Thanks VW!

"deekster_caddy" (deekster_caddy)
06/22/2016 at 10:05 • Filed to: VW, Parking brake, Stupid design

Stupid electric parking brake. (bumped to share with day crew)

had to get to my garage somehow! This should be fun to fix. Who makes a parking brake with motors anyway.?!

DISCUSSION (23)

yitznewton > deekster_caddy
06/21/2016 at 18:12

Like my grandma always said: “Just one more thing to break.” Sorry! The power sliding door on our minivan is our version of this. Well, not quite so bad, as it does have a manual override.

deekster_caddy > yitznewton
06/21/2016 at 18:14

Yup, those suck too! The power tailgate in this car is the only other thing I’ve ever had a real problem with.

Steve in Manhattan > deekster_caddy
06/21/2016 at 18:39

It’s a simple German car - put a real handbrake behind the transmission and design around it. Drove a Chevy Volt with a electronic parking brake, and almost locked up on the highway - realized at the last the button wasn’t the one I wanted. Damn I hate those

Cé hé sin > deekster_caddy
06/21/2016 at 18:41

In handbrake news....there are a lot of electric brakes out there and more by the day.

deekster_caddy > Steve in Manhattan
06/21/2016 at 18:50

Hmm, that's way over on the far side where I can never find it! What year Volt?

deekster_caddy > Cé hé sin
06/21/2016 at 18:51

Yup, there are. To be fair, it does have 120K miles on it, but still... Not cool. That and the $400 computer interface so I can change the brake pads... No thanks!

Takuro Spirit > deekster_caddy
06/21/2016 at 18:55

There’s no “maintenance mode” or if-all-else-fails remove the motor procedure?

Nimbus The Legend - Riding on air like a cloud > deekster_caddy
06/21/2016 at 18:55

tray sliding! because you HAVE TO! Literally...

Urambo Tauro > Nimbus The Legend - Riding on air like a cloud
06/21/2016 at 19:33

Skid plate racing? Skid plate racing.

Steve in Manhattan > deekster_caddy
06/21/2016 at 19:41

1st gen ... maybe a 2010? At any rate, the switch for the parking brake was in the center stack in a dumb place.

deekster_caddy > Takuro Spirit
06/21/2016 at 20:23

I just pulled the motor off. The motor seems to work properly, but the piston turning bolt seems to be stripped out on the inside. The motor has a toothed drive gear sticking out of it, the bolt has a very worn, rusted stripped out insert for said gear.

When the motor was still installed, it would whirr endlessly and not release the caliper, before dropping to the ‘fault’ light on the dash. Looks like I’m going to need a caliper, but no idea how to get this one off. I can’t turn it at all.

deekster_caddy > Nimbus The Legend - Riding on air like a cloud
06/21/2016 at 20:24

I have four of them, I could put one under each rear wheel for a good time! Although I don’t think those casters could handle too much ‘fun’...

deekster_caddy > Steve in Manhattan
06/21/2016 at 20:26

Agreed. It’s a dumb place! Mine’s a ‘13 and it’s still in the same dumb place. At least you didn’t hit the power button a couple of times trying to change drive modes! (First year was 2011)

At least they ditched that center stack on the new models. It literally took me like 2 years to adjust to the center stack and I still don’t know what half the buttons do.

Steve in Manhattan > deekster_caddy
06/21/2016 at 20:37

At least put the parking brake button on the console or to the left of the steering wheel so you don’t hit it by accident.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > deekster_caddy
06/22/2016 at 10:39

My Subaru Outback has an electric parking brake, I fucking hate it. I have also noted that my rear brakes were toast after 30k, I can’t help but wonder if it is fully releasing.

THShorn92 - Left his car in America > deekster_caddy
06/22/2016 at 11:39

This is why I NEVER use the parking brake on my Passat Wagon. You have just reminded me again why I don’t. Love your wagon by the way

deekster_caddy > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/22/2016 at 11:55

Most people with these cars say the rear pads are only good for 30K. Ours is a stick shift and we got 55K on the first set of rear pads. Now it’s at 120K and there is still pad left in the back (I’m going to do pads and rotors now anyway) and it’s still on the original front pads! I think MT has something to do with how long the pads are lasting.

deekster_caddy > THShorn92 - Left his car in America
06/22/2016 at 11:58

Thanks! It’s a MT, so we use the parking brake every time.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > deekster_caddy
06/22/2016 at 12:07

Mine is a stick too. The dealer said something..something AWD wears out rear brakes, something...something rear brake biased. I stoped listening at that point and assumed the brakes wore out due to shitty OEM spec pads and rotors. They gave me a 10% pitty discount for the work though.

deekster_caddy > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/22/2016 at 12:32

Hmm. Strange. I think the rear pads are very small on the Passat Wagon, so I wasn’t surprised they wore out first. Combined with our regular use of the parking brake, I’m actually surprised they hadn’t worn out sooner. And the front pads... I don’t know - there is visibly plenty of pad left and the car stops smooth and straight, so I don’t know what pad material it’s using but I’ll be buying my next front pads from VW for sure! They are awesome!

Nimbus The Legend - Riding on air like a cloud > deekster_caddy
06/22/2016 at 12:50

nah, dont ruin your stuff, just grab a couple Mcdonalds treys LOL

Nimbus The Legend - Riding on air like a cloud > Urambo Tauro
06/22/2016 at 12:51

YES~!

where do i sign up...

THShorn92 - Left his car in America > deekster_caddy
06/22/2016 at 14:42

Yeah, mine isn’t. Which in this case is good.