How to Change Rear Brakes on a Volkswagen Golf

Typical automotive brake drum shoes.

The rear breaks on your Volkswagen Golf consist of several components that must be assembled correctly to operate properly. First of all, you should note that brake shoes are not entirely symmetrical: the lining comes in different sizes. The shoe with the smaller lining should face the front of the vehicle and the larger one should face the rear. That said, the rest of this guide will help you change the rear brakes on your Volkswagen.

Things You'll Need

• Floor jack and 2 jack stands. Screwdriver Hammer Nose pliers Axle socket Shop towels Slip joint pliers Vise Wheel bearing grease New cotter pin

Instructions

1. Park your car in a safe place with a level surface. Raise the rear of the vehicle using a floor jack and safely support it on two jack stands. Block the front wheels using a piece of wood or a brick. Remove both rear tires and release the emergency brakes.

2. Pry the grease cup from the wheel hub using a screwdriver and hammer. Remove the cotter pin from the stub axle using a pair of nose pliers and remove the locking ring.

3. Unscrew the hub nut using a ratchet and axle socket and remove the thrust washer and wheel bearing. Set the wheel bearing on a clean shop towel and remove the brake drum. If the drum is too tight, insert a screwdriver through one of the drum bolt holes and push the adjuster wedge upwards to retract the brake shoes.

4. Spray brake parts cleaner on a clean shop towel and wipe brake dust off the brake assembly if necessary.

5. Depress the small spring cups holding the brake shoes against the backing plate-use a pair of slip joint pliers. Turn the springs 90 degrees to release the center holding pin and remove the spring cups and pins.

6. Pull the bottom part of the shoe assembly with a screwdriver and release the lower return spring; then release the emergency brake cable from the lever attached to one of the brake shoes. Carefully release the upper shoe assembly from the wheel brake cylinder and lift the shoe assembly off the backing plate. If necessary, make a note of the assembly configuration or remove the opposite wheel drum to use it as a guide during the assembly procedure.

7. Set the push rod that holds the upper brake shoes apart on a vise and remove the upper springs to release the brake shoes. Attach the push rod and upper springs on the new shoes. If the new shoes do not come with a parking brake lever, remove the old one from the old shoe and install it on the new brake shoe.

8. Apply a thin coat of wheel bearing grease to the brake shoe backing-plate contact points. Set the new shoes on the backing plate, connect the parking brake cable, and hook the upper shoe assembly on the brake wheel cylinder. Install spring cups, pins and lower springs. Center the shoes on the backing plate and verify the adjusting wedge is all the way up, so the shoes are pulled inward. If you are changing the brake shoes on the opposite tire, this is a good time to do it.

9. Apply a light coat of wheel bearing grease to the lips of the grease seal on the drum and install the drum. Apply wheel bearing grease to the outside wall of the wheel bearing and install it. Insert the thrust washer and nut and hand tighten it. As you turn the wheel, tighten the nut using the axle socket to sit the wheel bearing in place. Back off the nut and re-tighten it just enough so that you still can move the thrust washer from side to side with a screwdriver.

10. Install the locking ring, new cotter pin and grease cup; then finish installing the tires and lower the vehicle. Depress the brake pedal several times to adjust the new shoes against the brake drum.

Tips & Warnings

• Brake shoes may contain asbestos, which is known to cause cancer if inhaled in large quantities. Use brake cleaner and a shop towel to wipe brake dust off components and assemblies and do not blow or disturb brake dust in other manner.