Brake System in Polo 6R/6C

This guide will help you identify and select the appropriate brake parts for your Polo. Below you’ll find a list of all factory brake configurations, along with part numbers.

Front Brakes

1. Base Version (256×22)

• Discs: 6R0615301C
• Calipers: FS-III type
  • Left: 1K0615123D
  • Right: 1K0615124D
• Brake pads: 1S0698151D
• Steering knuckles (integrated yoke):
  • Left: 6Q0407255AC
  • Right: 6Q0407256AC

2. Version with larger discs (288×25) – Polo 6R (1ZC, 1ZN)

• Discs: 6R0615301D
• Calipers: ATE silver
  • Left caliper housing: 1K0615123E
  • Right caliper housing: 1K0615124E
  • Caliper bracket (left/right): 6R0615125
• Brake pads: 3C0698151P
• Steering knuckles (universal for 288, 310, 312 mm and larger discs):
  • Left: 6R0407255A / 6Q0407255S / 6C0407255A
  • Right: 6R0407256A / 6Q0407256S / 6C0407256A

3. GTI Version (288×25)

• Identical parts as the version above, just with red calipers
• Calipers:
  • Left caliper housing: 1K0615123M
  • Right caliper housing: 1K0615124M
  • Caliper bracket (left/right): 6R0615125A

4. WRC Street/6C GTI Version (310×25 or 312×25)

• Discs: ventilated 6R0615301E
• Calipers: ATE blue (in 6C GTI they only differ in color)
  • Left caliper housing: 6R0615123
  • Right caliper housing: 6R0615124
  • Caliper bracket (left/right): 6R0615125E
• Brake pads: 3C0698151P

Rear Brakes

1. Drum Brakes

Used in the weakest engine versions.

• Instead of changing drums, it’s better to upgrade directly to disc brakes.

2. Standard and GTI Version (230×9)

• Discs: solid 2Q0615601H
• Calipers: LUCAS (in GTI they only differ in color)
  • Left caliper housing: 6R0615423
  • Right caliper housing: 6R0615424
  • Left caliper bracket: 6R0615425B
  • Right caliper bracket: 6R0615426B

3. WRC Street Version (254×22 or 256×22)

• Discs: ventilated 6R0615601A
• Calipers: ATE blue
  • Left caliper housing: 6R0615423B
  • Right caliper housing: 6R0615424B
  • Left caliper bracket: 6R0615425E
  • Right caliper bracket: 6R0615426D
• Brake pads: 6R0698451

ABS/ESP Pump Versions

1. Bosch 8.2i

• Allows coding of front brakes up to 288 mm size
• Available in three versions:
  • from May 2009
  • from November 2009
  • from May 2012

2. Bosch 9.0i

• Allows coding of front brakes up to 312 mm size
• Available in versions:
  • PQ (Polo 6R, from November 2012)
  • MQB/PQ26 (Polo 6C)

In models produced in 2009 and early 2010, it was possible to choose a specification without ESP – in that case, the ABS pump is yet another variant, fortunately this is not a common sight 🙂

Brake Master Cylinder Versions

1. FTE 22.2

Dual-circuit brake master cylinder with a 22.2 mm piston

• 22 FTE 5669 – base version 6R1611019 / 6R1611019A (LHD)
• 22 FTE 5695 – after 11/2013 6R1611019D / 6R1611019F (LHD)

2. FTE 23.81

Dual-circuit brake master cylinder with a 23.81 mm piston – found only in the Polo 6R R WRC Street (PR:1AT+1ZR,1ZP) until 03.11.2013 and Audi A1 8X (PR-1ZS) until 04.11.2013, and later with a different brake booster in the Polo 6C GTI. The best option for upgrading the Polo 6R brake system – especially when considering calipers for discs larger than 310 mm.

• FTE 23 5693 6R1611019B (LHD) – Polo 6R WRC Street
• FTE 23 5696 6R1611019E / 6R1611019G (LHD) – Polo 6C GTI (requires a different brake booster)

Fun fact: The Audi A1 Quattro had a master cylinder with a 25.4 mm piston (but the entire brake system there is from the Audi TT 8J1). Worth considering if someone is doing an AWD conversion 😉

Depending on the factory configuration, for rear disc brakes, the handbrake cable mounting point is offset by approximately 1 cm compared to the handbrake from the basic version with rear drum brakes. In practice, this doesn’t make much difference, and after changing from drum to disc brakes, everything usually works without issues.