Replacing rear brake pads on a ŠKODA Octavia A5: instructions with photos and videos

Rear brake pads on ŠKODA Octavia A5 (including restyled versions 2009–2013) - a consumable that requires attention every 30–50 thousand km depending on driving style. Unlike the front ones, the rear pads wear out more slowly, but replacing them has a number of nuances: from working with parking brake before adjustment automatic handbrake drive (on models with electric drive). In this article we will analyze the entire process - from wear diagnostics to the final brake check, taking into account typical errors and pitfalls of a particular model.

If this is your first time encountering the braking system Octavia A5, it is important to understand: they are used here disc brakes with floating caliper (on most trim levels) or drum mechanisms (on basic versions before 2010). We'll focus on disc brakes as the most common option. For drum pads, the algorithm is radically different - we’ll talk about this in a separate article. FAQ block.

When to change rear pads on a ŠKODA A5: signs of wear

The manufacturer recommends checking the thickness of the pads every 15 thousand km, but the actual service life depends on several factors:

• 🚗 Riding style: Frequent hard braking reduces the life of the pads by 30–40%. The city cycle kills them faster than the highway.
• 🔧 Parts quality: original pads TRW or ATE last longer than analogues Ferodo or Brembo (despite the high price).
• 🌡️ Operating conditions: Driving on mountain serpentines or overheating the brakes (for example, after towing) accelerates wear.
• ⚠️ Condition of brake discs: runout or deep grooves on the discs destroy the pads 2-3 times faster.

Critical wear can be determined by the following symptoms:

Sign	What's going on	Action
Creaking noise when braking	The metal wear indicator touches the disc. On Octavia A5 it is triggered by the thickness of the friction layer 2–3 mm.	Replacement pads within 1–2 weeks.
Increased brake pedal travel	Wear of the pads leads to an increase in the gap between them and the disc. The pedal “sinks” deeper.	Check the brake fluid level - it may drop due to worn pads.
Vibration in steering wheel when braking	Uneven pad wear or brake disc deformation.	Diagnostics of disks for runout (tolerance - no more than 0.05 mm).
The indicator came on BRAKE on the dashboard	On models with a pad wear sensor (optional) or when the brake fluid level is low.	Urgent replacement + checking the system for leaks.

Critical friction layer thickness for rear pads Octavia A5 - 1.5 mm. With a lower value, the risk of damage to the brake disc increases 5 times. You can check the thickness through the inspection window in the caliper or by removing the wheel. Use a caliper for an accurate measurement.

Which pads to choose for the ŠKODA Octavia A5: original vs analogues

Original pads for Octavia A5 supplies TRW (article 1K0 698 451 A for disc brakes). Their average price is 3 500–4 500 ₽ per set per axle. However, many owners choose analogues that are 30–50% cheaper. Let's look at proven options:

• 🔹 ATE (13.0460-7117.2): soft friction material, generates little dust, but wears out faster than the original. Suitable for a quiet ride.
• 🔹 Ferodo (FDB1631): rigid pads with a high coefficient of friction. Optimal for aggressive driving style, but may squeak.
• 🔹 Brembo (P 24 063): average resource, low dustiness. Often counterfeited - buy only from authorized dealers.
• 🔹 Textar (2463101): budget option (approx. 2 000 ₽ behind the axle), but the quality of the friction layer is unstable.

⚠️ Attention: On Octavia A5 with the system ESP and ABS It is not recommended to install pads with a metal content of more than 10% (indicated on the package). This may cause false sensor alarms and an error. 01130 (ABS malfunction).

When choosing, pay attention to:

1. Availability of wear sensor: on Octavia A5 it is installed only on the inner pad (on the caliper piston side). If your set of pads comes without a sensor, you need to transfer it from the old ones.
2. Friction material composition: suitable for the city ceramic or semi-metallic pads, for the track - organic (heat less).
3. Completeness: the box should contain guide plates and lubricant for the calipers (if not, purchase separately, for example, Slipkote 220-R DBC).

