Rear brakes Skoda Octavia Tour: device, diagnostics and repair

Skoda Octavia Tour is one of the most popular models of the Czech brand, combining the practicality of a station wagon and the dynamics of a sedan. However, even such reliable cars wear out brakes over time, especially the rear ones, which are the last thing many drivers pay attention to. Unlike the front brakes, the rear ones often remain “in the shadows”: their squeaking or decreased efficiency is attributed to “model features” or “ABS malfunctions”. Meanwhile, ignoring problems with the rear brake system can lead to uneven wheel wear, increased braking distance and even loss of directional stability on a slippery road.

In this article we will look at rear brake device Octavia Tour (including versions with discs and drums), we will tell you how to diagnose faults yourself, and also give step-by-step instructions for replacing pads, discs and drums. We will pay special attention common mistakes during repairs, which can lead to premature failure of new parts or even create an emergency situation on the road.

Rear brake device Skoda Octavia Tour: discs vs drums

Rear brake design Octavia Tour depends on the year of manufacture, configuration and engine type. On most modern versions (since 2013) they are installed disc brakes with a floating bracket, but in basic configurations or on models before 2010 you can find drum mechanisms. Let's look at the features of each type:

• 🔧 Disc brakes: used on most versions with engines 1.4 TSI, 1.6 MPI, 1.8 TSI and 2.0 TDI. The advantages are better cooling, high braking efficiency and easier wear diagnostics. The disadvantage is rapid wear of the discs with an aggressive driving style.
• 🛠️ Drum brakes: found on budget versions (for example, 1.2 TSI or 1.6 MPI early years). Pros: long pad life and lower repair costs. Disadvantages: tendency to overheat, difficulty in visually checking wear and the need to adjust the parking brake.

It is important to consider that Octavia Tour with the system ESP (electronic stability control) rear brakes are integrated with ABS sensors, making diagnostics difficult. For example, if the indicator light on the dashboard comes on ABS or ESP, the problem may lie not in the electronics, but in faulty wheel speed sensorinstalled next to the brake disc.

Signs of rear brake failure: when to sound the alarm

Rear brakes Octavia Tour rarely “fail” suddenly - usually malfunctions develop gradually. The main danger is that many drivers get used to gradual deterioration of braking performance and do not notice the problem until the critical moment. Pay attention to the following symptoms:

• 🚨 Creaking or whistling when braking - most often indicates pad wear (residual thickness less than 2 mm) or sand/dirt getting between the pad and the disc.
• 🔥 Vibration or beat on the steering wheel/brake pedal - a sign brake disc deformation (especially after sudden cooling of hot disks with water).
• 🛑 Pulling the car to the side when braking - may indicate uneven pad wear or a jammed caliper.
• 💨 Increased braking distance - often associated with oiling the pads (for example, due to leakage of the rear axle seal) or wear of the drums.

The symptom is especially dangerous when, after releasing the brake pedal, the car continues slow down (for example, coasting). This could mean that:

1. Jammed caliper piston (for disc brakes).
2. Soured parking brake rod (for drum brakes).
3. Deformed brake hosewithout allowing the pads to fully expand.

⚠️ Attention: If, after replacing the pads or discs, the brakes “stick” at speeds above 60 km/h, check immediately condition of caliper guides and lubricant TRW PFG110 (or equivalent). Using the wrong lubricant can lead to corrosion and jamming of the mechanism!

Diagnostics of rear brakes: what you can check yourself

Before going to the service station, you can check preliminary diagnostics rear brakes Octavia Tour on your own. For this you will need:

• 🔦 Flashlight (preferably with a magnetic mount).
• 📏 Caliper or ruler.
• 🔧 Jack and wheel wrench.
• 🧤 Gloves (brake dust is toxic!).

