Removing and installing brake shoes, from week 22/2011 — VW

🧭 Before you start

Fits: platform codes 601, 602, 612, 641, 642, 643, 604, 644, 614, 603

• Special tools named: 3438

Don't miss

• Use only methylated spirits for cleaning the brake system.
• Do not blow out brake system with compressed air; the resulting dust constitutes a health hazard! — Measure inner diameter of brake drum.

🔩 Torque settings

Values can differ between engine variants — check the code stamped on your block.

ℹ️ Always cross-check the exact figure against your vehicle's factory manual before final tightening — a wrong torque can damage the engine. These values are extracted from workshop data and may not cover every variant or revision.

📋 Procedure

1. Remove wheel.
2. Release brake
3. Undo and remove bolt and remove brake drum.
4. Remove spring (1) with hook3438.
5. Remove detent (2).

6. Remove retaining clips (4) and take out hold-down pins.
7. Lever out brake shoes in direction of arrow behind lower support plate using a screwdriver.
8. Remove lower return spring (6) with hook 3438.
9. Remove upper return spring (3) with hook 3438.
10. Pull brake shoe (7) forwards a little and detach handbrake cable from lever for handbrake (5). To do this, pull the spring of the handbrake cable back a little.
11. Remove brake shoe (5) with push bar.
12. Pull push bar off brake shoe. [Note: Use only methylated spirits for cleaning the brake system.]
13. ⚠ Do not blow out brake system with compressed air; the resulting dust constitutes a health hazard! — Measure inner diameter of brake drum.
14. Turn star wheel (1) until the diameter of brake shoes (a) is approx. 0.5 mm smaller than the brake drum diameter.
15. Fit brake drum and tighten brake drum bolt to 4 Nm. — 4 Nm (3.0 lb-ft)
16. Depress brake pedal 20 times. As a result, the prescribed air gap is set automatically.

🎬 Related video tutorial

Independent AUTODOC tutorial for the same job, filmed on a different model (POLO 6n1) — the technique carries over, the fasteners and figures on this page are the ones for your car.

How to change rear brake shoes on VW POLO 6n1

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