Replacing brake pads in 2001 passat tdi

You'll need a few special tools. You will need some common metric wrenches and sockets, 10-19mm will be more than enough, and you'll need an 8mm Allen bit as well, to remove the caliper mounting bolts (these anchor the caliper to the caliper carrier). If you're doing rear brakes, you'll also need the proper tools to screw the calipers back in. If you're doing front brakes, you can use a C-clamp to compress the pistons back in. Other than that, and maybe a big beefy screwdriver to separate the caliper from the carrier, there's nothing to it.