Removing and installing brake caliper, front brake FN3: VW Golf Cabriolet
Step-by-step removing and installing brake caliper, front brake FN3 for the VW Golf Cabriolet: 21 steps.
Removing and refitting the FN3 front brake caliper on the Golf Cabriolet (517, 2011–2016). The caliper comes off as a unit with the hose disconnected, so the system is opened and must be bled afterwards. Before the banjo bolt is undone, the bleed bottle goes on the caliper bleed valve and the pedal depressor is fitted; that holds the fluid back so the reservoir does not drain through the open line. Retaining spring and wear indicator connector come off first, then the cover caps and both guide pins, and the caliper is pulled off the support plate with its pads. The things that matter: fit the inner pad with its spring into the piston correctly, bleed thoroughly, and seat the pads with the pedal before driving.
🧭 Before you start
Remove the wheel, lever out the retaining spring and unplug the wear indicator. Fit the bleed bottle, open and close the bleed valve with the pedal depressor applied, then unscrew the brake hose and banjo bolt. Remove the cover caps and both guide pins, pull the caliper off and take out the pads. Refit the inner pad into the piston, bolt the caliper on, reconnect the hose, refit spring and connector, bleed the brakes and check fluid level.
Fits: VW Golf Cabriolet (517, 2011–2016)
- Opens: brake fluid
Don't miss
- Apply the pedal depressor before opening the hydraulic line to limit fluid loss.
- Fit the inner pad with its retaining spring into the piston side.
- Refit both cover caps over the guide pin bushes.
- Bleed the brake system once the hose is reconnected.
- Pump the pedal several times with the car stationary, then check fluid level.
Written for this job from the workshop steps below · TorqFix editorial.
📋 Procedure
- Remove wheels.
- Lever brake pad retaining spring out from brake caliper with a screwdriver and remove.
- Disconnect connector for brake pad wear indicator.
- Connect bleed bottle bleed hose (1) to bleed valve of brake caliper.
- Open bleed valve.
- Apply brake pedal depressorV.A.G 1869/2.
- Close bleed valve and remove bleed bottle.
- Unscrew brake hose (1) with banjo bolt (2).
- Pull both cover caps out of brake caliper bearing bushes.
- Unscrew both guide pins (arrows) and remove from brake caliper (1).
- Pull brake caliper from brake support plate.
- Take brake pads out of brake caliper.
- Insert inner brake pad with retaining spring into brake caliper (piston).
- Bolt brake caliper to brake carrier with both guide pins.
- Fit both cover caps.
- Bolt brake hose to brake caliper.
- Remove brake pedal depressorV.A.G 1869/2.
- Insert retaining spring into brake caliper.
- Connect brake pad wear indicator connector.
- Bleed brake system .
- Fit wheels. [Note: Firmly depress brake pedal several times with vehicle stationary so that the brake pads are properly seated in their normal operating position.Check brake fluid level.]
🎬 Related video tutorial
Independent AUTODOC tutorial for the same job, filmed on a different model (T5 TRANSPORTER Van) — the technique carries over, the fasteners and figures on this page are the ones for your car.
How to change front brake caliper on VW T5 TRANSPORTER Van
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Who makes these pages, and how
TorqFix was built by a mechanic — after a 2,700 km drive with five roadside repairs that no diagnostic tool could explain.
The figures on this page come from manufacturer workshop documentation and are shown as they are. The page is assembled automatically from that data — it is not written by an AI. The AI works in the chat, where it answers for your specific car. It writes nothing here.
Variants of the same model differ. Cross-check torque against the factory manual for your engine before final tightening.
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The story behind TorqFix →Workshop data on this page last updated 20 Sep 2026.