Tools and preparation for replacing pads

To work you will need:

Wheelbrace and jack (or lift)

13, 15 and 17 mm wrenches (for guides and calipers)

7mm hex (to secure the caliper on some versions)

Pliers for tightening the caliper piston

Guide lubricant (e.g. TRW PFG110)

Brake fluid DOT 4 (to be topped up)

Hammer and wooden block (for pressing in the piston)

Metal brush and brake cleaner (Brake Cleaner)

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Before starting work, complete the following steps:

1. Park your car on flat surface, engage first gear (or P on automatic transmission) and place chocks under the front wheels.
2. Loosen the rear wheel bolts, but do not remove it completely.
3. Open the hood and pump out 50–100 ml of brake fluid from the tank. This is necessary so that when the caliper piston is pressed in, the liquid does not overflow.
4. If on your Octavia A5 installed electric parking brake (EPB), it must be switched to service mode via VCDS or scanner ELM327. Without this, the caliper piston cannot be pressed.

⚠️ Attention: On models with EPB required after replacing pads parking brake calibration! Without it, the handbrake will not work correctly (it may not hold or block the wheels while moving). Calibration can be done via VCDS (block 53-Parking Brake) or in the service.

If you have a manual handbrake, loosen the adjustment as much as possible before replacing the pads. To do this:

1. Lift the rear of the car and remove the wheel.
2. Locate the adjusting nut under the tunnel guard (driver's side).
3. Loosen the nut on 10–15 revolutionsso that the handbrake cables do not interfere with the movement of the caliper.

How to check EPB operation before replacing pads

1. Turn on the ignition (without starting the engine).

2. Press and hold the brake pedal.

3. Activate the parking brake using the button on the panel.

4. If, after releasing the pedal, the car does not lock, and an error light appears on the dashboard EPB — system diagnostics are required.

Step-by-step instructions for replacing rear pads

Let's look at the process using an example ŠKODA Octavia A5 with disc brakes and mechanical handbrake. For models with EPB The steps are similar, but preliminary activation of the service mode is required.

Step 1: Removing the Caliper

1. Raise the car with a jack and remove the wheel.

2. Clean the caliper and guides from dirt with a metal brush. Use Brake Cleaner to remove oil and dust.

3. Key on 13 mm unscrew the lower bolt securing the caliper to the bracket (the upper bolt can be left alone).

4. Lift the caliper up and secure it with wire or rope so that it does not hang on the brake hose.

Step 2: Replacing the pads

1. Remove the old pads from the bracket. If they are stuck, carefully pry them off with a screwdriver.

2. Clean the pad seats from rust and dirt. There should be no burrs on the guide plates.

3. Install new pads, making sure that:

• 🔄 Installed on the inner block (piston side) wear indicator (if it was on the old ones).
• 🔧 Pad guide plates are lubricated special paste (do not use graphite lubricant!).
• 📏 The gap between the pads and the disc is the same on both sides.

Step 3: Pressing in the caliper piston

This is the most critical stage. On Octavia A5 The caliper piston is pressed in clockwise (with simultaneous pressing). To do this:

1. Use a special tool (for example, Lisle 25800) or pliers with flat jaws.
2. Turn the piston all the way, recessing it inside the caliper. If it doesn't work, check if the handbrake is loose.
3. On models with EPB The piston is pressed in only in service mode!

⚠️ Attention: If, when pressing the piston, brake fluid begins to flow out of the reservoir, stop immediately! This means that there is overpressure in the system. You can add fluid only after the brakes are completely assembled.

Step 4: Assembly and Testing

1. Install the caliper in place and tighten the mounting bolts to a torque 30 Nm.

2. Put on the wheel and lower the car.

3. Press the brake pedal several times until the pads rub against the discs.

4. Check the brake fluid level and add if necessary.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Even experienced car owners make mistakes when replacing rear pads with Octavia A5. Here are the most common:

• 🔧 Incorrect piston pressing: If you just press it and not twist it, you can damage the threads inside the caliper. On Octavia A5 the piston has cutting for automatic gap adjustment.
• 🛑 Forgetting to release the handbrake: This causes the new pads to not fit into place and the caliper to hang on the hose.
• 💧 Using the wrong lubricant: graphite or lithol lubricant destroys the rubber boots of the guides. Use only copper or ceramic compositions.
• 🔄 Not calibrate EPBs: After replacing the pads on models with an electric handbrake, the adaptations must be reset through diagnostic equipment.

