Rear Calipers - What to do?

[jdbubb at verizon.net (Dan Bubb)]

First if you're going to buy calipers either get them from www.germanautoparts.com or www.part4vws.com
Way better price than the dealer!

The calipers that came on the Scirocco seem to have a handbrake mechanism that binds up easily. There have been procedures posted to the list that describe how to unbind them, but don't know if this will work for you if you're mechanically challenged.
In any event it appears that A1 and A2 cars both have the same type of mechanism, the A3 caliper has a different setup and that's what I'm running on my car. They are also cheaper at ~$135 vs ~$165 for new parts at German auto.
The need to be mounted upside down for the parking cables to connect, which means the bleeder screw is on the bottom.
To bleed them you need to dismount the caliper. Much easier to do and still a one man operation if you have a power bleeder. 
Dan


From: "Kevin Brosha" <kjbrosha@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, August 14, 2006 6:23 PM
Subject: Rear Calipers - What to do?


> Why are these things such a pain in the ass?
> 
> In the past two years, I've replaced the rear right caliper on my 16v twice,
> the left once.  I take the car in for a motor vehicle inspection, which I
> need for insurance and registration, and find out that both calipers are
> leaking, the right from where the e-brake cable attaches, the left from the
> bleeder screw, and the shop tells me I need to get two new calipers.  WTF, I
> think, they can't be serious.
> 
> I'm not very good mechanically, but why are these calipers failing so
> often?  Is it worth going to the dealer to get their calipers (which cost
> over $300 each, instead of the $150 each the others cost)?  Are the
> mechanics doing something wrong to cause this to happen?  The e-brake has
> been seizing constantly, even the day after the last new caliper was put
> on.  Got it adjsuted, thought things were good.  Guess not.    I've gone to
> 3 different shops for the work, I find it hard to believe that 3 different
> shops would all be doing things wrong, I dunno.
> 
> I'm at my wits end with this car, I'm ready to abandon it on a roadside -
> receipts in the past 2 years totalling over $11000, which I can't afford,
> I'm a student for the love of God.  And now, replacing new parts
> repeatedly?  Oh, sorry, only 90 day warranty, great.  Don't know if I can
> stomach it.  A nice cheap Kia might be in the works.
> 
> Can these rear calipers just be junked completely, replaced with drum brakes
> or something?  Or are there calipers out there that won't cause these
> problems, that will fit on the rocco?  I can't justify spending another
> 300-400 dollars when I have a deep fear that it's money down the drain.
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