Procedure for checking disc brakes:

1. Lift the rear of the car and remove the wheel.
2. Inspect brake disc for deep grooves, cracks or rust along the edges. The permissible minimum disc thickness for the Octavia Tour is 18 mm (for most versions).
3. Check pad thickness through the caliper viewing window. If it is less than 2–3 mm, replacement is required.
4. Make sure caliper piston boot not torn or swollen - this is a sign of corrosion inside.

Checking drum brakes:

1. Remove the wheel and drum (WD-40 may be needed if it is stuck).
2. Rate drum inner diameter. Wear limit - 201.5 mm (for most versions).
3. Check pad condition and springs. If the pads are shiny (oily), look for a rear oil seal leak.
4. Make sure parking brake rod moves freely, without jamming.

Take photographs of the location of the parts before disassembly|

Buy a repair kit for guides (article TRW GDB1443)|

Check the brake fluid level (it will rise when replacing pads)|

Prepare copper grease for threaded connections-->

Selection of spare parts: which pads and discs to install on Octavia Tour

Not only the service life of the brakes, but also security. There are parts in three price categories on the market:

Category	Brands	Service life	Features
Premium	TRW, ATE, Brembo	50–70 thousand km	Minimal disc wear, low noise level, optimal friction coefficient.
Middle class	Bosch, Ferodo, Textar	40–60 thousand km	Good price/quality ratio, but creaking is possible in cold weather.
Budget	LPR, Mapco, Febi	20–40 thousand km	Rapid wear, high risk of vibration. Suitable for temporary replacement only.

For Skoda Octavia Tour (2013–2020) recommended items:

• 🔹 Front pads: TRW GDB1746 (original 6R0698151).
• 🔹 Rear pads (disk): ATE 13.0460-7167.2.
• 🔹 Brake discs (rear): Brembo 09.9666.11.
• 🔹 Drum set: TRW GDB340 (includes pads and springs).

When choosing disks, pay attention to ventilated or not. On Octavia Tour with engines 1.8 TSI and 2.0 TDI ventilated discs are installed (the thickness of the new one is 22 mm), and on the basic versions - solid ones (thickness 10–12 mm). Installing inappropriate drives will result in overheating and deformations.

Step-by-step replacement of rear brake pads (disc brakes)

Replacing the pads with Octavia Tour with disc brakes it takes about 1–1.5 hours (one side). You will need:

• 🔧 Set of sockets and ratchet wrench.
• 🔨 Hammer and wooden block (for pressing in the piston).
• 🧴 Guide lubricant (TRW PFG110 or Slipkote 220-R DBC).
• 🔑 Brake bleeding wrench (if required).

Step 1: Preparing and removing the wheel

Jack up the car, remove the wheel and clean the caliper of dirt. Do not press the brake pedal after removing the wheel - this can push the piston out of the caliper!

Step 2. Removing the caliper

1. Unscrew the two caliper mounting bolts (usually Torx T30 or 13mm head).
2. Carefully hang the caliper on a wire so as not to damage the brake hose.
3. Remove the old pads and clean the seats from rust.

Step 3. Recessing the piston

Since the new pads are thicker, the caliper piston needs to be recessed. To do this:

1. Remove the brake fluid reservoir cap (to relieve pressure).
2. Use a special tool or pliers to rotate the piston clockwise (on Octavia Tour The piston has a thread!).
3. If the piston does not recess, check boot condition — perhaps it is torn and dirt has gotten inside.

Step 4. Installing new pads

Apply a thin layer of lubricant to pad guides (but not on the work surface!). Install the pads and reassemble the caliper in reverse order. After replacement press the brake pedal several timesso that the piston takes the working position.

⚠️ Attention: If the brake pedal becomes soft after replacing the pads, you need to bleeding the brake system. This is a sign that air has entered the circuit (for example, due to a low fluid level in the reservoir).

What to do if the caliper piston does not retract?

