Brake pad change and electronic handbrake

JRJ · 21 Feb 2020 at 17:58

I've always changed my own brake pads and discs on any vehicle I've owned but the times come to tackle the rear pads and discs on the wife's VW Tiguan and it's the first car we've owned with an electronic handbrake, I've spent a good few hours reading mixed messages on methods of doing this DIY online and also horror stories of breaking £500 calipers if not done properly.

Anybody had any luck doing this DIY without a computer?

rhysduck · 21 Feb 2020 at 18:05

Where abouts in the country are you?

It is possible without the software as shown here https://youtu.be/bAm-TkqeFD4

A bit of software like vagcom or obd11 is much better though

Edit. £500 for a caliper? What?

mushtafa · 21 Feb 2020 at 22:06

Take it to your local mechanic and get it done properly. It's not expensive.

To do the job properly it needs plugging in and putting in to maintenance/service mode. It then needs resetting once the work has been done.

SeatIbiza · 22 Feb 2020 at 11:56

Buy a carista. Subscribe to app (£39 for a year?) and you can wind back the electronic hand brake.

Did this for my A6 after the dealers wanted £1k to replace discs and pads all round!

JRJ · 22 Feb 2020 at 15:55

rhysduck said:
Where abouts in the country are you?

It is possible without the software as shown here https://youtu.be/bAm-TkqeFD4

A bit of software like vagcom or obd11 is much better though

Edit. £500 for a caliper? What?

Just west of Swansea, cheers for the link seems straight forward

Yup, £250 each side :eek:

mushtafa said:
Take it to your local mechanic and get it done properly. It's not expensive.

To do the job properly it needs plugging in and putting in to maintenance/service mode. It then needs resetting once the work has been done.

Spoken to my local garage who's also a good friend his current software is very hit or miss and is looking at a new option to cover everything.

SeatIbiza said:
Buy a carista. Subscribe to app (£39 for a year?) and you can wind back the electronic hand brake.

Did this for my A6 after the dealers wanted £1k to replace discs and pads all round!

I'd be keen to hear your thoughts? I came across this when Googling, the free month on purchase would allow me to do the brakes and I'd probably go for a weeks pass at a time as when required as opposed to a yearly sub, the Amazon reviews seem hit or miss.

Orionaut · 22 Feb 2020 at 16:25

JRJ said:
Just west of Swansea, cheers for the link seems straight forward

Spoken to my local garage who's also a good friend his current software is very hit or miss and is looking at a new option to cover everything.

.

Does he not have Vag-Com?

If not, Why not??

(And, as pointed out elsewhere, no diagnostic software package will cover all systems on all vehicles.)

rhysduck · 22 Feb 2020 at 16:34

JRJ said:
Just west of Swansea, cheers for the link seems straight forward

Yup, £250 each side

Ah bugger you're a bit far unfortunately or i could have popped round with my obd11

Surprised your mate doesnt have the software capable.

Finglonga · 22 Feb 2020 at 16:40

OBDEleven is what I used as well to change my rear pads on the GTI. Either with the apps or with adaptations.

robj20 · 22 Feb 2020 at 16:43

Orionaut said:
Does he not have Vag-Com?

If not, Why not??

(And, as pointed out elsewhere, no diagnostic software package will cover all systems on all vehicles.)

Did mine myself using Forscan.
But also my mechanic friend has the snapon diagnostic gear that does everything.

SeatIbiza · 23 Feb 2020 at 08:17

JRJ said:
Just west of Swansea, cheers for the link seems straight forward

I'd be keen to hear your thoughts? I came across this when Googling, the free month on purchase would allow me to do the brakes and I'd probably go for a weeks pass at a time as when required as opposed to a yearly sub, the Amazon reviews seem hit or miss.

I have two older Audis and have a proper VAGcom cable for them but it doesn't work on the newer ones and I didn't fancy shelling £600 out for it (the unlimited pro version although it seems you can get this for about £480 now). The carista is OK for Audis and it worked for what I needed, so yes the free trial would do you perfectly.

JRJ · 23 Feb 2020 at 15:37

rhysduck said:
Ah bugger you're a bit far unfortunately or i could have popped round with my obd11

Surprised your mate doesnt have the software capable.

Cheers for the offer.

JRJ · 23 Feb 2020 at 15:40

I didn't ask what software he was using he just mentioned he had difficulty with certain brands, he said about leaving the ignition running and handbrake off while changing similar to a few of the YouTube videos may give this a go tomorrow and if I have any problems invest in the Carista app.

andy_mk3 · 23 Feb 2020 at 15:44

JRJ said:
he said about leaving the ignition running and handbrake off while changing

Don't do this, do it properly. Handbrake off doesn't fully unwind the motors, plus it has to re-learn the application points for the new pads. Carista will do the job though, it's a good bit of kit.

JRJ · 23 Feb 2020 at 15:48

andy_mk3 said:
Don't do this, do it properly. Handbrake off doesn't fully unwind the motors, plus it has to re-learn the application points for the new pads. Carista will do the job though, it's a good bit of kit.

I'll Amazon prime it then

andy_mk3 · 23 Feb 2020 at 15:53

JRJ said:
I'll Amazon prime it then

It's really good. I have one in the car for 'just in case'.

Orionaut · 23 Feb 2020 at 15:54

Electric handbrakes are pants anyway.

Ultimately the handbrake is supposed to be your secondary emergency brake in the event of primary brake failure.

How does that work with an electric one??

Couple an electric handbrake with one of those auto-manual gear-trains that a lot of VAG cars have these days and manoeuvring on a hill is horrible!

ZG002 · 23 Feb 2020 at 16:05

Orionaut said:
Electric handbrakes are pants anyway.

Ultimately the handbrake is supposed to be your secondary emergency brake in the event of primary brake failure.

How does that work with an electric one??

Couple an electric handbrake with one of those auto-manual gear-trains that a lot of VAG cars have these days and manoeuvring on a hill is horrible!

Not that I've put the thing on at speed, but I have been a little hasty in putting it on before fully stopped and it acts just like a normal handbrake.

JRJ · 23 Feb 2020 at 16:08

andy_mk3 said:
It's really good. I have one in the car for 'just in case'.

That's good to know I've got a Creator branded cabled reader for my BMW which I keep in the boot and has been a life saver with dodgy glow plugs and resetting codes when required, I wonder if this could cover both cars? does it give real time stats when driving?

Nasher · 23 Feb 2020 at 16:15

Orionaut said:
Electric handbrakes are pants anyway.

Ultimately the handbrake is supposed to be your secondary emergency brake in the event of primary brake failure.

How does that work with an electric one??

Couple an electric handbrake with one of those auto-manual gear-trains that a lot of VAG cars have these days and manoeuvring on a hill is horrible!

Basically, you don't have an emergency brake anymore :/

All the hassle because someone wanted to push a button instead of pull a lever. You also can't release them if the battery is near flat (and sometimes they won't even let go even if you recharge it), which is a barrel of laughs...

inflames · 23 Feb 2020 at 18:50

Iv got to do my rear pads on my CC when I get paid. Been trying to find DIY information on how to unwind them myself. Seems to me that the Carista is a good method. Going to ordering on myself soon.