How to Change Rear Disc Brakes on a 2000 Volkswagen Jetta

The 2000 Volkswagen Jetta had a wide array of options to fit nearly any type of buyer. The most impressive of its options was its array of engines. The standard engine was a 115-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder. It also had a 150-horsepower, 1.8-liter turbocharged engine, a 90-horsepower 1.9-liter diesel engine and a high-output, 174-horsepower, 2.8-liter V-6. Despite its numerous engine options, it only had one rear brake configuration. Replacing the 2000 Jettas rear brakes is straightforward, once you disconnect the parking brake cable.

Instructions

1

Turn the Jettas ignition to the Off position, then press and release the brake pedal 25 to 35 times to relive any pressure stored in the ABS hydraulic modulator.

2

Unscrew the lid from the brake master cylinder and siphon out about half of the brake fluid from the master cylinder reservoir with a clean turkey baster. Transfer this fluid to a small container for later disposal.

3

Loosen the rear wheel bolts with a ratchet and socket, and raise the rear of the Jetta with a floor jack. Slide jack stands under the lower suspension arm and lower the Jetta onto the jack stands. Remove the wheel bolts and remove the rear wheels.

4

Look on the rear of the caliper and find where the parking brake cable the semi-rigid cabling connects to the brake caliper. Grab the parking brake cable-retaining clip the clip holding the caliper in place on the caliper with needle-nose pliers and pull the clip from the caliper. Pivot the parking brake lever on the caliper downward and remove the end of the parking brake cable from the lever. Set the parking brake cable and clip aside.

5

Remove the caliper bolts with a ratchet and socket, while holding each caliper guide pin steady with a combination wrench. Pull the caliper upward and off the caliper bracket. Hang the caliper from the rear coil spring with a bungee cord or coat hanger never let the caliper hang by its rubber hose.

6

Pull the brake pads off the caliper bracket and remove the pad slippers the thin, metal shims above and below the brake pads from the caliper bracket.

7

Remove the two caliper bracket bolts with a ratchet and socket, and pull the caliper bracket off the rear hub. Remove the two screws securing the rotor to the rear hub with a Phillips screwdriver. If the screws do not loosen easily, lightly tap the head of each screw with a hammer to free it. Pull the rotor off the hub lightly strike the rear of the rotor with a rubber mallet if it doesnt pull off easily.

8

Inspect the rotor for visible defects, including deep grooves, hot spots, signs of grinding or a mirror-like shine. Replace the rotor with a new one if any defects exist.

9

Set the rotor on the Jettas rear hub, lining up the screw holes in the rotor with those in the hub. Tighten the rotor-retaining screw with a Phillips screwdriver.

10

Position the caliper bracket back into place on the rear hub and hand-tighten its retaining bolts. Torque the caliper bracket retaining bolts to 70 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket. Press new pad slippers included with new brake pads into the caliper bracket. Slide new brake pads into the caliper bracket.

11

Press the caliper piston into the caliper using a caliper piston tool. The exact process varies, depending on the type of tool used, but the basic concept is to turn the piston clockwise as you press it into the caliper. Refer to the tools instructions for specifics.

12

Set the caliper in place on the caliper bracket and hand-tighten its retaining bolts. Tighten each caliper bolt to 26 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket as you hold its respective caliper pin with a combination wrench.

13

Reinsert the parking brake cable into its mounting bracket in the rear caliper and press the clip through the slot in the cables bracket to lock it into place. Pivot the parking brake lever downward and slide the end of the cable into the end of the lever. Allow the parking brake lever to pivot upward until the end of the cable seats into the lever.

14

Repeat Steps 4 through 13 to replace the brake pads on the other side of the Jetta.

15

Set the rear wheels on the Jettas rear hubs and line up the bolt holes in the wheels with those in the hub. Hand-tighten the rear wheel bolts. Raise the rear of the Jetta off the jack stands with a floor jack and remove the jack stands. Lower the Jetta to the ground. Tighten the wheel bolts, in a crisscross pattern, to 89 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket.

16

Press and release the brake pedal about 40 times to seat the rear caliper piston onto the rear pads. Check the fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir and add DOT 4 brake fluid until the level reaches the Max line, if needed. Tighten the lid onto the master cylinder reservoir.

17

Take the old brake fluid to a nearby used-automotive-fluid-recycling-center for disposal. Some auto parts stores take brake fluid free of charge.