Brakes are one of the most crucial components of your Volkswagen. Tasked with bringing your car to a full stop, it’s something that needs to work every time – all the time.
Most often your VW brake service will consist of replacing the brake pads. The pads press against the rotors and slow the car down. Due to the friction, these pads will eventually wear down and will need to be replaced every 40,000 to 50,000 miles on average, but this is highly dependent on your driving. When you bring your Volkswagen to German Auto Sport in Berkeley, our technicians will measure the thickness of the brake pads and will be able to give you a definitive answer – replace, or keep driving until the next service visit.
Other brake issues might involve rotors, calipers, brake fluid lines, or even brake fluid exchange – yes, brake fluid needs to be replaced with some regularity in order to provide optimal and safe braking.
Signs Your Volkswagen needs Brake Service:
- Squealing. Your Volkswagen’s brake pads feature an audio indicator that show they are almost at the end of their life. While you should preferably have your pads replaced before they start squealing when braking, the squeal should be a loud enough indicator to you that your brake pads need replacing.
- Grinding. If you don’t replace your brake pads in time, they will be worn down to the bare metal and cause metal-on-metal contact with the rotor whenever you brake. This will cause an unmistakable grinding noise and will result in your rotors being damaged, necessitating rotors replacement.
- Vibration. If you notice constant vibrations while braking, this could indicate a problem with your rotors, such as warping. This issue can be fixed by replacing rotors.
- Soft Brake Pedal. A brake pedal that is softer than usual could be the result of either a leak in the brake line or simply an air bubble. The fix involves either dealing with the leak if there is one, or flushing the brake lines and refilling them with new brake fluid to take care of the air bubbles.
- Car Pulling To One Direction. While a car’s inability to keep straight is typically the fault of misaligned wheels, in certain circumstances it could be a stuck piston or warped rotor which results in increased braking pressure being applied to one wheel, causing the car to drift.
So if you have any concerns about your VW brakes, call German Auto Sport or make an appointment online. We are looking forward to meeting you and your Volkswagen – our nationally ASE certified technicians will take great care of your VW.