How long do Volkswagen brakes really last?

The brake pads on your Volkswagen should last several years. Your brake system should last ten years or more with the proper care. Many factors can affect how quickly your brake pads or other parts of your brake system wear out. Driving style, weather, and your maintenance program contribute to how effective your brakes perform. Let’s take a closer look at your Volkswagen brake system and how you should care for and maintain your brakes to get the most out of them.
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How Brakes Work

“Shiny Brake Rotor” used with permission via Flickr by K.G.23

Your brake system may be the most important safety feature on your entire Volkswagen. Your brakes have to stop your car under various loads and conditions. Mostly you use them to stop gently. Sometimes you need to stop fast to avoid an accident. Other times, you might have heavy rain or snow to contend with when braking. High temperatures also impact your brake system. You count on your brakes to keep you and your passengers safe, so you must do everything in your power to keep your brake system in tip-top shape.

Your brake system operates mechanically and hydraulically. Understanding the process will help you better use your brakes and take the appropriate steps to maintain them.

The mechanical element begins with the brake pedal. When you depress the brake pedal, the mechanical arm activates the hydraulic part of your brake system. Your brake fluid gets pressurized by your master cylinder, and this pressurized fluid forces your brake pads to clamp down on your brake rotors or discs, which attach to your wheel hubs. The pressure from the pads stops the wheels from turning, and the harder you press, the quicker you stop.

Modern vehicles all have some form of an anti-lock braking system (ABS). Older systems simply clamp the brake pads to the rotors based on the pressure you put on the brake pedal. This clamping results in tires locking up, sending the car into a skid. Your tires rely on the tread gripping the road while rotating, so skidding severely impacts your traction and control at the moment you need them both most.

ABS systems don’t allow the brake pads to lock. Instead, hard braking activates a rapid pulsing of brake pressure by your ABS that helps the tires to continue to turn. Because your tires continue to rotate, they maintain a better grip, giving you the desperately needed control.

Warning Signs Your Brakes May Need Service

Modern ABS have complex components. Adding to their complexity, they work in conjunction with other equally complex stability and traction control systems. You should regularly schedule brake services to ensure your brakes work properly. You should also look for signs between professional inspections that could indicate a potential problem.

Squealing, Screeching, and Grinding Noises

Despite the pressure and heat your brake pads undergo while braking, the process remains relatively quiet. If you start to notice squeaking or squealing sounds, it could mean your pads have worn down. Your pads were designed to wear, and when they reach a certain point, small metal pins embedded in them begin to hit your rotors and make this noise.

You should bring your Volkswagen in for brake service immediately if you hear these sounds. Ignoring this can cost you a lot more than you might imagine. The metal exposed on your brake pads will score your rotors, causing them to become unsafe. Your brake pads might only cost $150 to replace all four. Your rotors might cost several hundred dollars for each one.

Once you hear a grinding noise, you’ve probably damaged your rotors. Thumping noises and vibrations indicate additional problems and should never be ignored.

Changes In Brake “Feel”

All drivers develop a sense of how their cars drive. You know the usual feel of the steering, accelerating, and braking. If you sense a difference in brake feel, you should get your brakes inspected immediately. Experts describe brake feel as how much resistance you feel when you step on the brake pedal. If the pedal feels softer or depresses more quickly than normal, you could have a problem. You might also experience a brake pedal that sinks to the floor without stepping on it. This sinking indicates you have a problem.

Taking Longer To Come To A Complete Stop

If you notice it takes you longer to slow or stop, you probably have an issue with your brake system. You might have worn pads or low brake fluid. The hydraulic system relies on your brake fluid, so not enough fluid can compromise your braking system.

Sharp Pulling To Either Side

Your Volkswagen was engineered to drive straight without steering correction, and the same goes for stopping. If your car pulls to either side when you step on the brake pedal, you should have your brakes inspected immediately. A malfunctioning caliper might cause this, or a leaking brake line or something could be wrong with your steering system.

Warning Lights

When a warning light goes on, you should always have your vehicle inspected immediately. New cars have ABS or brake lights that illuminate when problems first occur. Ignoring them only worsens the situation.

Professional Brake Inspections at VW of Marion

At Volkswagen of Marion, we take pride in our professional technicians. They undergo extensive factory training to help them diagnose and repair all things Volkswagen. When we inspect your vehicle’s brake system, you can expect a thorough review of its many moving parts. Your brake system has springs and levers, calipers and sensors that all must work in unison to bring your vehicle to a stop safely.

Your brake inspection includes measuring the height of your brake pedal, the depth it depresses to, the amount of free play in your pedal, and the reserve space it has left. A technician checks your brake fluid’s level and age, inspects your pads, rotors, and drums or discs for wear. Your brake lines get checked for leaks, along with your master cylinder. Our technicians will determine whether brake repair or replacement is necessary.

At Volkswagen of Marion, we understand the complex process that takes place every time you press your brake pedal. We know your safety and your family rides on your brake system working the way it should. That’s why our factory-certified technicians provide you with a comprehensive inspection report and take the time to explain what may be wrong and the process and price to fix the problem.

You should have your brakes inspected twice a year or every other oil change. Doing so will save you more costly repairs down the road. You can schedule a brake inspection online or bring your Volkswagen to our dealership any time.