Checking and replacing rear brake pads (VW Golf 2)

The rear brakes are designed to allow the thickness of the brake shoe linings to be checked through holes in the brake shield. Figure 426 shows such a hole closed with a plug. If during the inspection (using a portable lamp) it was confirmed that the thickness of the lining reached 2.5 mm, it is necessary to replace the entire set of brake pads (on both wheels).



Raise the rear of the vehicle and place it on stands. Place wheel chocks under the front wheels. Loosen the brake shoe wear compensation mechanism, as the shoes may be holding the drum. To do this, insert a screwdriver through the threaded hole in the drum until it stops against the extended arm of the spacer bar 16 (figure 427) and moves it upward. The compensation mechanism is installed on the left side of the upper part of the brake drum.





Carefully remove the hub cap with a screwdriver. Remove the brake drum. Disconnect the shoe retainer by pressing the retainer guide with your finger, grab the retainer washer from the front with pliers, press it and, after turning, remove the washer from the retainer guide. Remove the guide with the spring. Perform these actions for both shoes.

Grasp one shoe from below and pull it out from the lower guide. Disconnect the released tension spring. Disconnect the parking brake cable from the shoe. Disconnect the parking brake actuator spring and the upper tension spring with pliers. Remove both shoes with the parking brake actuator spacer bar. Secure the shoe with the spacer bar in a vice and disconnect the bar, then the spring (figure 428). Extend your extended shoulder, paying attention to its position.



Clean all parts thoroughly. Check the condition of the rubber boots of the working cylinder carefully. If there are signs of leakage, the working cylinder must be repaired or replaced. Re-secure the brake shoe in a vice (see figure 428).

Attach the spring and insert the spacer bar into the shoe, slightly stretching the spring.


Install the spacer bar back in place and connect both pads as shown in Figure 429.



Place the shoes on the brake shield and attach the upper tension spring. Attach the parking brake cable to the lever. Spread the shoes from above and carefully insert the pistons into the brake cylinder without damaging the seals.

Install the lower tension spring and insert the left shoe into the guide.

Install the adjuster spring and the second shoe into the spacer bar, using a screwdriver. Install the shoe retainers.

Install the brake drum and adjust the bearing clearance.

Press the brake pedal several times to activate the brake pad wear compensation mechanism.

Once the brake pads and slave cylinder have been removed, the brake shield can be replaced. To do this, unscrew the four bolts securing the shield to the journal flange (see figure 427). These bolts also hold the trunnion and are tightened to a torque of 60 Nm. Spring washers should be placed under the bolt heads.

In early production cars, it was possible to repair the working brake cylinder after its dismantling (figure 430). When ordering a repair kit, it was necessary to specify the car model, since not all cylinders had the same internal diameter. Now the manufacturer recommends replacing the leaky cylinder as a whole.