🔧 Rear Brake Pads & Rotors - Replacement

This job replaces the rear brake pads and rear brake rotors on your Jetta. It restores braking performance, removes noise or vibration, and gives the rear brakes a fresh wear surface. Assumption: rear disc brakes.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2-3 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Work on a flat surface and chock the front wheels.
• Use jack stands. Never rely on a floor jack alone.
• Let the brakes cool before starting.
• Do not press the brake pedal with a caliper removed.
• Support the caliper so the brake hose is not stretched.
• Wear safety glasses and gloves.
• No battery disconnect is required for this repair.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands
• Wheel chocks
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• 17mm socket
• Torx T30 screwdriver
• 13mm socket
• Ratchet
• Breaker bar
• Torque wrench
• Brake caliper compression tool (specialty)
• Bungee cord
• Wire brush
• Brake cleaner
• Flat scraper

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake pad set - Qty: 1
• Rear brake rotors - Replace in pairs - Qty: 2
• Brake pad hardware kit - Qty: 1
• Brake grease - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground and set the parking brake.
• Put the transmission in gear.
• Loosen the rear wheel bolts slightly before lifting.
• Release the parking brake before removing the rear calipers.
• If the parking brake shoes are dragging, stop and inspect before continuing.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and secure the rear of the car

• Use a floor jack to raise the rear of your Jetta at the approved lift point.
• Place jack stands under both rear support points.
• Remove both rear wheels with a 17mm socket.
• Keep the car stable before moving on.

Step 2: Remove the caliper

• Use a 13mm socket to remove the caliper guide pin bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket and hang it with a bungee cord.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the hose.
• Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs) on reassembly.

Step 3: Remove the brake pads and bracket

• Slide the old pads out of the bracket.
• Use a 13mm socket to remove the caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the bracket from the knuckle.
• Torque to 90 Nm (66 ft-lbs) on reassembly.

Step 4: Remove the rotor

• Use a Torx T30 screwdriver to remove the rotor retaining screw.
• If the rotor is stuck, tap it gently from the back side.
• Use a flat scraper and wire brush to clean rust off the hub face.
• A clean hub prevents brake pulsation.

Step 5: Install the new rotor

• Clean the new rotor with brake cleaner.
• Install the rotor and secure it with the Torx T30 screwdriver.
• Make sure the rotor sits flush against the hub.

Step 6: Reinstall the bracket and pads

• Reinstall the caliper bracket with the 13mm socket.
• Torque to 90 Nm (66 ft-lbs).
• Install the new pad hardware kit.
• Apply a thin layer of brake grease to the pad contact points only.
• Install the new pads into the bracket.

Step 7: Compress the caliper piston and reinstall the caliper

• Use a brake caliper compression tool (specialty) to push the piston back in.
• Make sure the piston face is straight and fully seated.
• Reinstall the caliper over the pads.
• Install the guide pin bolts with the 13mm socket.
• Torque to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs).

Step 8: Reinstall wheels and lower the car

• Install both rear wheels by hand first.
• Snug the lug bolts with the 17mm socket.
• Lower the car with the floor jack.
• Final torque the wheel bolts to 120 Nm (89 ft-lbs) with a torque wrench.

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✅ After Repair

• Pump the brake pedal until it feels firm before driving.
• Check brake fluid level in the reservoir.
• Test the parking brake.
• Do a slow test drive and confirm the pedal feels normal.
• For the first 200 miles, avoid hard braking to bed in the new pads and rotors.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $350-$650 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $140-$280 (parts only)

You Save: $210-$370 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 2-3 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.