Replacing rear brake pads on a ŠKODA Fabia: a complete guide from A to Z

Rear brake pads on ŠKODA Fabia — a consumable that requires attention every 30-50 thousand kilometers. Their wear directly affects safety: the braking distance deteriorates, squeaking appears, and in critical cases, the risk of wheel jamming. A car service center will charge from 2 to 5 thousand rubles for a replacement (depending on the region), but if you have the tools and patience, you can complete the procedure yourself in 1-2 hours.

This article is not just instructions, but practical recommendations taking into account the specifics Fabia different generations (including restyled versions). We will look at how to determine the wear of the pads without removing the wheel, what tools are really needed (and what you can do without), and why after replacement the brakes can “stick” during the first 100 km. You will also learn how to avoid a typical mistake with the caliper piston, due to which 30% of independent replacements end in a visit to the service station.

Signs of rear pad wear: when is it time to change?

Rear brake design ŠKODA Fabia (drum or disc - depending on the year of release and configuration) has its own "symptoms" of critical wear. The main thing is not to wait for metal grinding, which means that the friction layer has been erased to the base, and the pads are already scratching the disc or drum.

Pay attention to these signals:

• 🔊 Creaking or whistling When braking at low speeds (especially after rain). Nana Fabia with the rear disc brakes, this is often associated with wear indicator - metal plate, which begins to rub against the disc with the residual thickness of the shoe 2-3 mm.
• 🚗 Car withdrawal sideways when braking. This may indicate uneven wear of the pad or jammed caliper piston (relevant to disc brakes).
• 🛑 Increased braking distance Or a cotton-coated brake pedal. Nana Fabia With ABS, this is especially noticeable during emergency braking.
• 🔥 Overheating of the rear wheels after the trip. If after stopping the wheel is hot, and the disc or drum has a bluish tint - the pads are worn or the caliper is pecking.

For accurate diagnosis, a visual inspection is sufficient. On disc brakes, the pads are visible through the spokes of the wheel (the thickness of the friction layer should be ≥ 5 mm). On the drums you will have to remove the wheel and look into the viewing window of the drum (if any) or dismantle the drum.

⚠️ Attention: On Fabia 2015+ with system ESP worn rear brake pads can cause false alarms of the anti-skid system. If the device lights up the badge ESP OFF For no apparent reason, check the brakes!

Which pads to choose: original vs analogues

Original pads for ŠKODA Fabia supplies TRW (The type of brakes depends on the year and the type of brakes). Their average price is 2,500-4000 rubles per set per axle. But there are worthy analogues on the market, which often surpass the original in resource.

Brand	Article (disk)	Article (drum)	Average price, rubles	Features
TRW (original)	GDB1435	GDB1440	3 800	Soft, little dust, but quick wear
Brembo	P 24 063	P 24 064	3 200	Hard, long resource, but creaking the first 500 km
ATE	13.0460-2834.2	13.0460-2835.2	2 900	Optimal balance of price/quality, little dust
Ferodo	FDB1435	FDB1440	3 500	Premium segment, minimal wear of disks

When choosing analogues, pay attention to friction material composition:

• 🔹 Semi-metallic (up to 65% metal) - durable, but noisy and aggressive to disks. Suitable for active driving.
• 🔹 Ceramic Quiet, less dusty, but more expensive and less effective at low temperatures (relevant to the use of air pollution) Fabia in the northern regions).
• 🔹 Organic - soft, silent, but wear out quickly. Optimal for urban use.

Important nuance: On Fabia with rear disc brakes pads are often sold complete with guide-plate and clamps. Don’t skimp on them – old plates can cause uneven wear on new pads.

Tools and materials: what you need for replacement

To replace the rear pads with ŠKODA Fabia No need for a professional tool – a standard set is enough. The main thing is to prepare in advance specialized devices, which you can’t do without:

• 🔧 Balloon wrench (usually included with the machine).
• 🔨 Jack and wheel chocks (required! Fabia It has a high center of gravity, the risk of overturning is real.
• 🔩 Socket heads 13, 15 and 17 mm (for unscrewing the caliper and guides).
• 🛠️ Brake piston puller (or a homemade analogue from a slug). Nana Fabia with a manual brake of a mechanical type, the piston should not just be drowned, but counterclockwise!
• 🧴 Copper grease (for example, LIQUI MOLY Kupfer-Paste) for calipers guides.
• 🧹 Metal brush and brake cleaner (for example, CRC Brake Cleaner).

