Rear brakes ŠKODA Octavia Tour A critical security element that often goes unaddressed until it begins to signal problems. Unlike the front brakes, the rear system (whether disc or drum) wears out more slowly, but its malfunctions can lead to dangerous consequences: an increase in the braking distance, taking the car aside or even a complete failure of the brakes at high speed.

In this article we will analyze rear brake design on different generations Octavia Tour (including A5 FL, A7 and A8), learn how to diagnose wear without visiting the service station, and also describe in detail the process of replacing pads, discs and drums - taking into account typical errors and "pitfalls". We'll pay special attention. Electronic Handbook (EPB)It is installed on modern versions of the model and requires a specific approach to maintenance.

Rear brake device: disc vs drum systems

On ŠKODA Octavia Tour Depending on the year of manufacture and configuration, two types of rear brakes were installed:

  • 🔧 Drum brakes Characteristic of the basic versions Octavia A4 (1996–2004) and early A5 (2004-2013). Simple and reliable design, but less effective under heavy braking.
  • 🚗 Disc brakes - standard for Octavia A5 FL (restyled 2009) A7 (2013–2020) and A8 (from 2020). More effective, but requiring regular monitoring of the thickness of the discs and pads.

The key difference between modern versions is the presence of electromechanical parking brake (EPB)It is integrated into the back caliper. In such systems Replacement of pads requires the mandatory activation of the service mode through the diagnostic scanner (VCDS, OBD11, etc.)Otherwise, the caliper will not open to install new parts.

Generation of the Octavia Tour Rear brake type Features
A4 (1996–2004) Drums Simple design, rare wear, but weak heat transfer
A5 (2004–2013) Drums / Disc (in top versions) First disc brakes with manual parking brake
A5 FL (2009–2013) Disk The appearance of EPB in complete sets Elegance and Laurin & Klement
A7 (2013–2020) Disk with EPB Lightweight calipers, integration with the system ESC
A8 (from 2020) Disk with EPB Increased life of pads, wear sensors in standard configuration
⚠️ Attention: On models with EPB (A5 FL and newer it's impossible press the brake pedal when the caliper is removed - this can lead to the push of the piston from the cylinder and leakage of brake fluid. Before work, be sure to turn off the system through the diagnostic connector!

Signs of wear of the rear brakes: when it is time to go for diagnosis

The rear brakes wear 2-3 times slower than the front, but their condition cannot be ignored. Here are the key symptoms that indicate a need for testing:

  • 🔊 Creaking or whistling when braking - often caused by wear of the pads to metal or the ingress of sand between the disc and the lining.
  • 🚦 Vibration in the steering wheel or brake pedal - signals the deformation of the brake disc (especially important after a sharp cooling of hot discs with water).
  • 🔄 Pulling the car to the side when braking - possible due to uneven wear of the pads or jammed caliper.
  • 💡 Brake light is on on the dashboard - on models with EPB may indicate a malfunction of the electric drive or sensors.

For Octavia A7/A8 And with an electronic handbrake, there's another characteristic. spontaneous activation of EPB while moving. This can be caused by corrosion of the guide calipers or damage to the wiring of the sensors. In such cases, urgent diagnosis is required, as the system can lock the wheels at speed.

📊 What type of rear brakes are on your Octavia Tour?
  • Drums
  • Hand-held discs
  • Disk with EPB (electronic handbrake)
  • I don't know

Check the condition of the brakes can be independently:

  1. Visual inspection through the spokes of the wheel (for disc brakes) - the thickness of the pads should be at least 3–4 mm.
  2. Checking the hand brake backlash - on models without EPB, the normal stroke of the lever is 3–5 clicks.
  3. Control of brake fluid level – its fall may indicate leakage or wear of the pads.
⚠️ Attention: On Octavia A8 with the system Predictive Cruise Control Wear of the rear brakes can affect the operation of adaptive cruise control. If the car began to brake the engine worse or resets speed with jerks - check the condition of the brake mechanisms!

Parts selection: which pads and discs are suitable for the Octavia Tour

When replacing rear brake components, it is critical to choose the parts that are appropriate VIN code of the car. Even within one generation Octavia Tour Can be installed by different manufacturers (for example, TRW, ATE or Brembo) and the geometry of the discs may vary depending on the type of engine and configuration.

Recommended brands of spare parts:

  • 🏆 Original (ŠKODA/VW) - Pad items: 1K0 698 451 (drums) 5Q0 698 451 (discs for A7). Discs: 1K0 615 601 (A5), 5Q0 615 601 (A7/A8).
  • 💰 Premium Substitutes: ATE (pad article) 13.0460-7164.2), Textar (2463701), Brembo (P 24 064).
  • 🔧 Budget analogues: TRW (GDB1446), Ferodo (FDB1886), Bosch (0 986 494 219).

