3 Signs It’s Time for a VW Brake Inspection

Worn or damaged brakes make driving very dangerous, as they make it difficult to control your speed, and this can cause an accident. As your VW dealership, we want to tell you some signs you need to visit us for a brake service.

3 Signs You Need a Brake Service at Your VW Dealership

Vibrations Through the Pedal

When you hit the brakes, pressurized brake fluid is forced through brake hoses to the calipers. The fluid pushes the pins out of the calipers, forcing them to close on the spinning wheel rotors. The rotors are flat and smooth, so the calipers can easily clamp against them and generate the friction that stops the wheels.

If you feel strange vibrations through the pedal when you brake, the rotors could be warped or damaged and no longer smooth. When a caliper grabs an uneven rotor, it causes a jarring feeling that passes up through the pedal as a shudder or vibration. We’ll examine your rotors, and we can correct an uneven rotor by resurfacing it.

Leaking Brake Fluid

Brake fluid, as we saw above, is essential for the braking system, as it provides the hydraulic power that allows the system to work. As time passes, brake hoses or lines can get damaged, rust, or their seals can fail, and fluid will be lost. Since brake fluid is pressurized, a small leak will cause a rapid loss of fluid.

If you push down on the pedal and you feel little resistance, you could have a brake fluid leak. A low brake fluid level increases the time required to force the brakes to engage, and this can easily result in an accident. Our technicians will check the brake system for leaks and seal any that they find, then we’ll refill your brake fluid.

Overheated Brake Fluid

If you smell a harsh burning chemical smell when you brake, the brake fluid could be overheating. As time passes, water can find its way into the brake system. Braking generates heat due to pressure and friction, and if it gets hot enough, water in the brake system can boil. This causes the brake fluid to overheat, producing a chemical smell.

Overheated brake fluid can’t generate hydraulic pressure, and this can cause your brakes to fail. If you suspect the brakes are overheating, pull over ASAP and call us so we can investigate. We’ll drain and replace the old fluid and check that your brake system is working correctly.

Regular servicing prevents brake problems, as most issues are caused by natural wear and tear. If your brakes aren’t working correctly, contact our service department at Onion Creek Volkswagen in Austin, TX, and our VW-trained technicians will fix the problem so you can drive safely again.

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