How to Replace a Rear Pad on a 2006 VW Jetta

Replacing the rear brake pads on your Volkswagen is a great way to save some money on maintenance. Keeping your brakes in good condition is one of the simplest ways to keep your car safe. Squeaking and grinding are both signs the pads need to be replaced. If you continue to drive while hearing these sounds, you may end up damaging the brakes or the brake rotors, which are significantly more expensive to replace. On a sporty car like the Jetta, you may find that the pads wear quickly under spirited driving. Fortunately, the pads are fairly easy to replace.

Instructions

1

Loosen the lug nuts using the lug wrench but do not remove them. Raise the car with the jack and place it on jack stands. Remove the lug nuts and the wheel and place them aside.

2

Loosen the two caliper bolts with a socket until the caliper swings freely away from the rotor, leaving the caliper guide and the pads in place. Pop off the old brake pads by using the screwdriver as a lever to pop them outwards. Remove the two bolts holding the caliper guide in place and pull the caliper guide away from the wheel.

3

Replace the old anti-rattle clips with new ones. These should have come with the new pads. Place the new pads into the caliper guide. Reposition the caliper guide over the rotor and reattach the two bolts holding it in place.

4

Place the clamp over the piston part of the caliper and gradually compress it. Place the caliper back over the caliper guide and replace the caliper guide pins with the replacement ones which came with your pads. Volkswagen recommends replacing these pins whenever you replace the brake pads.

5

Remove the clamp from the caliper.

6

Remount the wheel and hand-tighten the lug bolts. Lower your Jetta from the jack stands and tighten the lug nuts once it is on the ground.