How do i depress cylinder for replacement of rear brake pads

Park the polo on level ground, turn the engine off and apply the parking brake. Pull the hood release handle and move to the front of the car.

Lift the hood and remove the master cylinder. Remove one-half of the brake fluid inside the reservoir with a syringe.

Loosen the lug nuts on the rear wheels with a tire iron. Place the jack beneath the frame at the back of the Volkswagen and lift the back tires off the ground. Rest the rear axles of the Volkswagen on two jack stands. Remove the lug nuts and take the rear wheels off.

Reach behind the brake caliper to locate the caliper mounting pins. Remove the pins with a 12 mm socket and ratchet. Lift the caliper from the brake rotor and suspend it above the wheel assembly with a bungee cord or wire coat hanger.

Remove the rear brake pads from the slots in the caliper bridge. Inspect the caliper bridge and rotor for damage and significant wear. Replace the rotor if it is warped or badly scored. Scoring of the rotors can lead to break failure and will prematurely wear the new brake pads. Place new brake pads into the slots of the caliper bridge.

Attach the piston depression tool to the caliper. The tool will fit over the back side of the caliper and against the piston inside. Twist the tool's handle to force the piston into the side of the rear caliper. Remove the tool once the caliper piston is totally depressed within the caliper.

Replace the caliper onto the caliper bridge and screw in the caliber mounting pens by hand. Replace the rear wheel onto the wheel bolt and screw on the lug nuts.

Repeat the process for the other side of the rear of the polo. Lift the rear end of the vehicle with the jack and remove the jack stands. Lower the rear tires to the ground and tighten the lug nuts with a lug wrench.

Return to the engine compartment. Remove the master cylinder cap and check the level of brake fluid. Place a funnel into the container and fill the reservoir with brake fluid as needed.

You mean brake caliper piston?
Front or back?

Brake Pads
Removal & Installation
Front





3.4L front disc brake assembly









4.0L and 4.7L front disc brake assembly




To Remove:

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the precautions in the beginning of
   this section.
   
2. Remove or disconnect the following:
   
   
   
   • Front wheel
     
   • Clip, 2 caliper pins, the anti-rattle spring then remove the 2 brake pads
     and the 4 anti-squeal shims

To Install:

CAUTION
Only replace brake pads on 1 side of the
vehicle at a time. Failure to use this procedure could cause the caliper pistons
on the opposite side of the vehicle to pop out requiring the reconditioning or
replacement of the brake caliper.

1. Remove a small amount of brake fluid from the master cylinder.
   
2. Install a used brake pad into the caliper and compress the caliper pistons.
   
3. Apply disc brake grease to both sides of the inner anti-squeal shims.
   
4. Install or connect the following:
   
   
   
   • Anti-squeal shims to the new brake pads
     NOTE: When replacing worn pads, the anti-squeal shims must be replaced
     together with the pads.
     
     
   • 2 brake pads
     
   • Anti-rattle spring and the 2 caliper pins
     
   • Clip
     
   • Front wheel
   
   
5. Depress the brake pedal several times to seat the brake pads.
   
6. Check the brake fluid level and top off as needed.

Rear
To Remove:

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the precautions in the beginning of
   this section.
   
2. Remove or disconnect the following:
   
   
   
   • Rear wheel
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
   • 2 cylinder slide pins from rear caliper assembly
     
   • Caliper assembly from rear caliper mounting
     
   • 2 brake pads with anti-squeal shims from rear caliper mounting
     
   • 2 anti-squeal shims from each disc brake pads
     
   • Pad wear indicator plate from the inner side disc brake pad
     
   • 4 pad support plates from the rear caliper mounting

To Install:

1. Install or connect the following:
   
   
   
   • 4 pad support plates on the rear caliper mounting
     
   • Pad wear indicator plate on the inside brake pad
     Note: Install the pad wear indicator facing downward.
     
     
   • Anti-squeal shims on each brake pad
     
   • 2 disc brake pads with anti-squeal shims to the caliper assembly
   
   
2. Apply lithium soap base glycol grease to the sliding part of 2 caliper slide
   pins.
   
3. Install or connect the following:
   
   
   
   • Disc brake caliper assembly with 2 caliper slide pins
     
   • Torque to 65 ft-lbs (88 Nm)
     
   • Rear wheel
   
   
4. Depress the brake pedal several times to seat the brake pads.
   
5. Check the brake fluid level and top off as needed.

--- Removal & Installation
Front
To Remove:

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the precautions in the beginning of
   this section.
   
2. Remove or disconnect the following:
   
   
   
   • Front wheel
     
   • Front brake caliper assembly
   
   
3. Make matchmarks on the disc and the axle hub.
   
4. Remove the front disc.

To Install:

1. Align matchmarks and disc onto axle hub.
   
2. Install or connect the following:
   
   
   
   • Front brake caliper assembly with the 2 bolts
     
     
     
     1. Torque to 90 ft-lbs (123 Nm)
     
     
   • Front wheel

This is usually caused by a leaking wheel cylinder allowing brake fluid on the brake shoes. The wheel cylinder actuates the brake pads when the brake pedal is depressed and only can be inspected by removing the brake drums.

Try this,apply the emergency before stepping on the brake.
If this helps the pedal,the rear brakes are out of adjustment.

disc brakes on the rear of a vehicle have a screw out mechanism that attaches to the ebrake . this means that you must turn the caliper piston to recess into the cylinder.
open the bleed screw to make it move eazier.

bleed the brake again. if the pedal goes to the floor with little resistance, then the master cylinder is your problem.
the shim is to depress the noise when you applied the brake. you can skip that, if the brake works without it.

probably need to be bled again on that side

Just did my rear brakes this weekend, Monday had a very slight drag. Noted that when I installed new pads I had to tap them on. That shouldn't be. When brakes are released, there should be enough play to allow the pads to back off the disc. Tonight, I removed the pads and filed down the ends of the tips that go into the top and bottom channels until I could install and remove them with fingertips, that gives them enough play to grab and release. Drag disappeared; the old girl ran like she should.

Let the fluid out of the master cylinder or from a line. If the pedel  then goes down w/o the fluid, then the booster is working ok. Rebuild or replace the master cylinder.