So I went to replace my rear pads last night (02 1.8T)- what a poor design. I could get the top allen bolt out, but there's no way I could get the lower bolt out using the "traditional" hex key.

Any suggestions?

 

Hex key with a wrench. put the 7mm hex in and use the closed end of the wrench for more torque. or find a torex that fits tight and use it. What you are doing is the easy part of vw/audi rear brakes. The compression of the caliper sucks.

 

The compression is easy with the right tool and the bleeder open.

 

So after I get the (2) bolts out, thats it right? Then pull the caliper off, replace pads, and jam it on the rotor again.

 

Yes sir, you dont even have to take of the bracket

 

What the.....


No, you don't JAM it back on the rotor. You need to compress the caliper cylinder so there is room to get the caliper back on with the thicker pads. To do this you need a tool for doing rear disc brakes. This tool will push AND twist the caliper piston. Your front caliper piston will just compress in with a C clamp, but the rears need to be turned as they are pushed in. Best to do this with the bleeder valve open so you aren't pushing fluid back through the system.

If you try to just jam it back together, you may rip the backing off of the brake pads (if you can even get them on).

 

+1 the piston has to rotate clockwise to retract. It can be done without a piston tool, if you know what your doing.

 

For $10 the cube is a good investment. I have a full disc brake caliper set that I got for $20, works even better than the cube.