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General Information => Upgrades (non engine related ) => Topic started by: Jetta Fan on August 28, 2007, 06:42:15 am

Title: Brake Rotors
Post by: Jetta Fan on August 28, 2007, 06:42:15 am
I tried to search this one and found lots of info for the older VWs, but I didn't find much related to my 97 Jetta.

I want to run vented rotors on the front of my Jetta. I do know I need to run the thinner pads for those rotors. Will the vented rotors/pads fit with my current caliper or will I have to change those as well?

A local parts shop lists both for my car, but after digging a bit further, they realized the vented ones were for a TDI, not TD.

Ay help would be appreciated.
Title: Brake Rotors
Post by: lord_verminaard on August 28, 2007, 07:37:44 am
They should be vented already.  For the A3's, there were only two front rotor styles, the standard vented 4-lug for all 4-cylinder models and the bigger 5-lug 11" rotors for the VR6 cars.

The only watercooled VW's that didn't have vented rotors were early A1 cars.

Brendan
Title: Brake Rotors
Post by: Patrick on August 28, 2007, 04:07:09 pm
Quote from: "lord_verminaard"

The only watercooled VW's that didn't have vented rotors were early A1 cars.

Brendan


Uhhhhhhhh.........
Hate to disagree, but there's 6 mark 2's here in various states of (dis)repair that all have solid rotors..............
Title: Brake Rotors
Post by: lord_verminaard on August 29, 2007, 07:10:19 am
Quote from: "Patrick"
Quote from: "lord_verminaard"

The only watercooled VW's that didn't have vented rotors were early A1 cars.

Brendan


Uhhhhhhhh.........
Hate to disagree, but there's 6 mark 2's here in various states of (dis)repair that all have solid rotors..............


Eyupp, you are right, some early A2's had 9.4 solid rotors.  OOps!  Either way, all A3's had vented so Jetta Fan's good to go.  :P
Thanks for the correction.

Brendan
Title: Brake Rotors
Post by: Audi80 on August 29, 2007, 08:17:04 am
Quote from: "lord_verminaard"


The only watercooled VW's that didn't have vented rotors were early A1 cars.

Brendan


Only GTI:s and some other had vented rotors here in europe. I´d bet 99% of Vw:s i´ve seen had solid rotors :shock:
Title: Brake Rotors
Post by: Black Smokin' Diesel on August 31, 2007, 08:35:01 pm
Quote from: "lord_verminaard"
all A3's had vented so Jetta Fan's good to go.  :P


In the united states yes but early MK3 in Canada had a 1.8l 8v engine (pretty much the same as the MK2 8v) with 9.4 rotors (again, same braking setup as the 9.4" MK2 setup) while the US got the ABA and 10.1" brakes from the start. The calipers did have an air scoop on them to help cooling. I picked up a set of MK3 calipers for my MK2
(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k18/idkf1/Misc%20Stuff/IMG_3968.jpg)

Anyway, regarding the OP's question, you don't have to replace the calipers, just get the thinner pads and it should be fine.
Title: Brake Rotors
Post by: Jetta Fan on September 04, 2007, 06:08:25 am
Thanks for the input guys. Here's how it all played out......

Bought both set ups (solid rotors and vented plus the pads for each). Tried the vented rotors and thin pads. No go. The rotor does not fit. The bracket for the caliper interfers with it. So I had to go with the solid rotor set up.

Here's what I found out.... VW had several different brake set ups for the mkIII's. For some reason, up to 95 and after 95 seem to be two different set ups. Not sure why, but it is making buying a new caliper a real nightmare. The turbo diesels (AAZ) and 1.8L gassers had the solid rotors. The TDIs and 2.0L had the vented, as did the VR6s and GTIs.
Title: Brake Rotors
Post by: lord_verminaard on September 04, 2007, 06:11:24 am
Hmm.  Weird!   :roll:   Glad you got it sorted out.

Brendan
Title: Brake Rotors
Post by: Jetta Fan on September 04, 2007, 06:20:13 am
OK, I have to correct my last post......in asking the aftermarket parts suppliers, there seems to be a change at 95, but in looking through ETKA, the numbers are the same. Not suere why there are no listings for a 97 TD (AAZ). But, like I mentioned....according to ETKA, part numbers for the calipers are the same, as are the pictorials.

