2003 s type brake front pad - what tools are need to change the pads

For front brake pads replacement you need only usually wrench set, inclusive 7 mm allen key also.
But for rear brake pads replacement you need obligatory a special caliper piston pressing tool, in order to press back rear caliper piston with parking brake automatic adjustment!!!
For front brake pads. First you must verify yours front brake disc diameter: 280 mm or 288 mm. After that you can buy the brake pads (with wear sensor). For change front brake pads you must raise vehicle, remove wheels, extract the retaining spring of the caliper, and remove the caliper as follow:
1. Do not disconnect the brake hose from the caliper, and do not allow the caliper to hang by the brake hose!
2. Remove top and bottom caps (on back side of the caliper) for access to guide pins, then unbolt and remove them from the brake carrier. Remove the caliper.
3. Now you must thoroughly clean the brake calipers (free of grease).
4. Remove outer brake pad from brake carrier.
5. Pull inner brake pad out of brake caliper piston.
6. Check up the brake fluid level on the reservor, and emptying if neccessary!
7. Push piston back into brake caliper housing.
8. Install inner brake pad (with expanding spring) in brake caliper piston. (Arrow marked on pad - if exist, must point in direction of brake disc rotation when vehicle is moving forward).
9. Install outer brake pad into brake carrier.
10. Bolt brake caliper housing to brake carrier using two guide pins. Tightening torque is 25 Nm.
11. Install both caps.
12. Insert retaining spring into brake caliper housing. Important: Depress the brake pedal firmly several times while the car is stationary so that the brake pads adjust to their normal operating positions!!! Check brake fluid level and top up if neccessary!!!

Remove brake fluid from the master cylinder brake fluid reservoir until the reservoir is approximately 1/2 full. Discard the removed fluid.

1. Raise and safely support the front of the vehicle. Remove the front wheels.
   

1. Remove or disconnect the following:
2. Front brake caliper guide pin bolts
   

• Brake caliper by slowly sliding it up and off the adapter and brake rotor. Support the caliper out of the way with a strong piece of wire. Do not let the caliper hang by the brake hose or damage to the brake hose will result.
  

1. If necessary, compress the caliper piston into the bore using a C-clamp. Insert a suitable piece of wood between the C-clamp and caliper piston to protect the piston.
2. Outboard disc brake pad from the caliper by prying the brake pad retaining clip over the raised area on the caliper. Slide the brake pad down and off the caliper.
   

• Inboard disc brake pad from the caliper by pulling the brake pad away from the caliper piston until the retaining clip on the pad is free from the caliper piston cavity
  

To install:

1. Be sure the caliper piston has been completely retracted into the piston bore of the caliper assembly. This is required when installing the brake caliper equipped with new brake pads.
   
2. If equipped, remove the protective paper from the noise suppression gaskets on the new disc brake pads.
   
3. Install or connect the following:
   
   • New inboard disc brake pad into the caliper piston by pressing the pad firmly into the cavity of the caliper piston. Be sure the new inboard brake pad is seated squarely against the face of the brake caliper piston.
     
   • Outboard disc brake pad by sliding it onto the caliper assembly
     
   • Brake caliper assembly over the brake rotor and onto the steering knuckle adapter
     
   • Caliper guide pin bolts and torque to: 35 ft. lbs. (47 Nm) on 2002–04 models or 26 ft. lbs. (35 Nm) on 2005 models
     
   • Front. Apply the brake pedal several times until a firm pedal is obtained.
     
4. Check the fluid level in the master cylinder and add fluid as necessary. Road-test the vehicle.
   

For the rotors:

1. Remove brake fluid from the master cylinder brake fluid reservoir until the reservoir is approximately 1/2 full. Discard the removed fluid.
   
2. Raise and safely support the front of the vehicle. Remove the front wheels.
   

1. Remove or disconnect the following:
2. Front brake caliper guide pin bolts
   

• Brake caliper by slowly sliding it up and off the adapter and brake rotor. Support the caliper out of the way with a strong piece of wire. Do not let the caliper hang by the brake hose or damage to the brake hose will result.
  

1. If necessary, compress the caliper piston into the bore using a C-clamp. Insert a suitable piece of wood between the C-clamp and caliper piston to protect the piston.
2. Outboard disc brake pad from the caliper by prying the brake pad retaining clip over the raised area on the caliper. Slide the brake pad down and off the caliper.
   

