T5 Soft discs

[Transporter]

Man van is in getting a service today and they rang to say rotors are below minimum thickness. I also need new pads.

Transporter, how much were the sloted rotors and where did you get them from?

From Car parts plus at Lonsdale, they're RDA brand.
You've got PM.

[Ivo]

Thanks Transporter.

I just spoke to Greg as well.

I think I will go with slotted rotors for front and the Remsa pads.

[Transporter]

Installed slotted front discs with Bendix DB1404. The brakes feel more bite, much better now and I hope for cleaner wheels.
Disc P/N is RDA7049S

I thought I would revive the old useful thread.

Since I replaced front VW brake pads with the BENDIX GCT pads after I've done 13,000km they still have at least 10mm friction material remaining. I'm very happy with that. What is even better - no black dust on the wheels. As I mention earlier Bendix now makes exact fit front pads DB1947 (more info in sticky "Maintenance and care")

I hope that Bendix will have the rear pads available next time when I need to change them.

[question?]

What is even better - no black dust on the wheels.

We are heading into week 2 of our new Caravelle... and I have never cleaned the wheels so often.. the black dust that comes out is amazing. So it looks like its the norm?

[Transporter]

Normal indeed, all Euro cars I know will do that, but it is less common on Jap cars - they use different materials. The black dust will ruin your clear coating on the alloys, if you leave it on for the extended period of time. When I wash it at home it makes a big mess on the driveway as well .

[question?]

Yeah our Mazda MPV never had this much stuff come out of the brakes, they would only make a noise when they we full of dust on the rotors/discs so you knew they were ready for a high pressure clean. So the plan is wipe down/wash the wheels more often than the other paintwork to protect the alloys. Been reading further on the various exterior waxes etc... thats next on the agenda to sort out.

[brad]

I use a couple of coats of synthetic sealer. Chem Guys but the brand probably doesn't matter - Wolfgang, Poorboys or Zaino would probably be just as good - what matters is to get something on there & wash the wheels weekly.

[Jayhawc]

Hi Transporter thanks for all the info, I was just about to replace my rotors when I stumbled across this thread. Looking forward to getting a couple of weeks of driving in before I have to wash my wheels

Any tricks to getting the rotors off? I'm a recent VW convert so I have pulled the rotors off before and just want to make sure I have all the right tools before I start.

Cheers

[Transporter]

By memory, all you need is 7mm Allen key, 1/2" dr 21mm socket with 600mm breaker bar to remove brake caliper holder, I recommend torque wrench for installing it back, spline bit (socket) to remove disc from the hub (it's most likely 5 or 6 I'm not sure, get set 4,5,6,8,10,12 you will need them, there are many spline head bolts in T5), G-clamp to push the piston back in the caliper.

[jfoldbar]

ive done 170k of city driving always carrying weight. cant remeber how many times ive changed the pads but at least 3 times. never even touched the disks though. never been machined.

[shogun2]

What a useful thread! The brake warning light just came on. Transporter, I note you are in Adelaide. Do you do this kind of stuff, or can you recommend someone to do the work?

[shogun2]

I had a great response from German Autos in Melrose Park. I am going with them to do the work.
When I get some additional funds I will also be going with the Oettinger ECU upgrade as well.

[Transporter]

Sorry, I missed your first post. Yes, I can do your brakes, I also have ATE Brake bleeding machine, if needed.

[rob64981]

I will also be going with the Oettinger ECU upgrade as well.

Tell us more about this please!!

What do you get and how much is it?

Always looking a little more poke.

Rob

[njg02]

I'd seen this thread before about brakes and thought I had responded. At my 75K service my dealer said my brakes needed doing. I left it for a while and then the light and buzzer came on.~80k. The dealer wanted more bucks than I could afford so I got a quote off my mech, which was about half. BUT, he said the discs and pads are both sacrificial and to wait till I hear metal to metal. I got used to the light and buzzer and waited, and waited, till I heard the metal to metal at 155k. We changed the front discs and pads and rear pads and machined the rear discs. I tow a boat and am light on brakes preferring to drive steady, looking ahead etc and using the gears to slow down. I reckon the transporters are very good on brakes. I just wish they could tow more than 3t!

Neil G