Brakes are among the most critical safety components of any vehicle, and the Volkswagen Beetle’s brake pads are not an area to skip while maintaining the vehicle. Brake pads are essentially a high friction compound adhered to a metal backing. You should check your Volkswagen Beetle brake pads every time you rotate the tires.

A visual inspection is usually enough to tell if they need to be replaced, but you can use a measuring instrument if you need to be perfectly accurate. Generally, if there is less than a third of a pad remaining, you should replace it.

Changing out the Volkswagen Beetle’s brake pads is a fairly simple task. You should always replace the brake pads in pairs to avoid uneven brake strength. Jack up the car, secure it, and remove the wheel. Remove the brake caliper mounting bolts and any sound dampening springs and slide the caliper off of the rotor. Suspend the brake caliper using a stiff wire, being careful never to let it hang by the brake hose. Remove the rotor if you are going to have it machined, and reinstall it afterwards. Pop the old pads out and compress the caliper piston using a clamp or channel locks. Be careful not to over compress the piston, as that will necessitate a rebuilt of the entire caliper. Install the new brake pads, and reinstall the caliper. Torque everything properly and be certain to use an anti-seize compound on all bolts. Reinstall the wheel, and you are done. A competent mechanic should be able to change the brake pads in under 10 minutes per wheel. You can order replacement or performance Volkswagen Beetle brake pads from our online catalogue.Order anytime using our convenient online ordering system and have your parts shipped right to your door.