1998 VW Golf. just under 100k on the clock. The last time brake pads, discs and brake fluid were changed was in june 2004. Clock was on about 73k then. This morning the first 3 times I braked I heard a scraping noise. I didn't hear it again and was driving for about 20 minutes. I don't know if the noise was because of the cold weather or something like that because the noise went away. Should I change my pads and if yes can I change just my pads or should I get discs and fluid changed too?
2007-02-09 20:26:41 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Probably an overnight build up of light rust on the disc's, The first couple of times you brake will clear it, but best get a free brake test at at one of your local tyre and brake centres!!
2007-02-09 21:05:20 · answer #1 · answered by Chris 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
27k and the brakes are worn?
Can you yourself take the wheel off the car and look to see if the pads are worn? Or if there are any grooves being worn into the rotor? Is the sound coming from the front brakes?
If everything looks good on the rotors you can try cleaning out the dust and most cars have automatic adjusting rear brakes, if you back up with the brakes on a few good 100 foot long stretches the brakes should snug up correctly, which will probably help not wearing out those pads as quickly as 27k miles.
Anyways, if the brake rotor is not warped, you can just change the pads. Manufacturers recommend fluid changes to keep the pedal feel nice and tight. brake fluid attracts water, water squishes more than brake fluid which makes a less consistent feeling brake system
2007-02-09 20:40:36 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Park the car turn the steering wheel all the way to one side and take one of the front tires off. From here you can see how much bad is left on the brake pads. They will be inside the caliper pressed against the metal disk.
If there is a small amount of pad then replace them. |__| <- roughly the space on a full pad. If you havent been driving feel across the surface of the rotor and see if you feel grooves, if there are no grooves rotor should be fine, if you feel deep grooves time for a new rotor.
If it was cold out and you have cermaic brake pads you will hear squeaking when you first start driving, this is normal until the pads 'warm' up. The other thing to do is spray out the pads with brake cleaner, but do not do this if the rotors are warm because you risk warping them.
2007-02-09 20:38:02 · answer #3 · answered by wolfyss 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the brakes are grinding (metal-to-metal) then yes, you will have to change the pads and rotors on that axle. VW's are typical of European design practice in that the rotors are designed to wear out and be replaced at the same time as the pads anyway. This is unlike American cars where the rotors can often be re-used at least once.
VW recommends flushing the brake fluid every 24 months no matter what the mileage. Brake fluid gets contaminated with moisture as it ages and that can cause failure in brake components over time such as the brake calipers and master cylinder. If it was last flushed in 2004 I would do it again - especially on a VW which are prone to rear brake caliper problems anyway.
2007-02-10 02:12:55 · answer #4 · answered by Naughtums 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
fluid changing is over talked about, I have had many cars with more than 100 k on them with oringainl brake fluid. I would say only change it once every 100k. If there is no pulsating in the pedal just have the rotors turned and do the pads. 25k miles is about what most breaks last so thats a resonable thought, I want to say that the 98 golf had a break pad sensor light? Dont know for sure what year they started. Good luck hope it helps.
2007-02-10 00:32:38 · answer #5 · answered by Dina B 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, the scraping noise is METAL on METAL. It will do damage to your discs id they are not replaced.
If it's front wheel, jack it up, turn the steering fully on right lock and take the left wheel off. Look through the brake calliper and you can see the pads. If you see no pad, it needs replacing. Do the same for the other side (turn the wheel left lock) and for the back, jack it up and have a good look through the calliper. Clean dust off with brake cleaner, NOT compressed air. Some dust contains asbestos. It's dangerous!
2007-02-09 20:49:09 · answer #6 · answered by trident_barclay 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check how much pad is left on your pads if they are worn replace them .Have a good look at the disks if they are not too grooved or there is no shudder while breaking it would be ok to leave them in place and just change the pads. If there are no visable leaks at the wheels or main cylinder there is no need to replace fluid . The noise could have been a twig caught near yje brake disks and later fell off.
2007-02-09 20:41:39 · answer #7 · answered by burning brightly 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you have alloy wheels you may be able to see the brake pads & discs with a torch without removeing the wheels, but either way if your brakes are grinding it is woth having them checked or checking them yourself. As for for brake fluid that should be replaced every 2 years anyway because if it absorbs moisture from the air, this reduces the boiling point and can cause brake fade and failure.
2007-02-10 02:22:56 · answer #8 · answered by Ian B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
either A. u chewed up the disks because u took too long to change the old brake pads and it needs replacement disks. b. u didnt bleed the brake fluid. bleed them by disconnecting the break line and pumping the brake very hard for a good 5 to 10 secs. c. u didnt properly connect the brakeline but i dont think thats the case... but if it is ur still leaking the break fluid... also check u have enough brake fluid to begin with
2016-03-29 00:40:08 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have a look at the pads and if they are worn right down then renew them, you do not need to change the discs unless they are scored or warped, check your drivers handbook for service intervals and requirements that should tell you about the fluid changing needs
2007-02-09 20:31:54 · answer #10 · answered by barn owl 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