• Inboard disc brake pad from the caliper by pulling the brake pad away from the caliper piston until the retaining clip on the pad is free from the caliper piston cavity
  

To install:

1. Be sure the caliper piston has been completely retracted into the piston bore of the caliper assembly. This is required when installing the brake caliper equipped with new brake pads.
   
2. If equipped, remove the protective paper from the noise suppression gaskets on the new disc brake pads.
   
3. Install or connect the following:
   
   • New inboard disc brake pad into the caliper piston by pressing the pad firmly into the cavity of the caliper piston. Be sure the new inboard brake pad is seated squarely against the face of the brake caliper piston.
     
   • Outboard disc brake pad by sliding it onto the caliper assembly
     
   • Brake caliper assembly over the brake rotor and onto the steering knuckle adapter
     
   • Caliper guide pin bolts and torque to: 35 ft. lbs. (47 Nm) on 2002–04 models or 26 ft. lbs. (35 Nm) on 2005 models
     
   • Front. Apply the brake pedal several times until a firm pedal is obtained.
     
4. Check the fluid level in the master cylinder and add fluid as necessary. Road-test the vehicle.
   

just like any other disc bake job colapse pistons replace pads just standard hand tools will do the job.be carefull when you put the bolts back in that hold the caliper they strip real real easy

Proper size wrenches and a large C-clamp to push piston back into the caliper is only tools for the front, but back disk brakes require special tool to TURN the piston as it is pushed back into caliper to reset emergency brake. This tool can often be borrowed from Auto parts store or purchased from Harbor Freight http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=40732 for about $20. Don't try to service rear disks without the tool, Calipers can be broken if not retracted properly!

No, do not open the brake fluid lines. If the piston has groves cut in to the face of it, you will need a special compressor for it. Most new cars with 4 wheel discs use this type of piston. Instead of just pushing the piston in (as you would on older style calipers) you actually need to turn it clockwise while you push it in. They sell the tool at auto parts stores.

most important is to deactivate SBC control unit with computer to start work, otherwise you can damage system, then to change pads for front is just 13mm spanner and for rear - T40 torx.

there is nothing special about replacing the wear sensors. The tools that you will need are 7mm allen, 16mm 6 point socket, ratchet, T-50, large channel locks, and a keyed pad pusher for the rear calipers.

I'm going to assume you are talking about the front brakes since the brake pad warning light is wired to the front drivers side brake pad. Is this is the case you shouldn't put off changing the brake pads and rotors too long after the warning light comes on because you don't want to damage the caliper and cost yourself more money. Do them atleast within the next 500 miles if not earlier. The front brakes on the Jetta are standard single piston disc brakes. Buy decent new brake pads and you might as well buy new rotors instead of getting the old ones turned down (resurfaced, makes them thinner). You should also buy new brake fluid (good stuff) and flush the lines since VW recommends changing it every two years and it keeps the brake system clean and free of corrosion (saves money in the long term). Then you just jack up the vehicle, pop off the tire, loosen the caliper bolts, pull off the caliper making sure to still support it so the brake line doesn't get damaged (rig something up to hang it off the spring on the strut, i.e. bent metal clothes hanger), remove the one screw that holds on the rotor, pull off the old rotor, and remove old pads. There will be a pad sensor wire on the left front that you need to take off too. At this point you might need to push in the caliper piston in order to get the new pads seated correctly. There is no trick on the front calipers like the rear ones (the rear ones need you to turn the piston while pushing it in and is easiest to do with a special tool). You can use and old c-clamp or borrow a caliper tool fron a local auto parts store for the front. You should mount the new rotor first, then you might want to open the brake fluid reservoir (in the engine bay at the back, i.e. closest to cabin, in front of the driver), push the caliper piston back in, mount the new pads by usually sliding them on (use some brake quiet on the back if they don't have anything on them already), and put the caliper back on. The new pads might have the attachment for the sensor. You need to find out all the tightening values for all the bolts you remove and the best way for this is to buy the Bentley factory repair manual for your car (about $80). This will have the procedure I just outlined. It will also tell you how to change the brake fluid. The website forums.tdiclub.com will also have lots of answers for you and probably has pictures on how to do the work. I also recommend worldimpex.com or germanautoparts.com to buy whatever parts you need.

One thing I should mention, the rear brakes in these cars wear out long before the front brakes. If you have never had those serviced you should really look at them too. They may be down to metal on metal if the fronts are worn out.

front or back?

On one of the front driver side pads there is a sensor for low pads. He either did not hook it back up or got a lose connection to it.