4279) it's all there with pictures in section 9.4. It's my guess that your pads are not fully free in the carriers - sometimes there is a stamping burr on the backplate at the tongued end. A fine polish with a needle file will take this off, but don't remove any bulk metal. The pads often stick at this point which is a cause of warped disks and uneven wear.

rotodiesel

Ok took off the pads again today and checked and greased them up again making sure they slide in the guides etc. couldn't see any notation of handing etc, but the one with the clip is on the side of the piston / pot and the other one is on the outer face of the disc. I have also bent the spring / clip slightly to give it more bite on the calliper carrier bracket so hopefully it will be tighter against the disc, have to see over the next few days.

In the mean time, thanks to all who have given me their input.

Regards

SJ