If you have Fabia with rear drum brakes, you will also need:

• 🔧 Circlip remover (or needle nose pliers).
• 🔨 Hammer (For careful removal of the drum, if it is "rigged").
• 📏 Vernier caliper for measuring the inner diameter of the drum (critical wear ≥ 200.1 mm).

Professional life hack: If there is no piston removable, use it. adjustable wrench and flat screwdriver. Insert the screwdriver into the slots of the piston and turn it, simultaneously pressing the key. But be careful, on Fabia ABS piston is easy to damage!

Step-by-step instructions: replacing rear pads on disc brakes

Replacement process ŠKODA Fabia With rear disc brakes has a nuance: The caliper piston needs not just to be drowned, but to be turned (due to the handbrake mechanism). If you don’t, the new shoes won’t fall into place.

Follow the algorithm:

1. Preparation:
   • 🅿️ Place the machine on a flat surface, turn on first gear (or P on automatic transmission) and place chocks under the front wheels.
   • 🔧 Relax the wheel bolts (but don’t remove them completely!).
   • 🚗 Lift the back of the car with a jack and remove the wheel.
2. Removing the caliper:
   • 🔩 Unscrew the two caliper mounting bolts (usually 13 or 15 mm).
   • 🧲 Carefully hang the caliper on a wire or rope to a spring - Do not let it hang on the brake hose!
3. Replacing pads:
   • 🔄 Remove the old pads and clean the guides from dirt.
   • 🔧 Drown the caliper piston, counterclockwise (Use a removable or movable key).
   • 🆕 Install new pads after applying copper grease on the press plates.
4. Assembly:
   • 🔩 Turn the caliper back (the moment of tightening the bolts is 30 N·m).
   • 🚗 Set the wheel, lower the car and press the brake pedal several times to make the piston stand in working position.

After replacement first 200 km Avoid heavy braking – the pads need to be cleaned. If the brakes are not uniform, check:

• 🔧 Correct installation press-plate.
• 🧴 Availability of lubricant caliper guides.
• 🔄 If the stain is not fully stained, then the stains will be stained.

Lubricants guide calipers | Piston fully recessed and rotated | Pressure plates installed correctly | Bolts calipers tightened with the right moment | Pads do not touch the brake disc in the free position->

⚠️ Attention: On Fabia with the system ESP after replacing the pads the error may come on ABS. This is due to the automatic pumping of the piston when drowning. To reset the error, drive 10-15 km at ≥ 50 km/h or use a diagnostic scanner (e.g., a scanner). ELM327).

Features of replacement on drum brakes

If your ŠKODA Fabia equipped with rear drum brakes (relevant for budget configurations until 2014), the process of replacing pads is more complicated. The main difficulty is drum-off, which often “sticks” to the hub.

Procedure:

1. Drum removal:
   • 🔧 Unscrew the guide studs (if any) or knock the drum with a hammer through a wooden shed.
   • 🔩 If the drum is not removed, screw two bolts into the threaded holes on it - this will help evenly "pull it".
2. Dismantling old pads:
   • 🔗 Remove the locking rings (flat-slipper or removable).
   • 🔄 Disconnect the handbrake cable from the pad lever.
   • 🆕 Remove the springs and spacer bar (remember their location!).
3. Installing new pads:
   • 🧴 Apply graphite lubricant to the place of contact of the pads with the support disc.
   • 🔧 Collect the mechanism in reverse order, adjust the gap between the pads and the drum (it should be 0.3-0.5 mm).

After assembly Be sure to adjust the handbrake:

1. Raise the parking brake lever 2-3 clicks.
2. Check the adjustment nut on the cable (access through the cabin, under the skin of the tunnel).
3. The rear wheels should be locked with 4-5 clicks of the lever.

What to do if the drum cannot be removed?

If the drum "stick" to the hub, do not knock on it with a hammer directly - you can damage the bearing. Instead:

1. Treat the joint with a penetrating lubricant (for example, WD-40) and wait 10–15 minutes.

2. Swipe two M8 bolts into the threaded holes of the drum and evenly tighten them - this will help to "tighten" the drum.