For models with EPB Be sure to buy the shoes from built-in wear sensors (if they are designed according to the design). For example, for Octavia A7 will fit ATE 13.0460-7400.2 or TRW GDB3666 with a sensor. Installation of pads without a sensor will lead to an error on the dashboard and the impossibility of activating the handbrake.

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Before buying discs, check their minimum permissible thickness for your model. For example, for Octavia A7 new disk is thick 10 mmand the minimum permissible 8.4 mm. Excess wear threatens cracks when heated.

Detail Recommended Brand Average price (per set) Notes
Boots (drums) ATE, TRW 1 500–2 500 ₽ Adjustment is required after installation
Boots (disc, without EPB) Textar, Bosch 2 000–3 500 ₽ There are guides in the kit.
Boots (with EPB) ATE, Brembo 4 000–6 000 ₽ Be sure to have wear sensors
Brake discs Brembo, Zimmermann 3 000–8 000 ₽ Better to change pairs

Step by step replacement of rear brake pads on Octavia Tour

The process of replacing the pads differs depending on the type of brake system. Consider both options: drum brakes (relevant for A4/A5) and EPB-based (A7/A8).

1. Replacement of pads on drum brakes

Tools needed:

  • 🔧 Key on 13 mm and 15 mm.
  • 🔨 Hammer and wooden exposé for removing the drum.
  • 🧲 Flat-slippers for the springs.

Sequence of actions:

  1. Relax the wheel nuts, lift the car on the jack and remove the wheel.
  2. Remove the drum by gently tapping the hammer through the spacer. If the drum is "stiffened", treat the edge WD-40 and wait 10–15 minutes.
  3. With the help of pliers, remove the screed springs and spacer bar.
  4. Install new pads, pre-applying to the place of contact with the drum copper grease.
  5. Adjust the gap between the pads and the drum using an eccentric mechanism (should be a minimum backlash).

Weaken wheel nuts on the ground | Prepare WD-40 and hammer to remove the drum | Check for new screed springs in the kit | Clear the seats of dirt-->

2. Replacement of pads on disc brakes with EPB

For models with electronic handbrake (A7/A8) the process is more complicated:

  1. Connect the diagnostic scanner (VCDS, OBD11) and activate the EPB service mode (team) Service Mode → Rear Brake Pads).
  2. Remove the wheel and unscrew the guide calipers (key to the key) 14 mm).
  3. With the help of sliding passages, drown the piston of the caliper clockwise (On EPB models, the piston has threads!)
  4. Install new pads, pre-cleaning the guides and applying them to them high temperature grease (for example, Slipkote 220-R DBC).
  5. After assembly, deactivate the service mode through the scanner and perform caliper calibration (automatically or manually via menu) Brake Pad Replacement).
What happens if you don’t activate the EPB service mode?

Without activation of the service mode, the caliper piston will not unwind, and you will not be able to install new pads. Forced indentation of the piston without rotation can damage the thread or electric motor of the EPB, which will lead to expensive repairs (replacing the caliper assembly will cost 20,000-40,000 rubles).

⚠️ Attention: On Octavia A8 after replacing the pads it may be necessary reset adaptations in the control unit ESP. If after the procedure the handbrake does not hold or the brakes "crunch", perform a reset through a diagnostic scanner (team). Basic Settings → ESP → Reset Brake Pad Adaptation).

Replacement of rear brake discs: nuances and typical errors

Brake discs on Octavia Tour It is recommended to change when reaching a minimum thickness or the appearance of deep furrows (more 0.5 mm). For disc brakes, the process is similar to the front, but there are several key points:

  • 🔧 Removing the caliper: On models with EPB, you can not hang the caliper on the brake hose - this can damage it. Use a wire hook or a special holder.
  • 🔨 Disc removalIf the disc is stuck to the hub, do not knock on it with a hammer! Handle the joint WD-40 And use a detachable or a wooden bar.
  • 🧲 Cleaning the hub: Before installing a new disc, thoroughly clean the landing surface of rust and apply copper grease The center of the hub (but not the working surface of the disk!).

Typical mistakes when replacing disks:

  1. Installing discs without cleaning the hub - leads to beating and vibration during braking.
  2. Using abrasive materials to clean the disc - scratches accelerate the wear of the pads.
  3. Failure to observe the moment of tightening of the caliper bolts (should be 30–35 Nm for A7/A8).

After replacing the disks, you must perform grinding in: accelerate the car to 60 km/h and brake smoothly until 10 km/hRepeat the procedure 5-6 times. This will allow the pads to evenly rub against the new surface.

