B6 Electric Parking Brake - Big Problem

**moodyshak** · 15-02-2010,03:16 PM

Hi

I have owned my b6 2005 passat 2.0tdi for just over two years now.
its been great up till now. i am experiencing a really loud drilling sound
from my near side rear caliper. my parking brake seems to take a really long time to engage, when it engages it locks both wheels, when you disengage the noisy nsr caliper is still locked. i have previously changed my rear pads without an issue. it was only when i changed the pads again this time, the issue arrose. the sound is more like a motor turning with lots of loud clanking but its not the definately normal engaging noise.

has any one else experienced the same issue? i did manage to get it to release but everytime i try to engage the epb the same horrid noise come from the rear wheel and it leaves one side locked!

Any ideas, much appreciated

smiggy9 · 15-02-2010,05:36 PM

If you've changed the rear pads yourself you may have brought about your own doom.

Of all things Passat (and there are many threads on this subject) the rear brakes is something that needs dealer assistance - to correctly reset the motors which control the rear brakes. My able mechanic won't touch the rear brakes.

I've asked the question myself and after lots of replies came to the conclusion that this is a dealer job since they are kitted with all the correct equipment to do the job.

If I were you I'd frog march it to my nearest VW dealer pronto!

Hope this helps!

**Quatrelle** · 15-02-2010,05:37 PM

How did you change your rear pads? In the VW 'approved' way?

**martin1810** · 15-02-2010,08:23 PM

Rear pads on a b6 can't be changed without using vag-com or similar to wind back the motor first. Any attempt to push the pistons back first will damage the motor. They are £200 each. Get someone to operate the brake button while you listen to each wheel. One of the motors is obviously causing the noise. Lets hope it's not both.

**moodyshak** · 16-02-2010,10:47 AM

Thanks for the reply guys,

i used a a sealey reset tool
http://www.sealeyonline.co.uk/vs8621...vice-tool.html

it was fairly simple to change the pads, however it was once i built everything back up i
had the problem. Martin1810 - i think it may be down to the nsr motor as this is where the noise is coming from. i was thinking of striping down the caliper this weekend as i am currently driving the car without the epb.

quatrelle & smiggy - thanks, i know the easiest way is to take it to the dealership,
however after my last experience with the dealership i decided never to go back to a dealership for repair work, i went to see a private vw speacialist he as quoted
100 quid just to check it and it will be a week before he gets a chance to look at it..

is the motor a dealer part only, and do you think i could find any diagrams for the parking system anywhere?

your help is much appreciated

Thanks

**martin1810** · 16-02-2010,11:47 AM

You can unbolt the caliper motor and get some one to operate it. If it still makes a noise you know the motor is damaged. The motor isn't really connected to the caliper as such, it just pushes on the back of the piston. It is possible that the motor did not retract properly when you did the pads. Then when you pushed the pistons back you damaged the motor. It's a simple diy check but the motor bolts may be very tight or round off so be careful.

**moodyshak** · 16-02-2010,11:57 AM

Originally Posted by martin1810

You can unbolt the caliper motor and get some one to operate it. If it still makes a noise you know the motor is damaged. The motor isn't really connected to the caliper as such, it just pushes on the back of the piston. It is possible that the motor did not retract properly when you did the pads. Then when you pushed the pistons back you damaged the motor. It's a simple diy check but the motor bolts may be very tight or round off so be careful.

Thanks martin, gonna start on it friday.. is there anywhere i can get a motor from online if it is damaged? or is it dealer part only?

will keep you updated on how it goes

cheers mate

**martin1810** · 16-02-2010,12:12 PM

As far as I know the motors are a dealer only part. You could try Euro or GSF just incase. When you use the sealey tool do you calculate how many mm to reset. If that figure is wrong I guess the motor could get damaged. If you need more info post your email address here and I'll send you some. As soon as I reply you can edit off your email.

**moodyshak** · 16-02-2010,12:37 PM

Originally Posted by martin1810

As far as I know the motors are a dealer only part. You could try Euro or GSF just incase. When you use the sealey tool do you calculate how many mm to reset. If that figure is wrong I guess the motor could get damaged. If you need more info post your email address here and I'll send you some. As soon as I reply you can edit off your email.

please send me some info.

as far as the sealey, no reset mm calculation as there is only two buttons on it.

instructions given and followed are:

1) start up car to avoid power drain from battery

2) make sure epb is disengaged and brake is off.

3) connect sealey pad to obd under steering wheel on b6

4) press off on sealey pad - this fully retracts the caliper

5) perform brake pad change

6) press on sealey pad to engage the caliper again

7) no fault or codes detected

the pad does have a status led which when constantly flashes means something is not rite.

when i performed my rear pad change previously last yr, it went like a dream

but this time everything was ok untill i engaged the caliper once the pads were put in.

**martin1810** · 16-02-2010,01:44 PM

email sent. When you do the pad change with VCDS is has an option for depth of new pads so that the motor is in exactly the right place. I have never tried the sealey one. If you look at ross-tech site you will see instructions for doing pads using VCDS.