How to Install Rear Brake Pads & Rotors on a 2000 Jetta

The 2000 VW Jetta was a popular four-door sedan when it was new, combining high-quality German engineering, simple yet handsome styling and decent performance. The 2000 Jetta is still popular as a second-hand purchase. As with any car, the brakes on a Jetta must be periodically replaced. This is a job that can be performed by a professional mechanic or by a home mechanic with the right tools and approach.

Things You'll Need

• Floor jack
• 2 jack stands
• Socket set and ratchet
• Brake cleaner
• Rags
• Pliers
• VW caliper-piston tool
• Brake fluid
• New brake pads
• New brake rotors

Instructions

1. Loosen the lug nuts that fasten the rear wheels to the car with a tire iron or even the appropriately sized socket. Raise the back end of the car with a jack and lower it onto jack stands. Finish the removal of the wheels.

2. Remove the caliper bolts, located on the top and bottom of the caliper facing the wheel well. Pull the large caliper spring clips off the caliper with a pair of pliers. Slide the caliper off the rotor. Tie the caliper to a nearby suspension piece or place it on platform so there is no weight on the brake line. Remove the bolts that hold the caliper carrier in place. Set the caliper carrier aside.

3. With a screwdriver, remove the small set-screw that holds the rotor to the hub. Pull the rotor straight off the hub. Spray brake cleaner on the hub-mounting surface and wipe it down with a clean, dry rag. Install the new rotor by sliding it onto the hub. Reinstall the set-screw.

4. Remove the lid for the brake-fluid reservoir in the engine bay. Remove about a one-half-inch of fluid from the reservoir with a syringe or similar tool. This is to prevent the fluid from overflowing when you compress the piston in the caliper.

5. Remove the old inner and outer brake pads. Spray the caliper with brake cleaner and wipe it down with a clean, dry rag. Place the special caliper-piston retracting tool (see Resources) onto the caliper piston. Turn the tool so that it pushes and turns the piston into the caliper. Install the new brake pads in the reverse of removal and in the same orientation as the old ones.

6. Reinstall the caliper bracket. Slide the caliper over the rotor. Install the caliper bolts and the caliper spring clips. Repeat the above steps for the opposite side of the vehicle. Put the wheels back on the car and lower it to the ground. Top up the brake fluid in the reservoir to the full mark. Pump the brakes until the pedal feels firm again.

References

• "Volkswagen Jetta, Golf, GTI: 1993-1999 Cabrio: 1995-2002 Service Manual"; Robert Bentley; 1999

Resources

• ECS Tuning: VW/Audi Brake Caliper Tool