OlyTDI
Veteran Member
I'd been having some problems with my parking brake holding on my '04 Golf and today I crawled underneath to assess the situation.
All of the cables were intact, not broken or otherwise damaged. The calipers and everything underneath is relatively pristine -- no rust or corosion. Clean metal. The lever on which the parking brake cable pulls was very stiff on the passenger side and wasn't retracting.
I disconnected the cable and took a mallet and tapped it back and forth until it freed-up. Then I put it all together again, adjusted the cable and everything now works fine again.
My questions:
What's going on inside the brake caliper that is making the lever, that the cable pulls on, stiff?
I found reference to springs that can help retract this lever:
https://www.idparts.com/caliper-spring-for-rear-axle-left-a4-p-3491.html
Are these springs supposed to be on there stock or are they an aftermarket solution to the problem I was having? I have no springs on either side.
Anyone have a similar experience and can share what they did about it? Anyone know where these springs go and how they are installed?
BTW, I do flush my brake system every 2-3 years and have since the beginning.
Thanks up front!
Eric
All of the cables were intact, not broken or otherwise damaged. The calipers and everything underneath is relatively pristine -- no rust or corosion. Clean metal. The lever on which the parking brake cable pulls was very stiff on the passenger side and wasn't retracting.
I disconnected the cable and took a mallet and tapped it back and forth until it freed-up. Then I put it all together again, adjusted the cable and everything now works fine again.
My questions:
What's going on inside the brake caliper that is making the lever, that the cable pulls on, stiff?
I found reference to springs that can help retract this lever:
https://www.idparts.com/caliper-spring-for-rear-axle-left-a4-p-3491.html
Are these springs supposed to be on there stock or are they an aftermarket solution to the problem I was having? I have no springs on either side.
Anyone have a similar experience and can share what they did about it? Anyone know where these springs go and how they are installed?
BTW, I do flush my brake system every 2-3 years and have since the beginning.
Thanks up front!
Eric