Removing and installing brake pads; Bosch ZOH BIR 38 — VW
Removing and installing brake pads; Bosch ZOH BIR 38 on VW: 14 steps. What to remove, in what order, and what to check after.
Workshop procedure for VW — the exact step sequence and torque figures, straight from real workshop data.
🧭 Before you start
Fits: platform codes A32, A33
- Opens: brake fluid
Don't miss
- Unscrew bolts (arrows) from brake caliper (1); to do this counterhold on guide pin.
- The pad retainers (1) and (2) differ and can only be installed diagonally to each other.
- Ensure that brake pads are seated correctly in pad retainers (arrows).
📋 Procedure
- Remove wheels.
- Unscrew bolts (arrows) from brake caliper (1); to do this counterhold on guide pin.
- Remove brake caliper and secure with wire so that weight of brake caliper does not strain or damage brake hose.
- Remove brake pads and pad retainers (arrows).
- Thoroughly clean contact surfaces for pad retainers (brake pads) on brake carrier, and remove corrosion.
- Clean brake caliper carrier.
- Screw in piston by turning thumb wheel on piston compressing tool T10165 clockwise. When doing so, take care not to damage piston cup.
- Use plate T10165/1 for assistance when screwing in.
- Insert pad retainers (1) and (2) into brake carrier. [Note: The pad retainers (1) and (2) differ and can only be installed diagonally to each other.]
- Insert pad retainers (1) and (2) so that guide lugs (arrows) on both sides of brake carrier point outwards.
- Insert brake pads into brake carrier.
- Ensure that brake pads are seated correctly in pad retainers (arrows).
- Secure brake caliper with new self-locking bolts.
- Install wheel and tighten. [Note: Repair kit contains 4 self-locking hexagon bolts for securing brake caliper. These must always be used when reinstalling the brake caliper.After every brake pad change, depress brake pedal firmly several times with vehicle stationary, so that brake pads are properly seated in their normal operating position.Check brake fluid level after changing brake pads.]
🎬 Related video tutorial
Independent AUTODOC tutorial for the same job, filmed on a different model (T4 TRANSPORTER) — the technique carries over, the fasteners and figures on this page are the ones for your car.
How to change brake discs and brake pads on VW T4 TRANSPORTER
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- Adjusting valve timing – VW Passat B5 · 83 torque figures
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- Removing and installing coolant pump · 53 torque figures
- Removing gearbox, Polo 2007 with 1.4 l - 59 kW engine
- Checking process – VW Fox · 3 torque figures
- Front seat belt (Saveiro) extended cab - remove and install · 3 torque figures
- Front seat belt ("“2-door”" Gol with pre-tensioner) - remove and install · 3 torque figures
- Draining and filling coolant
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.
Seen a figure that does not match your manual? Write to us — we correct it and note when. support@torqfix.com
The story behind TorqFix →Workshop data on this page last updated 20 Sep 2026.