If the piston is stuck and won't rotate, try the following:

1. Apply air pressure (eg using a compressor) through the brake hose opening.

2. Use WD-40 to dissolve corrosion (pour under boot and leave for 10 minutes).

3. As a last resort, replace the caliper assembly - on the Octavia Tour its part number is 6R0615423/24 (left/right).

Replacing rear brake discs: nuances and mistakes

Brake discs on Octavia Tour require replacement under the following conditions:

• 📏 Disc thickness is less 18 mm (measured with a caliper at 3–4 points).
• 🌀 The presence of deep grooves (more than 1 mm) or cracks.
• 🔄 Disc runout (checked with an indicator or “by eye” when rotating the wheel).

Step by step instructions:

1. Remove the caliper and hang it on a wire (do not disconnect the brake hose!).
2. Unscrew the screw securing the disc to the hub (you may need an impact wrench if the screw is stuck).
3. Remove the disc. If it does not come off, gently tap it through the wooden spacer with a hammer.
4. Clean the hub from rust and apply copper grease to the seat of the new disk.
5. Install the new disk and tighten the screw to torque 8–10 Nm.

A critical mistake of many car owners is replacing discs without replacing pads. This leads to:

• 🔥 Uneven wear of the new disc (the pads are “ground in” to the old surface).
• 🚗 Increased braking distance due to poor fit.
• 💥 Risk of disc deformation due to overheating.

Also don't forget about running in new discs and pads:

• Avoid sudden braking for the first 200 km.
• Do not use parking brake on the first day after replacement (the pads should “grind in”).

Drum brake maintenance: adjusting and replacing pads

Drum brakes on Octavia Tour less demanding on maintenance, but have their own nuances. The main problem is automatic gap adjustment gets lost over time, which leads to:

• 🔧 Weak braking (if the gap is too big).
• 🔥 Drum overheating (if the gap is too small).
• 🚗 Uneven pad wear.

Parking brake adjustment:

1. Lift the rear of the car and remove the wheel.
2. Find adjusting mechanism under the drum (access through the hole in the shield).
3. Rotate the adjusting sprocket with a screwdriver until the drum begins to slow down slightly as it rotates.
4. Check the travel of the parking brake lever - it should operate at 3-5 clicks.

Replacing pads in drum brakes:

1. Remove the drum (WD-40 and a hammer may be required).
2. Disconnect the springs and parking brake linkage.
3. Install new pads and reassemble the mechanism in reverse order.
4. Required adjust the gap after replacement!

When replacing pads in drum brakes Octavia Tour use repair kits with new springs and spacers. Old springs often lose their elasticity, which leads to uneven fit of pads.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the rear brakes Skoda Octavia Tour

Is it possible to install ventilated discs instead of solid ones?

No, this will lead to incompatibility with caliper and deterioration of heat dissipation. Ventilated discs are thicker and require different mounting. An exception is modifications with factory-installed ventilated discs (for example, Octavia RS).

How often should brake fluid be changed?

Every 2 years or 40 thousand km (whichever comes first). Brake fluid is hygroscopic and accumulates moisture over time, which lowers the boiling point and can lead to brake failure under heavy braking.

Why do the brakes squeak after replacing the pads?

The creaking can be caused by:

• 🔹 Low quality pads (contains metal shavings).
• 🔹 Lack of anti-squeak plate (it must be installed between the pad and the caliper).
• 🔹 Incorrect running-in (in the first 100 km, avoid sudden braking).

If the squeaking persists, try applying anti-squeak paste (for example, ATE Plastilube) to the back of the pads.

What to do if the steering wheel shakes after replacing the disks?

This is a sign incorrect installation or new disk defect. Check:

• 🔹 Cleanliness of the hub seating surface (rust or dirt causes beating).
• 🔹 The tightening torque of the disk fixing screw (must be 8–10 Nm).
• 🔹 Disc quality (ventilated discs must be balanced).

If the runout remains, contact a service station for grooving discs on a machine.

Do I need to bleed the brakes after replacing the rear pads?

Usually not, unless you disconnect the brake hose and push the piston too hard. However, if the pedal becomes “soft” or the travel increases, bleeding is required. On Octavia Tour it is performed in the following sequence: right rear → left rear → right front → left front.