I need to know if the 1985 jetta that I own has rear brake pads or shoes

If you had listed make, model, and year, I would know what setup you have on the rear. First find out if it has disc brakes or drum brakes. Purchase the correct brake pads or shoes that fit your vehicle. Once you remove the old pads or shoes you will know if the rotor or drum needs turning or replacing.

YOU BETTER GET TO A BRAKE SHOP AND FAST, SOUNDS LIKE YOUR REAR BEARINGS OR TIE RODS ARE GONE AND YOUR PADS ARE WORN DONE SO BADLY THERE IS METAL TO METAL CONTACT. YOU BACK WHEEL COULD FALL OFF. VERY, VERY DANGEROUS.

pads go with disc brakes
shoes go with drum brakes.

If you have drums in the back, the rear brake shoes may be worn out or are not held together with the springs (a spring may have broken).

Have the brakes checked as soon as possible for broken or worn parts.

Good luck on this repair.

I don't know if you adjusted rear brake shoes you didn't say. When you replace the rear shoes you have to adjust them so they won't have to travel to far to contact the drum. If they have to travel out to touch the drum that will use up the pedel travel too. Also I have seen this happen if the calipers were replaced too. It is very easy to mount them on the wrong sides. Check to see if the bleeder screws are at the bottom or top of the calipers/ If they are sticking out from the bottom then you need to switch them to the other sides. Air can only come out at the top of the caliper.

A dragging brake shoe or pad is the usual cause of this symptom. Inspect the brake for contact with the rotor or drum. If a drum brake, back off the self adjuster. If a disk brake, check to see if the caliper piston will retract. You can use a small screwdriver between the rotor and the rear pad to gently pry the pad back. If ir is difficult to pry back, replace the brake caliper and bleed the brake line. If you have more questions or need further instructions, please let us know.

Well, one way to know what you have is to look at the rear brakes....

If it looks like this-



Then you have drum brakes and they require brake shoes.

If it looks like this-



Then it is rotors and requires pads.

vehicles of this age would have been fitted as original with asbestos lined shoes with little bits of copper wire like stuff in them for sure ,but a 20 yr old vehicle would surely have had a least one brake reline

I am assuming you have front disc and rear shoes? The front pads are just about as simple as it gets. Two 3/8 allen bolts to take off, one simple piston to push back in and replace pads. (this is assuming you are not metal to metal and the rotors do not need to be turned. The rear should be shoes and just follow the same procedure in reverse after taking them off. BTW remember the larger brake shoe goes towards the back of the vehicle.

i had a problem once that the rear drums were turned to far out and caused me to have to pump and also have a spongy pedal....just a thought

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.