How to Change Rear Brakes on a 2000 Jetta

The VW Jetta has become an enduringly popular car in North America, vying with the also popular Golf as the best selling Volkswagen. The rear brakes on the Jetta should be inspected regularly and replaced if necessary. If your brakes are squeaking, grinding or making other odd noise, chances are that you need a brake job.

Instructions

1

Disengage the emergency brake if it is set. Place something under the front wheels to prevent the car from rolling while you are working on it. Loosen the rear lug nuts with a lug wrench. Lift the vehicle with a floor jack and lower it securely onto jack stands at the rear. Finish removing the wheels.

2

Remove the bolts that hold the caliper to the caliper carrier, located on the top and bottom of the caliper. Use a socket on the bolts and an open ended wrench on the other side of it to hold it while you loosen and remove the bolts.

3

Slide the caliper off of the rotor. Remove the old brake pads from the rotor and the carrier. Remove the two hex bolts that hold the caliper carrier to the car. Set the carrier aside.

4

Remove the set screw that holds the rotor on with the flat head screwdriver. Pull the rotor straight off the hub. If necessary, use the rubber mallet to tap the rotor off the hub if it's become stuck on from dirt and moisture.

5

Spray brake cleaner on the hub where the rotor mounts and wipe it clean with a dry rag. Bolt the caliper and carrier back onto the car so that you can use the piston retracting tool to retract the piston to make room for the new brake pads. Place the tool on the piston according to the tools directions. Turn the piston until it is retracted into the caliper.

6

Remove the caliper and carrier from the car. Slide the new brake rotor onto the hub. Install and tighten the set screw that holds the rotor on. Install the caliper carrier with the two hex bolts and tighten the bolts. Put the new pads in place on the rotor and the caliper carrier. Install the caliper and tighten the bolts.

7

Replace the wheels. Lower the vehicle to the ground. Repeat the above steps for the other side of the car. To break in the new pads, do a few mildly aggressive stops from 60 mph.