How much!?

[MLR]

I just rang our local VW dealer to get a price for T6 front caliper guide pins. £52.36+VAT...
each!
Even the parts guy sounded embarrassed.
I presume others use autodoc or Heritage Parts Centre, or are there any other good parts suppliers please?

 

[DXX]

I just rang our local VW dealer to get a price for T6 front caliper guide pins. £52.36+VAT...
each!
Even the parts guy sounded embarrassed.
I presume others use autodoc or Heritage Parts Centre, or are there any other good parts suppliers please?

I don’t think I’ve ever come across a set of caliper guide pins that actually needed renewing, they are coated in grease, the VW ones are stainless steel.
While a caliper overhaul kit contains new guide pins there isn’t a requirement to renew them, they only contact rubber so no pin wear.

 

[The Flying Scotsman]

1x FRONT BRAKE CALIPER GUIDE SLIDER PIN KITS FITS VW Transporter T6 2015> (16mm | eBay UK

Brake Stop Ltd - Supplier of quality brake caliper components - Please review details in the Full Description to ensure this item is correct for your vehicle - If unsure please message.

ebay.us

 

[MLR]

I don’t think I’ve ever come across a set of caliper guide pins that actually needed renewing, they are coated in grease, the VW ones are stainless steel.
While a caliper overhaul kit contains new guide pins there isn’t a requirement to renew them, they only contact rubber so no pin wear.

Mine have a ridge on them about half way along their length. Do you know if this is normal please?

 

[DXX]

Mine have a ridge on them about half way along their length. Do you know if this is normal please?

Definitely not normal, were they dry when dis-assembled?

 

[MLR]

Definitely not normal, were they dry when dis-assembled?

They were quite dry. Here's what they look like. I've only dismantled one side so far. Pad wear seems even inboard to outboard.

 

[Dellmassive]

I don’t think I’ve ever come across a set of caliper guide pins that actually needed renewing, they are coated in grease, the VW ones are stainless steel.
While a caliper overhaul kit contains new guide pins there isn’t a requirement to renew them, they only contact rubber so no pin wear.

My local mechanic guy come up with a good thing the other day he put the guide pin in the end of a drill and then used green washing up scourer cloth to clean the slider pin so it was nice and shiny..

Then reassembled and re-greased.

 

[MLR]

My local mechanic guy come up with a good thing the other day he put the guide pin in the end of a drill and then used green Emily Emery cloth to clean the slider pin so it was nice and shiny..

Then reassembled and re-greased.

Thanks, not a bad shout but not sure that would work in this case it's more of a scored groove than a ridge. I have new ones coming from autodoc soon so I'll swap them out. Wondering what the other side will be like when I get to that one!

 

[DXX]

I wouldn’t advise removing the ridge as mentioned, that just makes it an undersize pin which just isn’t right.
There are plenty of aftermarket caliper overhaul kits, if your calipers haven’t been overhauled for 10 years then they are probably due anyway. Not sure how old your van is.
The grease supplied in the caliper overhaul kits is never enough which maybe why the pins were dry when you removed them.

 

[MLR]

Thanks, it's a 19 plate, on 30k miles. The first owners only did 8k miles in the three years they owned it and it spent quite a while sitting unused in their driveway so I suspect it's from back then. We do about 6k miles a year now and I try to do a journey at least once a week in it.

 

[DXX]

Thanks, it's a 19 plate, on 30k miles. The first owners only did 8k miles in the three years they owned it and it spent quite a while sitting unused in their driveway so I suspect it's from back then. We do about 6k miles a year now and I try to do a journey at least once a week in it.

If it were mine and a keeper I’d overhaul the calipers while they are off, if you do the same mileage over the next 7 years it’s unlikely you get to the next pad change problem free.
90% tedious cleaning, 10% assembly

 

[MLR]

If it were mine and a keeper I’d overhaul the calipers while they are off, if you do the same mileage over the next 7 years it’s unlikely you get to the next pad change problem free.
90% tedious cleaning, 10% assembly

Thanks, good idea

 

[MLR]

part of the reason for doing the brakes was that last MOT I had an advisory

• Front Inner Brake pad(s) wearing thin Both (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

These are the pads 5k miles later. Loads of life left in them!

 

[DXX]

part of the reason for doing the brakes was that last MOT I had an advisory

• Front Inner Brake pad(s) wearing thin Both (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

These are the pads 5k miles later. Loads of life left in them!

If find that going to a workshop that only does MOTs and no repairs / maintenance helps.
At least now you know to go elsewhere next year.

 

[MLR]

Yes last year was done by a vw dealer as part of the all in service plan. Funny that! It's out of service plan now so I'll be taking it to our MOT-only place from now on