3. If it does not help, use a removable or contact the STO - you may need to replace the hub bearing.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

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

1. Incorrect drowning of the piston:

   On Fabia Rear disc brakes need a piston counterclockwiseNot just push. If you don't, it won't stand in place and the caliper won't close.

2. Ignoring the guide calipers:

   If you do not clean and lubricate the guides, the pads will wear unevenly, and the caliper can be wedged. Use it. copper greaseBut don’t overdo it, the excess will attract dirt.

3. Forget about the handbrake cable:

   The cable should be on the drum brakes. disconnected from the lever of the pad before removal. If you pull the cable, you can tear the shell.

4. Incorrect installation of pressure plates:

   If the plates are placed crookedly, the pads will “walk” and creak. On Fabia plates must be installed convex side to the block.

One more critical error — do not check the brake fluid level after replacement. When the piston is recessed, the liquid in the reservoir rises. If there is too much of it, when you press the pedal it will flow over the edge, and if there is not enough, air will enter the system.

⚠️ Attention: If after replacing the pads the brake pedal becomes “soft” and the braking distance increases, air has entered the system. Necessary bleed the brakesstarting from the rear right wheel. On Fabia with ABS, bleeding must be done using a diagnostic scanner!

When to contact a service station: 5 cases when amateur activity is dangerous

Despite the apparent simplicity, there are situations when replacing the pads with ŠKODA Fabia It's better to trust the professionals:

• 🔧 Stuck caliper or piston. If the piston cannot be pressed down even with a puller, the caliper will need to be repaired or replaced.
• 🚨 The light is on ABS or ESP after replacement. This may indicate damage to the sensor or dirt entering the system.
• 🔥 Overheating of brakes after replacement. If the wheels are hot even after a short drive, the problem may be brake hoses or master brake cylinder.
• 🛠️ Cracks or deep grooves in the brake disc/drum. In this case, there is no point in changing the pads - you need to sharpen or replace the discs.
• 🔊 Extraneous sounds (creaking, knocking) after replacement. If the pads are installed correctly, but the noise remains, the problem may be stepwise disc wear or loose guides.

It is also worth contacting the experts if you changing pads for the first time and are not confident in their abilities. Mistakes when working with the braking system can cost lives.

FAQ: answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to change the pads on only one wheel?

No! Pads are always changed in pairs on the same axis. If you replace only one side, the braking force will be distributed unevenly, which will lead to the car pulling to the side when braking. An exception is if the pads on the second wheel are almost new (wear ≤ 20%).

How long do rear pads last on a Fabia?

Service life depends on driving style and operating conditions:

• 🚗 City mode: 40–60 thousand km.
• 🏁 Aggressive driving: 20–30 thousand km.
• ❄️ Operation in winter: up to 50 thousand km (due to frequent use of the handbrake on ice).

On Fabia With drum brakes, the pads last longer - up to 80-100 thousand km, but their wear is more difficult to diagnose without removing the drum.

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

As a rule, no. Bleeding is required only if:

• you unscrewed brake hoses or tubes.
• There was critically low level (risk of air ingress).
• After replacement, the brake pedal became “soft” or “failed”.

On Fabia with ESP after replacing the pads it may be necessary adaptation of brake mechanisms through a diagnostic scanner.

Why do the brakes squeak after replacing the pads?

Creaking in the first 100–200 km is a normal phenomenon (grinding in the pads to the disc). But if the sound does not disappear, check:

• 🔧 Pad quality - cheap analogues often creak due to hard friction material.
• 🧴 Availability of lubrication on the caliper guides and pressure plates.
• 🔄 Correct installation - if the pads are crooked, they will rub against the disc.
• 🚗 Disk status - if they have step wear, the new pads will squeak.

On Fabia with rear drum brakes, squeaking may indicate spacer wear or weakening of springs.

Is it possible to drive if only the outer pads are worn out?

No! If one pad in a pair wears out faster, this is a sign jammed caliper piston or dirty guides. Driving in this condition is dangerous:

• 🔥 Overheating of the brake fluid and the risk of it boiling.
• 🚗 Uneven braking and the car pulling to the side.
• 💥 Risk of caliper jamming and wheel locking while driving.

On Fabia with ABS Uneven pad wear can cause false alarms.