Removing and installing brake pads, front brake FNR-G — VW
Removing and installing brake pads, front brake FNR-G on VW: 21 steps. What to remove, in what order, and what to check after.
A front pad change on the FNR-G brake, as fitted on the platform code listed below (138), is quick but depends on getting the retaining spring and wear indicator right. The retaining spring is levered out with a screwdriver and held in a cloth so it cannot fly off, the wear indicator connector is unplugged, the cover caps come off and the two guide pins are unscrewed. The caliper is then hung on wire so it does not hang on its hose, both pads come out, the carrier is cleaned and the piston pressed back after some fluid has been drawn off. The inner pad clips into the piston, the outer one sits in the carrier, and the spring has to go back with both bows behind the carrier.
🧭 Before you start
Remove the wheels, lever out the retaining spring, unplug the wear indicator and remove the guide pins. Hang the caliper on wire, take out both pads, clean the carrier and caliper, and press the piston back after lowering the fluid level. Fit the inner pad into the piston and the outer pad into the carrier, refit the caliper on its guide pins, fit the cover caps and retaining spring, reconnect the wear indicator and refit the wheels.
Fits: platform code 138
- Opens: brake fluid
Don't miss
- Hold the retaining spring with a cloth when levering it out so it is not lost.
- Hang the caliper on wire; never let it hang on the brake hose.
- Clean the caliper housing only with methylated spirits and never blow brake dust out with compressed air.
- Draw fluid off the reservoir before pressing the piston back.
- Lower spring bow goes behind the carrier, centre guide behind the caliper housing, upper bow swung behind the carrier.
- Pump the pedal firmly several times at standstill and check the fluid level.
Written for this job from the workshop steps below · TorqFix editorial.
📋 Procedure
- Remove front wheels.
- Using a screwdriver (2), lever retaining spring (1) out of brake caliper in direction of (arrow B). To do this, position screwdriver between the retaining spring and brake caliper (arrow A).
- Firmly hold brake caliper retaining spring (1) with a cloth to prevent loss.
- Disconnect connector (1).
- Remove cover caps (arrows).
- Unscrew guide pins (arrows).
- Remove brake caliper (1) from brake carrier (2) and secure with wire to body so that weight of brake caliper cannot strain or damage brake hose.
- Remove outer brake pad (3) from brake carrier (2).
- Remove inner brake pad (4) from brake carrier (1).
- ⚠ Do not blow out brake system with compressed air; the resulting dust constitutes a health hazard! — Thoroughly clean contact surface for brake pads on brake carrier.
- Clean brake caliper. [Note: Use only methylated spirits for cleaning the brake caliper housing.] [Note: Before pressing piston back into cylinder with piston resetting tool, draw off brake fluid from brake fluid reservoir. Otherwise, particularly if reservoir has been topped up, fluid will overflow and cause damage.]
- Press piston back.
- Insert inner brake pad with retaining spring (4) into brake caliper (piston).
- Insert outer brake pad (3) into brake carrier (2).
- Position brake caliper (1) on brake carrier (2).
- Bolt brake caliper to brake carrier with both guide pins.
- Fit both cover caps.
- Insert brake caliper retaining spring (1) so that lower spring bow is seated behind brake carrier (arrow A) and centre guide pin (arrow B) is located behind brake caliper housing (3).
- Swivel upper spring bow behind brake carrier (2)(arrow C).
- Connect brake pad wear indicator connector.
- Fit wheels. [Note: 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 (GOLF 7) — the technique carries over, the fasteners and figures on this page are the ones for your car.
How to change front brake pads on VW GOLF 7
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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.