www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

Hi,
I tried to save a few £ changing the rear brake pads on my VW CC.

Before I replaced the pads the brakes were hard under foot and very responsive - they just need a slight tap.
Now the brakes feel a bit 'spongy' and the pedal gives way quite a bit - its like I can hear a slight whoosh of air when I press on the brake pedal.
The rear brakes do work but not as responsive.

Here is what I did:

- fit chocks under front wheels
- loosened rear wheel bolts.
- released electronic parking brake.
- jacked rear sides / put car under stands
- removed wheels
- removed caliper bolts
- removed old pads
- removed cap from brake fluid reservoir
- pushed back caliper pistons
- cleaned calipers
- copper grease on new pads and fit them
- refit calipers
- fit new caliper bolts
- put wheels back on
- electronic parking brake closed.
- tightened wheel bolts
- replaced cap from brake fluid reservoir

Did I miss any steps? How do I get the brakes back the way they were?

Thanks for your help!

Did you bleed the brakes? This sounds like air in the system even though logic dictates that the fluid line was not opened in your procedure and bleeding unnecessary.

DWD

Thanks DWD
I didn't bleed the brakes.
Is it an easy job to do?
Would it cost much?

No, it is a two handed job as someone has to slowly press the brake down as the bleed nipple is opened systematically on each wheel. See this video but skip the rubbish to the process which is shown clearly https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl1Q-AhfgjU I am not sure if this is different on your car as I have not done this for years. I would think a back street garage would not charge much to do it. There are one man bleed kits you can buy that pressurise the system to avoid the man on the peddle. I tried one once and got into a right mess.

I hope I have not led you down a wrong alley, it just sounds like a bleed is needed to me.

DWD

Or get a Gunson's Eezibleed kit. Makes bleeding the brakes or changing the fluid for that matter dead simple.
https://www.halfords.com/tools/hand-too ... 21158.html

Sounds like air in the system. Before faffing with doing it yourself give a few small garages a quick ring for a quote on a bleed, it might not be all that expensive and they can check the other work you have done.

If the car has done plenty of miles, say 100k, it may be best to bleed the brakes using pressure (not as straightforward as it sounds) otherwise the master cylinder may get damaged and that will need replacing next. Been there done that, but it only cost me a fiver back then for a repair kit for the master cylinder.

I am not a car person, but I did like wheeler dealers with Ed China. Often seen him say "after changing brake pads, I will just get (The other bloke often in grey overalls) to help. And the other bloke sat in the drivers seat pressing the brake pedal slowly, and we would see Ed at the brakes bleeding them.

My point being is it takes two, but all the other person has to do is to slowly press the brake pedal.