What I said about the vented and solid rotors on different models still holds true though.
Title: Brake Rotors
Post by: g-spec on September 04, 2007, 05:59:54 pm
The 97 TD does have different calipers than the pre 95 ones......
I know cause I have a 95 and I just did the front breaks on a 97 td for a friend......I used mk2 vented rotors on my td
Title: Brake Rotors
Post by: Jetta Fan on September 05, 2007, 04:47:35 am
Thanks for the input g-spec. Why can't they just have one brake set up for the same friggin' car??    :?

I checked with a local VW dealer late yesterday and they told me the pre 95 caliper from a 1.8 gasser or a TD should fit my 97. I am getting a caliper from a 94 on Friday, so, with any luck, my search will be over.
Title: Brake Rotors
Post by: g-spec on September 05, 2007, 06:59:19 am
From the research I did when I was working on a 97 TD you need a caliper for a 97....they changed the set-up in 95 and the calipers are different.....they will bolt up but they just dont sit right....and you cant get the pads in. I can get you the part number if you want....let me know
Title: Brake Rotors
Post by: Jetta Fan on September 06, 2007, 05:54:01 am
Interesting. I'd appreciate the part number, if it's not too hard for you to dig up. I need the right side caliper.

According to ETKA, the part number for the 97 is 1H0 615 124 C and for the 93-95 it lists 1H0 615 124 A and 1H0 615 124 C.
Title: Brake Rotors
Post by: g-spec on September 07, 2007, 10:03:45 am
Quote from: "Jetta Fan"
Interesting. I'd appreciate the part number, if it's not too hard for you to dig up. I need the right side caliper.

According to ETKA, the part number for the 97 is 1H0 615 124 C and for the 93-95 it lists 1H0 615 124 A and 1H0 615 124 C.


From what I found out the part number in etka says its the same caliper as the 95's...but its not.....the caliper I got has its own part number from the place I got it....Call Dynamic Performance let the guy there know I gave you his contact info....he will be able to help you out.....My name is Michal....the shop owners name is Lukasz....the number is 519-652-8557
Let me know how it goes!! cheers
Title: Brake Rotors
Post by: Jetta Fan on September 10, 2007, 05:00:38 am
Thanks for the info.

On Friday afternoon, I went to see my mechanic and the used calipers he had were no good, but he offered me a new one for a really good price, so I took it. It is the caliper for the 93-95. Tried my pads and they don't fit.....need to use the pads that are held on with the spring, not with built in clips. Since the price was so good, I can afford to switch the other caliper as well and just use the applicable pads and still come out ahead of what they want for just one caliper (I said it was a good price).

Thanks for the help Michal.
Title: Brake Rotors
Post by: blkboostedtruck on September 10, 2007, 07:50:20 am
Quote from: "Black Smokin' Diesel"
Quote from: "lord_verminaard"
all A3's had vented so Jetta Fan's good to go.  :P


In the united states yes but early MK3 in Canada had a 1.8l 8v engine (pretty much the same as the MK2 8v) with 9.4 rotors (again, same braking setup as the 9.4" MK2 setup) while the US got the ABA and 10.1" brakes from the start. The calipers did have an air scoop on them to help cooling. I picked up a set of MK3 calipers for my MK2
(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k18/idkf1/Misc%20Stuff/IMG_3968.jpg)

Anyway, regarding the OP's question, you don't have to replace the calipers, just get the thinner pads and it should be fine.



would those air scoops on those calipers bolt on to any other calipers ? or are they for MK3 only?
thanks Duane
Title: Brake Rotors
Post by: Jetta Fan on September 10, 2007, 08:40:30 am
I've only seen them on the mkIII solid rotor units. They weren't on the 84, 86 or 90 Jettas nor the 88 Fox I had. At least, not that I can remember.  :wink:
Title: Brake Rotors
Post by: g-spec on September 10, 2007, 08:58:49 am
Ya no problem for the help....this is what the forums are for!!!
Title: Brake Rotors
Post by: akrallysport on September 12, 2007, 08:17:46 pm
I just went through the same ordeal this past June. The AAZ Jettas seem to have been blessed with the 9.4" solid rotor with non-floating calipers, similar to the almost the entire mk2 lineup (except some models with vented 9.4").

Basically, in order to run vented rotors you need the upright/knuckle, caliper  carriers and calipers from a mk3 2.0 (K2/GT/Wolfsburg) as well as the obvious rotors and pads. Bearings and hubs are identical throughout the mk2 and mk3s (and I recommend installing new ones) as long as it's the 4x100 pattern.

I think the whole conversion cost me over $500 (with LOTS of new parts, mind you), but the added braking force is well worth the price of admission.