How to Change the Brake Pads on a Jetta

Brake replacement

Maintaining your car is vitally important to both the life of your car and any passengers that ever ride in it. Simple steps like replacing your brake pads whenever they are worn down can help avoid both accidents and costly repairs to your rotors. Changing the brake pads in a Volkswagen Jetta is a fairly straightforward business, and can be completed in just a few hours.

Things You'll Need

• Jack
• Jack stands
• Poultry baster
• C-Clamp
• Socket wrench
• Filtering mask
• Brake-system cleaner
• Torque wrench

Instructions

Removing the Old Brakes

1. Remove the cap from the brake-fluid reservoir and use a poultry baster or other type of suction device to remove two-thirds of the fluid, which will release the pressure in your brake system, and then replace the cap.

2. 

   Socket wrenches make loosening the bolts much easier

   Loosen the bolts on either the front or rear wheels of the vehicle, depending on which brake pads you are changing, using a socket wrench.

3. 

   Make sure you are on a level surface when attempting to raise your car

   Use a jack to elevate the end of the car that you are working on, and support it securely with jack stands. Be sure to block the tires on the other end of the car, to avoid having the car roll.

4. 

   Disc brake assembly

   Remove the wheels, and plan to work on only one brake assembly at a time, in order to allow yourself to use the other assembled brake for reference.

5. 

   Heavily scored disc brakes are a danger on the road

   Inspect the brake disc for deep grooves or scoring. If the disc is deeply scored, then it will need to be either replaced, or repaired by an automotive machine shop.

6. Place a drip pan under the elevated wheel, and thoroughly wash the brake assembly, using brake-system cleaner. Allow the brake system to dry thoroughly.

7. 

   C-clamps are adjustable and come in all sizes

   Use the C-clamp to depress the pistons into the caliper and then carefully remove the caliper and pad.

8. Pry the ends of the retaining spring out of the holes in the caliper.

9. Remove the caps from the caliper guide pins and then gently unscrew the pins themselves.

10. If equipped with one, unplugged the electronic wear sensor.

11. Remove both the inner and outer pads from the caliper frame. In some cases an adhesive may have been used, and it will be necessary to pry the pads off.

Installing the New Brake Pads

1. 

   New brake pads

   Install the new brake pads onto the calipers, inner pad first, followed by the outer pad.

2. 

   Follow the directions on the anti-squeal compound if using one

   If the pads are adhesive-backed, remove the foil lining and install. If not, then apply a film of anti-squeal compound to the plates before installing.

3. Clean and lubricate the caliper guide pins, install the caliper over the disc, and insert the guide pins into the caliper. Tighten pins to the specified torque.

4. If equipped, reconnect the electronic wear sensor.

5. 

   Replace the wheel when finished

   Replace the tire, and repeat the process on the other tire.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure that you change both front brakes or both rear brakes at the same time.

• Once the brake pads have been replaced, make sure that you refill the brake-fluid reservoir.

• Brake fluid is poisonous and should never be ingested, so do not attempt to use your mouth to suck it out of the reservoir.

• Brake fluid will remove the paint from your car, so take special care not to get any on your car.

• Brake dust is harmful to your health, so you should always wear a filtering mask when working with brakes and you should never attempt to blow out the brake dust with an air compressor.

References

• Haynes: Automotive Repair Manuals
• cockeyed: Illustrated Instructions on Changing Brake Pads
• Autoblog: Brake Pad Replacement