Car rear brake system Skoda Octavia A7 plays a critical role in ensuring safety and controllability, especially during heavy braking or driving in city traffic. Many owners mistakenly believe that the rear mechanisms wear out more slowly than the front ones, but regular use in traffic jams and an aggressive driving style can reduce their service life to a minimum.
Timely diagnosis and replacement brake discs - this is not just a recommendation from service centers, but a necessity that extends the life of the entire chassis. Ignoring signs of wear can lead to overheating of the calipers, ruined pads and, in the worst case, brake failure on slippery roads.
Design features and types of disks for A7
On the platform VW MQBwhere it was built Octavia A7, the rear brakes are often made in the form of drums for basic configurations or disc mechanisms for versions with an engine of 1.4 liters and above. If you have the disk option, it is important to understand the difference between the types of surfaces.
Standard ventilated discs provide better heat dissipation, which is critical during long descents or frequent braking. However, for the rear axle, where the load is less, solid (non-ventilated) discs are often used, which are cheaper and easier to replace. The choice depends on the modification of your car and operating conditions.
Please note that the rear calipers Octavia A7 have a built-in hand brake mechanism. This complicates the design, but makes it more reliable. When replacing a disk, it is important to pay attention to the presence of grooves to remove wear products, which prevents the mechanism from jamming.
When purchasing new parts, be sure to check the catalog numbers, since the disc size may vary even within the same year of manufacture, depending on the type of engine and gearbox.
Manufacturer selection and compatibility criteria
The auto parts market offers a wide range of brands, from original solutions to budget analogues. For Skoda Octavia A7 Manufacturers included in the concern are considered the most reliable Volkswagen Group, such as TRW, ATE or Textar.
If you choose an alternative, pay attention to brands Brembo, Zimmermann and ATE. They offer excellent value for money. Cheap Chinese or Turkish analogues often cannot withstand the declared loads and can become deformed after the first serious braking.
Particular attention should be paid to the material of the coating. Quality discs often have an anti-corrosion coating on the hub part, which prevents the wheel from sticking to the disk. This is especially true in regions with severe winters and the use of reagents.
Before buying, be sure to check the compatibility with the VIN code, as the size of the landing hole and the number of fasteners can vary.
β οΈ Warning: Never install discs from different manufacturers on the same axle. Different material rigidity and geometry can lead to uneven wear of the pads and the beat of the brake pedal.
- Every 40-50 thousand km
- Only when you grind.
- When the lamp lit up
- I don't know who's changing.
Main signs of wear and need for replacement
To understand that the rear brake discs require replacement, you can by a number of characteristic symptoms. The most obvious sign is vibration of the steering wheel or body during braking, which indicates that the disk-beat due to its deformation or uneven wear.
It is also worth paying attention to extraneous sounds. Screaming, grinding, or metallic clang when pressed on the pedal often indicates that the thickness of the disc has reached a critical minimum or deep furrows have appeared on the surface.
Visual inspection through the wheels can show the presence of cracks or strong rusty inflows along the edge of the working surface. If the disc has a production of more than 1.5 mm of nominal thickness, its further operation is prohibited.
Donβt ignore the behavior of the car. If during braking the car begins to take to the side, this may be a sign of uneven wear of the discs on different wheels of the same axle.
Step-by-step instructions for replacing rear discs
Replacing rear discs with Skoda Octavia A7 requires a special tool, since the piston caliper has a screw design. Simply pressing the piston can cause it to break. You will need an adapter to compress the caliper piston.
First, you need to remove the wheel and dismantle the caliper. Be careful not to let the caliper hang on the brake hose - hang it on the wire. Then unscrew the guides and remove the old drive. If it is boiling, use a hammer for neat tapping or a special filmmaker.
Before installing a new disc, clean the hub of rust and dirt. Set the disc, secure it with a screw (if provided) and install the caliper. Be sure to squeeze the piston to the point before installation, using piston-cap.
After assembly, press the brake pedal several times to return the pads to the working position before moving from the seat.
βοΈ Preparing to replace drives
Old pads may have an irregular shape that will not lie on the new disc.
Use only quality lubricants for guide calipers. Conventional lithole or graphite lubricant will not work here, as they can destroy rubber cuffs.
Why can't you just push the piston in?
The rear calipser piston on the Octavia A7 has a thread. If you try to press it with a gear or press without rotation, you will break the hand brake mechanism inside the caliper. This will result in expensive repairs or replacement of the calipers in the assembly.
Size table and specifications for different modifications
The dimensions of the rear brake discs depend on the type of engine and year of release. Below is a table with the main parameters that must be considered when selecting spare parts.
| Modification | Diameter (mm) | Thickness (mm) | Min. thickness (mm) | Fasteners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 TSI / 1.4 TSI | 272 | 10 | 8 | M12x1.5 |
| 1.8 TSI / 2.0 TSI | 300 | 12 | 10 | M14x1.5 |
| 1.6 MPI (base) | 255 | 10 | 8 | M12x1.5 |
| RS / Scout | 300 (ventilated) | 22 | 20 | M14x1.5 |
Please note that for versions Octavia RS ventilated discs of increased diameter are used, which requires checking the compatibility of calipers and hubs.
When replacing the discs with an electronic parking brake (EPB) version, the piston compression procedure requires a scanner to transfer the caliper to service mode.
β οΈ Note: If your car is equipped with an electronic hand brake, be sure to put the calipers into service mode before removing the wheel through a diagnostic scanner or a combination of buttons on the instrument panel. Otherwise, you'll break the engine.
Before buying new discs, measure the current thickness with a rod. If it is close to the minimum (as indicated in the table), replacement is required, even if the disk appears to be whole.
Common mistakes during replacement and operation
One of the most common mistakes is to ignore the procedure of grinding new disks. After installation, it is necessary to observe a gentle driving mode for the first 200-300 kilometers, avoiding sharp braking.
Some craftsmen forget to clean the hub of rust before installing the disc. This leads to the fact that the disc does not fit tightly, there are beatings, and the screw of the disk mounting breaks off at the first attempt to unscrew the wheel.
The use of low-quality bolts of disk mounting is also unacceptable. They should be a new design with the right thread pitch and strength class. Reusing old bolts can cause them to break off on the go.
Never mix new and old pads with new discs. This disrupts the running-in process and reduces the effectiveness of braking.
Proper laundry of new discs in the first 300 km - the guarantee of their long service and the absence of vibrations during braking.
Owner Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to change only one rear disc?
No, it's strictly forbidden. The braking force shall be distributed evenly. Replacing only one disc will lead to the car moving aside during braking and uneven wear of the pads. You need to change a pair on one axis.
How to distinguish an original disc from a fake?
Original wheels Skoda have clear marking, laser engraving of the part number and high-quality packaging. On fakes, errors in fonts, uneven edges and the lack of protective coating on the hub are often found. Buy parts from official dealers or in trusted stores.
How long does it take to replace the back discs?
With professional tools and experience, replacing a pair of rear discs takes 45 minutes to 1 hour. If you need to work with electronic hand brake, the time can be increased by 15-20 minutes due to the need to connect the diagnosis.
Do I need to change brake fluid when replacing discs?
Replacing the discs themselves does not require changing the fluid. However, if you are changing discs as part of general maintenance, it is recommended to check the condition of the fluid. If it is darkened or contains moisture, it is better to replace it completely, since brake fluid is hygroscopic.
β οΈ Attention: The service life of the rear brake discs on the Octavia A7 averages 60-80 thousand kilometers, but with aggressive driving it can be halved. Regularly checking the thickness of the disc is a mandatory procedure for any owner.