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On Octavia A7/A8 with the system ESP 9.0 After replacing the discs, calibration of the angular speed sensors is required. Ignoring this step can lead to false ABS positives!

Electronic Handbook (EPB) Maintenance: Diagnostics and Repair

Electromechanical parking brake (Parking brake)EPB) is a convenient but capricious system. Nana Octavia Tour She starts to "glut" at:

  • 🔋 Discharged battery (voltage below 11.5 V It can block the EPB from working.
  • 🔧 Corrosion of the guide calipers or wear of the pads.
  • 📶 Damage to sensor wiring (often after unskilled repairs)

Typical EPB faults and their elimination:

Symptom Possible reason Solution
Handle not switched on/off The caliper motor is defective. Replacing the caliper assembly
Spontaneous operation of EPB Corrosion of guides or position sensor Cleaning and lubrication of guides, replacement of the sensor
EPB light bulb on the panel Wearing of the pads or break of the sensor chain Diagnostic scanner, replacement of pads / sensor
EPB is not calibrated after replacing the pads Adaptations not reset Activation of service mode through VCDS

To reset EPB errors on Octavia A7/A8 Use the following sequence (through the VCDS):

Select Control Module → 53-Parking Brake → Basic Settings → 001 → Activate

Then calibrate:


Output Tests → 001 → Activate (hold until beep)

⚠️ Attention: If the EPB does not turn on after replacing the pads, check the integrity wiring harness near the caliper. Nana Octavia A7 Often rubbed insulation near the brake hose fastener!

How often to check and change the rear brakes

The manufacturer recommends checking the condition of the rear brakes every 30,000 km or once every 2 years. However, the actual time depends on the driving style and operating conditions:

  • 🚗 City mode (frequent braking): Replace the pads every time 40,000–50,000 km, disks - 80,000–100,000 km.
  • 🛣️ Track mode (Rarely slowing): the pads are used to 60,000–70,000 km, disks - up to 120,000 km.
  • ❄️ Operation in aggressive conditions (salt, dirt, frequent temperature changes): reduces the resource on the 20–30%.

Checklist of planned maintenance of rear brakes:

Check the thickness of the pads (minimum 3 mm) | Check the discs for cracks and furrows | Check the backlash of the calipers guides | Lubricate the guides with high-temperature lubrication | Control of the level of brake fluid-->

On models with EPB Additionally recommended:

  1. Every 2 years Clean the guide calipers from corrosion.
  2. Once every 50,000 km Check the integrity of the sensor wiring.
  3. After replacing the pads or discs, calibrate the system.
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On Octavia A8 with the system Travel Assist Wear of the rear brakes can affect the operation of adaptive cruise control. If the car is unpredictably slowing down, check the brake system!

FAQ: Frequent questions about the rear brakes of the ŠKODA Octavia Tour

Can I drive if the back brakes are creaking?

Short-term creaking with light braking can be caused by ingress of sand or moisture and often passes on its own. However, if the creak is constant and accompanied by vibration, this is a sign of squash (to metal) or disc deformation. In this case, it is not safe to drive - the braking distance increases by 1.5-2 times.

How do you know if the caliper is jammed on the back wheel?

Signs of a jammed caliper:

  • Strong heating of the wheel after the trip (you can check with your hand - if the disk is hot, and you did not brake intensively, the caliper kicks).
  • Take the car away when driving.
  • Accelerated wear of the pads (less than) 20,000 km).

The reason is usually guide corrosion or piston-damage. The solution is cleaning, lubricating or replacing the caliper.

Do I need to change the brake fluid after replacing the rear brake pads?

Not necessarily if the fluid is fresh (the replacement was less than 2 years ago). However, if you drowned a caliper piston to install new pads, some of the liquid from the circuit went into the tank. In this case, check its level and add if necessary. Replacement of brake fluid is recommended every time 2 years or 60,000 km.

Can I repair the EPB if it doesn’t work?

Self-repair of EPB is possible only when software failures (for example, after replacing the battery). In this case, it will help to reset errors through a diagnostic scanner. If the problem is mechanical (the caliper motor does not work, the wiring is severed), you will need to replace the caliper in the assembly - its repair is unprofitable (the cost of a new caliper for the car is not available). Octavia A7 - about 15 000–20 000 ₽).

Which pads are best for aggressive driving?

For a sporty driving style, pads with increased friction coefficient:

  • Brembo P 85 024 - Ceramic composition, minimal wear of disks.
  • Ferodo DS2500 Semi-metallic, can withstand high temperatures.
  • ATE Ceramic Low dust levels, stable characteristics during heating.

Note that such pads wear the discs faster and can creak at low temperatures.