Another common problem is new pads squeak. On Octavia A5 It may be because of:

• Low-quality friction material (especially with cheap analogues).
• Absence of anti-script plates or their incorrect installation.
• The grease hits the working surface of the pads.

To eliminate the squeak:

1. Check that the pads are installed right side (Some models have labels on them) IN and OUT).
2. Apply anti-squeak paste on the back of the pads (for example, ATE Plastilube).
3. If the creak does not pass after 500 km, replace the pads with the original or another brand.

Checking brakes after shoe replacement

After installing new shoes, you need to check:

1. Parking brake operation:
   • On a mechanical handbrake: tighten it by 3-4 clicks. The wheels must be locked when trying to move the car.
   • On EPBActivate the handbrake with a button. The lights on the instrument should be on. P no errors.
2. Braking performance:
   • Accelerate to 40–50 km/h and brake abruptly. The pedal should not “fall down”, and the car should be taken away.
   • Check the absence of beating on the steering wheel - this is a sign of deformation of the brake discs.

Leakage of brake fluid: Check the calipers and hoses for the presence of darts.

If the brake pedal becomes soft after replacing the pads, bleed the brake system. On Octavia A5 this is done in the following order:

1. Right rear wheel.
2. Left rear wheel.
3. Right front wheel.
4. Left front wheel.

⚠️ Attention: On models with ESP after brakes are applied Resetting of ABS sensor adaptations. Without this, the system may not work properly (for example, it may work during normal braking). The discharge is carried out through VCDS in the block 03-ABS.

FAQ: Frequent questions about replacing the rear pads with the ŠKODA A5

Is it possible to replace only the rear pads without touching the front ones?

The front and rear brake pads change independently of each other. However, if you notice uneven wear (for example, the front pads have worn to metal, and the rear ones are still normal), it is worth checking. operation of the brake system as a whole - Perhaps the calipers are hooked or faulty regulator of braking forces.

How do I know if my Octavia A5 has drum brakes instead of disc brakes?

Drum brakes were installed only on the basic versions. Octavia A5 (1.4 MPI, 1.6 MPI) until 2010. They can be distinguished by:

• The absence of a caliper behind the wheel (only the brake drum is visible).
• Larger diameter of wheel drive (usually) R14 or R15 with a high profile of rubber.
• The presence of a adjusting window under the hub cap (for a handlift).

Replacing the brakes in the drum brakes requires drum-free and adjust the gap after installation.

Do I need to change brake discs and pads?

Not necessary if:

• Disc thickness no less than minimum acceptable (for Octavia A5 this is 10 mm for rear discs).
• There are no deep furrows on the working surface (more than that). 0.5 mm) or cracks.
• Disc runout does not exceed 0.05 mm (checked by indicator).

If the discs are worn out, their necessarily They change the pair (both back). Installing new pads on old discs reduces the resource of the first by 40-50%.

What should I do if the ABS light comes on after replacing the pads?

On Octavia A5 This can happen for three reasons:

1. ABS sensor damaged When working with the caliper. Check the integrity of the wiring and connectors.
2. Adaptations not reset after the replacement of the pads (relevant for models with ESP). Diagnosis required.
3. There's dirt on the sensor rotor. (a toothed ring on the hub). Clean it and check the gap.

If the light bulb is flashing or burning constantly, read the errors through the VCDS or contact service.

How often should caliper guides be lubricated?

Caliper guides on Octavia A5 It is recommended to lubricate:

• Every 30 thousand km or every time you replace the pads.
• After washing the car under high pressure (water can wash the old lubricant).
• When a squeak or a squeaky caliper appears.

Use high temperature grease (for example, TRW PFG110 or Slipkote 220-R). Ordinary lithole or graphite is destroyed by heating and leads to a jamming of the caliper.