Thanks for all the info!
Could you please post the weight of the calipers? Can you get phenolic pistons or are they already thin Stainless?

I'm interested in swapping rear golf/Beetle discs (232mm I believe are smallest) onto a non German car-
I'm guessing the assembly is lighter than the OE drums and is certainly lighter than the OE discs, but would like to make sure.
So far I get the discs are 6.5lbs, they appear different from the items you've posted. I see the brackets are 2lbs, but I have no idea on the caliper.
Thanks!!!

Are the front calipers aluminum on any of these (basic) vehicles, per chance?

 

I don't know for sure if they're aluminum, the Rabbit calipers appear to be, but the GTI calipers are powder coated. But I can get the weights for you. Did you only need the caliper weights?

 

I'd appreciate that! Golf/Beetle calipers I've seen seem to certainly be aluminum- or someone in Germany's doing an excellent aluminizing job!.
The mounting bracket looks like iron.
That'd be great as I could total up the components.

 

GTI Calipers are 8.5lbs each. Not sure if the red paint has much if any affect on weight.

 

Thanks! I'd guess not! Is the GTI (besides the paint) different from the basic Golf/Beetle?
From your thread, they seem to be interchangeable.
The last VW we had was from the 70's-early 80's, was a diesel and it didn't go away until the compression was so poor it had to be plugged in to start in Summer!
Simple, efficient- So that's where my VW knowledge ends.

That's very heavy! More so than our cast iron fronts.
Is the mounting bracket included? in the weight?

 

The calipers are the same on the GTI/GOLF/Rabbit for 2006-2009, I'm not sure about the beetle. That is just the weight of the caliper. They're pretty heavy.

The beetle uses 288x25 front rotors which are the same size as the Rabbit/Golf rotors. The P/N is different for the caliper but it lists it as the whole assembly and I cannot reference the caliper by its self.

I did however buy my calipers/carriers and everything from a Beetle owner who intended to install them on his car.

 

At most I would have been lifting 1/4 of the cars weight, not 1/2 if I used one of the jack points under the car. Again I have free medical and overall I just really dont care.

My recommendation. Use jackstands.

 

For sure, for doing the rotors you shouldn't have to be under the vehicle and by just compressing the suspension on the one wheel as you said you will have 3 other stable wheels. I always get uneasy when I see people doing anything with lifting a vehicle to work on without proper supports, sadly I've seen someone get hurt first hand. While this person was not been the sharpest tool in the shed it can happen to anyone.

Back on topic, good write up! Informative, thanks!

 

I was about 2 seconds from losing my fingers-

Using a large wooden block to rest the vehicle on- My helper dropped the jack just as I had finished adjusting it- Inadvertent and stupid on both our parts.

Here's what I got on the calipers, I'm very excited that this will lighten the rears and amazed other manufacturers haven't used this simple solution.
Ours use a large disc (retrofitted to a compact from the medium sized models) and
a drum as park/emergency brake ... Heavy.

Now onto the fronts, to the Focus forum to get caliper/adapter weight for the '09's

 

Have you guys experienced problems with the Rabbit brakes? I can't state anything negative about the brakes on mine - one of the best brakes I know - ABS and ESP works like a charm. I had once to stop on the highway from 75MPH when I realized that an older lady decided to park on the left lane and the car in front of me got the last hole in the middle lane. Car stopped surprisingly well - was more concerned about the the car behind that missed me by a few yards...

No excessive wear in the pads or rotors - with my other cars I had to replace parts much sooner.

Swapping the brakes with GTI ones I'd had some concern about the ESP performance - I know how Conti is developing the systems and what extensive tests and software adjustments they run for every little change in the breaks system. I am a fan of ESP - saved me a few times the cars - on and off the Autobahn.

 

I never had a problem. Most people complain about the rear pads wearing out too fast. This is due to how the brakes are biased to prevent nose dive.

I only swapped because I felt I needed the additional braking force. GTI uses the same calipers so it will not affect the ESP.

 

i know this is an old thread, but something just doesn't make sense to me. The front rotors are 288mm. The rear GTI rotors are 286mm, why won't they clear the 15" steelies?

 

Comparing vented vs. non vented discs. Different caliper, etc... I suspect that there is less clearance designed for the rear brakes on the rabbit because it is a non-vented rotor.

 

Excellent help! However, I'm in the middle of replacing rear pads on a 2007 Rabbit. Caliper off o.k. Then, replaced pads in clip on both sides of the rotor. Borrrowed piston compression tool for screw type pistons. However, when I turn the tool in either direction, it rotates only a couple of times and and doesn't seem to be retracting the piston. Any ideas? Thank you. Tom B.

 

each time you rotate it, you'll have to 'reset' the tool, as if you were starting over each time.