Rear brake pads replacement

[3C4M Guy]

I'm about to replace my rear brake pads. I have VCDS to wind back the electronic park brake. My question is: some instructions/guides recommend the use of a battery charger and others do not. I've even found two different Ross-Tech guides where one mentions a battery charger and the other does not. I've found many 'how to' videos on YouTube and not one of them used a battery charger.

However Ross-Tech Wiki says the following: "The EPB module is very sensitive to low voltage conditions! It is critical that a battery charger is properly connected and used for the duration of the rear brake job."

I've never connected a charger to the battery while the battery was still connected to the car as I don't want to run the risk of frying delicate electronics. Who has and who hasn't used a battery charger when changing rear pads?

[Passat R36]

have not changed the rear pads yet,but I don't see the issue connecting a charger to the battery in the car. I always use ctek charger to charge the battery when it is still connected to the car. Has not fried anything yet at least.

[Umai Naa!!]

I don't use one, but then again, I don't leave the headlights on and the radio blaring either whilst changing the pads.

[3C4M Guy]

After reading the Ross-Tech warning about following their procedures EXACTLY when using VCDS for the EPB retract and reset, I decided to connect up a battery charger. Then if something went wrong, I could eliminate that as a cause. I possibly should have connected the charger to the positive terminal under the bonnet that's used for jump starting, but I connected straight onto the battery. All went well.

The only anxious moment I had was at the end after resetting the EPB and disconnecting VCDS, I couldn't release the parking brake. No amount of pushing the button worked. It took me a while to realise that I wasn't pushing hard enough on the brake pedal at the same time.

After changing the pads, I'd pumped up the brake pedal rather vigorously with a lot of pressure and the brake pedal now needed an equivalent hard pressure to release the EPB! I'll make a note for next time.

[Passat R36]

Thanks for sharing! Will re-visit your post when I need to change mine.

Also some battery charger has Supply Mode which I think will be useful when you change your battery.

[00100100]

After reading the Ross-Tech warning about following their procedures EXACTLY when using VCDS for the EPB retract and reset, I decided to connect up a battery charger. Then if something went wrong, I could eliminate that as a cause. I possibly should have connected the charger to the positive terminal under the bonnet that's used for jump starting, but I connected straight onto the battery. All went well.

You can connect directly to the battery, however not recommended. The battery will be fine but you might get error codes from the regeneration system if your car has one. I replaced the rear pads a while ago, connected the charger to the +tv terminal in the engine bay. My car's battery is in the boot. All went well.

The only thing that got me while replacing the rear pads; to get VCDS to operate the hand brakes, they needed to be released using the buttons inside the car first.

[3C4M Guy]

I would recommend this Ross-Tech video. It's worth saving as a favourite for when the time comes to do the rear brakes.

YouTube

[Umai Naa!!]

The bolts are M14 spline, or triple-square

[iran]

The only anxious moment I had was at the end after resetting the EPB and disconnecting VCDS, I couldn't release the parking brake. No amount of pushing the button worked. It took me a while to realise that I wasn't pushing hard enough on the brake pedal at the same time.

After changing the pads, I'd pumped up the brake pedal rather vigorously with a lot of pressure and the brake pedal now needed an equivalent hard pressure to release the EPB! I'll make a note for next time.

Thanks for sharing!

I'm about to replace them and had no idea where to start and how to prepare!