Jetta Questions

[PhreakV]

Hey
I was wondering if anybody knew of a good VW forum covering the Jetta? Or even better, if any of you can answer my questions compitently:
My friend has a 99 Jetta MKIV (newer body style) 2.0L and took it to Jay Wolfe Audi/VW for a couple minor services. They are trying to tell her that she needs to get new front rotors and brakes because she has less than 10% left. She's at 64,xxx miles. This is where my questions start:

1. They're telling her that VW brakes don't have a squealer and that's why the brakes are as low as they are and she's heard nothing. WTF, no squealer?
2. They say that VW rotors are made of a softer metal and need to be replaced with the brake pads. WTF would they make them of a metal that soft?
3. Is there anything overly complicated about doing these two tasks myself? I know VW has some f'ed up designs but I can't imagine that its worth paying $430 at the stealership for them to do it.

I dunno, maybe I'm being overly-skeptical but the guy we dropped it off with this morning rubbed me the wrong way (I'm more of a side-to-side kinda guy (upbum)

). When I asked him questions about how much time was estimated and costs of labor per-hour he treated me like a dumbass and didn't answer my questions. So yeah, I'd like to find out a little more about her car before I tell her that I can do it for her. Thanx

 

[mikeyb]

I'm surprised the rotors and pads lasted that long. When I worked at a VW dealer in the parts department we sold alot of front rotors and pads everyday. This is a common issue with the MKIV chassis. Usually the originals last about 30k. Is she the original owner? I would have someone else look at it.

 

[Bijou-MP5]

I was looking for one for myself...because my gf have jetta..but I can't find nice jetta forum like our protege forum

 

[jersey_emt]

www.vwvortex.com is the only one I know of

 

[Swerny]

www.vwvortex.com is the only one I know of

That's a really good site. (band2)

 

[PhreakV]

thanx guys I appreciate the help. (2thumbs)

mikey -
she is not the original owner. she bought the car from her dad's friend at Hertz/Enterprise/wherever before I met her. the car had close to 20k on it. she's pretty much just taken it to a dealer/shop and done whatever they suggested since (I was previously leaving it up to her and her dad, but I'm tired of seeing her getting ripped time and again).
so yeah, my research has led me to the conclusion that everything needs to be replaced and I don't think I'll ever make the blanket "I love german engineering" statement again. seriously, to what end do they make the rotors out of such a crappy, soft material? the Japanese bandwagon now officially pwns me (spin) except of course for Hot Rods (I'm all about the v8 torque monsters (usa) )
thanx again to all(group)

edit: I had to edit 'cause my grammar made me sound like a retard and to add that I will be doing the work myself I just wanted to know what I was getting myself into. Thanks

 

[noclue119]

ITs easy but the car on jacks, take off the wheel, take off the cliper i think its 4 screws that holds it in place and open it up u'll see the brake pad... as for the not indicator, i find taht hard to believe... i've never seen a car's breaks not have indicators... but it takes like 20 mins to open up the clipers... most car has the same design and if u look at teh front pad double that is what u have for then back.. do it urself..

 

[JunkPunch]

You should be able to get new rotors and pads for about $150 total from about any VW aftermarket parts source (vwparts.com, parts4vws.com, etc). Not a hard job at all.

vwvortex.com is the best VW board, as others have mentioned.

 

[Excitmnt94]

this is another very good forum...i post there quite often and its my true online home. www.club18t.com it is dedicated to all that is 1.8Turbo...VW GTI, Jetta, Passat, A4, TT, whatever. the community is pretty large and very very good. look there also for anything relating to VW or the 1.8T.

also, don't get OEM pads, upgrade to something like EBC Greenstuff. less brakedust and better stopping power.

 

[BlkZoomZoom]

VW brakes don't have squealers.
Yes VW reccomends replacing rotors when doing brakes. (will wear funny if you don't.)
Nothing really hard about doing front brakes.....pretty self explaintory.

 

[jesse]

our vw has 42k miles, and we just took it in for brake work and surprisingly they said the brakes are ok. Tell her to sell hers, they're crappy cars. We're gonna sell ours soon.