Brakes are your car’s most important safety feature. They allow you to control exactly when you stop and control your speed while moving. The various parts of your braking system can wear out over time and will need to be fixed when issues arise. Your VW dealer has the expertise to help resolve any braking problem. These are some of the signs to watch for that might indicate that you need a brake repair.
See Your VW Dealer When You Need a Brake Repair
Soft Brake Pedal
When you step on the brakes, you should feel resistance. If you find that your brake pedal seems soft and requires little effort to press, this is a sign that there could be a problem with your brakes. When you press the brake pedal, brake fluid is pushed into the brake hoses. The fluid creates a hydraulic pressure on the calipers, which forces them against the wheel rotors. The calipers slow down and stop the rotors, which stop your car.
A lack of resistance when you use the brakes can be caused by a brake fluid leak, air bubbles in the brake hoses, or damage to the master cylinder. Any of these issues can reduce the efficiency of your brakes. Your brakes will take longer to apply, which can be very dangerous when you need them to work immediately.
Vibrations When You Brake
When you use the brakes, a vibrating feeling means that you might have a brake problem. As we’ve seen, when you apply the brakes, the calipers are pushed against the wheel rotors to stop your wheels. The rotors are the flat metal disks that you can see when you look through the spokes on your wheels. The rotors should be smooth and flat. This provides the best surface for the calipers to easily grip.
Your wheel rotors can get damaged. Each time the calipers clamp against the rotors, some of the friction material on the brake pads wears off. This material can sometimes get stuck to the rotor. Once this happens, more and more of the material can adhere to the rotor. This makes the rotor surface uneven, and when the calipers grip a rough rotor surface, they will generate vibrations through your pedal.
Grinding Brakes
Most drivers realize they need to get new brake pads when they hear a horrible screeching sound. The sound is caused by a metal piece attached to each brake pad. When the pad is worn down and needs to be replaced, this metal piece will scratch the rotor. If the pads are changed immediately, there should be no further issues.
If the pads aren’t replaced, the friction coating on the pads will eventually wear off. Once this happens, the metal brake pads will directly strike the metal rotors. The resulting grinding sound means that the pads are grinding down your wheel rotors. When this happens, it’s best to replace your pads immediately.
Your safety and the safety of your passengers is paramount. Call us right away at DARCARS Volkswagen, and we’ll examine your brakes.
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