How to Change the Brake Shoes on a 1990 VW Fox or Jetta – Part 2

In Part 1, we learnt about how you should get to the brake shoes of your VW to inspect them for wear. Here are the concluding steps below:

Step 3

Then you will see two hold down springs that hold the brake shoes to the plate. These are pins located inside two springs and fit into a small hold down cup, so you will have to hold the spring and use a small pointed pair of pliers to grasp the pin and unclip it. This is easier said than done and you will need to rotate the cup 90 degrees until the flat end of the pin is lined up with the slot in the cup. 

Step 4

Now, the final step to get the brake shoes off is to remove the lower end from either side of the adjusters and remove the upper part from either side of the cylinder. Now that you have them off you can inspect for any damage and uneven wear patterns, and decide whether or not you need to replace them.

You may also like:

1. How to Change the Brake Shoes on a 1990 VW Fox or Jetta – Part 1
2. Replacing the Springs and Adjusting Suspension on your VW – Part 3
3. DIY Tutorial: Replacing the O2 Sensor on your VW – Part 2
4. Replacing the Springs and Adjusting Suspension on your VW – Part 4
5. DIY Tutorial: Replacing the O2 Sensor on your VW – Part 3