How to Replace 1999 VW Passat Rear Brakes

The rear brake pads on your 1999 Passat may need replacing about 15,000 miles from when they were last replaced. Replacing the rear brake pads will require the additional knowledge of how to adjust the parking brake cable to your Passat brake system. A special brake caliper piston retracting tool is required to perform this repair procedure at home.

Instructions

Replacing the Rear Brake Pads

1

Raise the Passat rear end, and support it with jack stands. Remove the lug nuts, using a tire iron and wheels.

2

Disengage the parking brake, and adjust the parking brake cable, so that optimum free play in the cables is allowed.

3

Apply brake system cleaner over the brake components. Wipe off the sprayed areas with a rag. Start with the brakes on one wheel, while using the other as a reference.

4

Remove the caliper mounting bolts with a box wrench, while securing the guide pins with an open-end wrench from rotating.

5

Remove the caliper from the brake pads, and hang it from the shock absorber with a length of wire.

6

Pull out the brake pads from the caliper mounting bracket.

7

Remove the guide pins out of the boots, and inspect them for damage. If the pins are fine, lubricate them with brake grease, and reinsert them.

8

Install a brake bleeding kit to the bleed screw. Open the bleed screw with a wrench.

9

Push the caliper piston into the caliper bore, using a retraction tool, turning the piston clockwise. Unnecessary brake fluid should eject into the kit bottle as the piston retracts. When the piston has fully retracted, remove the kit, and tighten the bleed screw.

10

Install the new brake pads into the mounting bracket. Make sure the protective film on each pad, has been removed, before installing them.

11

Position the caliper back over the brake pads. Ensure that the anti-rattle springs are pressed against the inner surface of the caliper body.

12

Install the new mounting bolts, and torque them to 22 ft-lbs. with your torque wrench, while keeping the guide pins from rotating with an open-end wrench.

13

Repeat Step 3 through Step 12 to replace the other brake pads.

14

Force the brake pads against rotors, by applying the brake pedal several times, until the pedal feels firm when depressed.

15

Readjust the brake parking brake cables.

16

Install the wheels, and screw on the lug nuts with your fingers. Remove the jack stands, and lower the Passat. Torque the lug nuts with your torque wrench to 89 ft-lbs.

17

Top off the brake fluid in the brake fluid reservoir, if necessary.

18

Test the new brakes, driving in an isolated area.