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Volkswagen Jetta Brakes and Rotors

167 messages,  Last post on Oct 26, 2009 at 11:42 AM

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What is this discussion about? Volkswagen Jetta, Brakes, Sedan


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#154 of 167
Rear brake wear on '06 Jetta by jettadrvr
Jun 23, 2009 (7:56 pm)
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My VW Jetta has about 53,000 miles on it and I just found out today the rear brake pads are nearly worn through. I started getting some vibration through the brake pedal about a month ago, so I called the dealer and was told that the FRONT brakes have a wear indicator/warning light, but the rear brakes don't, and that I probably have a warped rotor. The mechanic (at a local VW repair shop) who looked at the brakes today was surprised to find out there aren't wear indicators on the rear brakes. He said the front brakes are good for quite a while longer.
Seems VW is thinking the front pads should wear out first, otherwise, why put the wear indicators in front only??
 
I live in an area with lots of steep hills and hairpin turns, so pretty much have to ride the brakes to maintain the posted speed limit and avoid going off the road. I was wondering if that had something to do with it, but based on the other posts, it is a design flaw with the braking system. drdata, did you get a response from VW Corp?
 
fyi, the dealer quoted me $450 for new rear brakes and rotors (sight unseen) but the local VW repair shop is only charging $325.
#155 of 167
Re: High pitched squeal when braking-2009 Jetta S [dvsgelatin] by 2008__jetta
Jun 23, 2009 (8:29 pm)
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Replying to: dvsgelatin (May 19, 2009 7:53 am)

NO! I had the same problem with my '08 Jetta. I took it in again to have the brakes checked for squealing. They told me they had to warm up by wearing off a coating. Today I had to replace the pads and rotors. I have in writing that the brakes were fine on 5/12/09. Take them to someone else to check them. I have 14,000 miles on my car and it's less than a year old. Internet research showed that rear brakes are a problem for VW Jettas. They only last about 10 - 12,000 miles on average before burning the rotors. Make sure you watch them remove the wheel and when they take the measurement. Make them write it down. I'm filing a complaint with VW and the attorney general for my state. The braking system needs to be recalled. Good luck. Don't wait and end up out of $400!
#156 of 167
Re: Rear brake wear on '06 Jetta [jettadrvr] by jeffyscott
Jun 24, 2009 (4:57 am)
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Replying to: jettadrvr (Jun 23, 2009 7:56 pm)

You got 53,000 miles out of the brakes, I don't think this indicates a problem. It is unusual (compared to most cars, anyway) to have the rear brakes go first.
 
Many cars these days have such thin rotors that they like to replace them with every brake job. That may be the reason for the assumption that you would need them.
#157 of 167
Early brake pad wear 2008 jetta by joejoe8
Aug 25, 2009 (10:24 am)
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I purchased my daughter a new 2008 jetta 2.5 in april of 2008 the odometer currently reads 29000 miles and needs the rear brake pads replaced...completey worn to the metal. No warning, fronts have 90% left, is this crazy.!!! Spoke to service advisor and complained about this he said this was normal for VW jettas ????? I've owned many cars in my time from high end BMW 7Series to Chevy trucks and this is a bunch of bull. $280.00 to replace. stay away from jettas.!!!!!!!
#158 of 167
07 Wolfsberg Jetta Rotors by rhys5
Aug 25, 2009 (1:52 pm)
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My 07 Wolfsburg Jetta started grinding on the drivers rear side (42k miles). I had the local guys check it out and they wanted almost $500 to replace everything. I got a second opinion and it went down to just over $300 for calipers, and pads.
 
Both shops told me I needed 2 new calipers and I didn't understand this. They said it wasn't a good idea to get just 1 side done. I'm not a mechanic but I do understand some of how this works, and I couldn't see how if it's the same part, why I'd need to replace the side that's working fine. I can understand pads, so they wear even... So I found this thread while looking up info online.
 
After reading this post I took it to the dealership (it's out of my way or I'd have tried this sooner) and here's what happened.
 
I take it in, ask for a brake inspection and I'm told it'll be $52 if they do the inspection but don't find anything (They wave this if you schedule service). The tech comes to me while I'm walking around the lot and said he can save me some money, and shows me the brake pads are "OK", as they're visible w/o taking off the tires. I asked him to drive it around the lot and he immediately put it up on a lift after hearing the noise.
 
He and his manager come back in about 15-20 min and say that they've already ordered parts, and all I need to pay for is pads. The drivers rear caliper is defective and caused the pads to wear faster on that side. They also ordered a new rotor as it was metal on metal. All covered under warranty as some other posts in this thread pointed out. With the pads, it came to $58
 
Some other good info....on most VW cars with brake sensors, it's only telling you the status of the front brakes. That's ironic as it's pointed out in this threat many times the rears do go faster.
#159 of 167
Re: Early brake pad wear 2008 jetta [joejoe8] by jettadrvr
Aug 26, 2009 (1:45 pm)
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Replying to: joejoe8 (Aug 25, 2009 10:24 am)

If this is normal, then why don't they put brake pad wear indicators on the rear brakes instead of on the front??? As of now a warning light will come on when the front brake pads are low, this doesn't make sense if it's normal for the rear pads to wear down first. Regardless, 29,000 miles and to need new brake pads already??
#160 of 167
Re: Early brake pad wear 2008 jetta [jettadrvr] by jeffyscott
Aug 26, 2009 (1:51 pm)
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Replying to: jettadrvr (Aug 26, 2009 1:45 pm)

Of course brake wear is not related to mileage, it is related to brake usage, but we have 30K+ mi on our Jetta and last time pads were checked (at about 27K mi) the dealer indicated 55% left on front and 60% on rear.
#161 of 167
Early rear brake wear by radicalmove
Aug 26, 2009 (2:49 pm)
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This really indicates a problem. Traditionally, and I am assuming why they put the sensor on the front wheels, in front wheel drive cars, the front brakes (pads, rotors, calipers) go much quicker than the rear ones. Rear parts usually last just about forever. Wonder what VW is doing. I don't own one, but am looking to buy one. Are the pads the same front and back ? Or can the settings be adjusted to compensate for this wear pattern ?
#162 of 167
Re: 07 Wolfsberg Jetta Rotors [rhys5] by thess02
Sep 29, 2009 (2:24 am)
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Replying to: rhys5 (Aug 25, 2009 1:52 pm)

In general response to Jetta rear brake wear issues, I posted a response earlier in this thread (post 121). I have a 2007 Jetta base model with ( now with 56,000 + miles) auto trans and also noted higher than normal rear brake pad wear. I do my own maintenance and noted more wear on the driver side rear pads. I discovered the parking brake cables adjusted too tight at each caliper with the left caliper cable very tight. The parking brake cable splits to 2 cables behind the parking brake lever and mechanically applies pressure to the rear brake calipers/pads. The center console has to be opened up to accomplish the primary adjustment and then final adjustments are accomplished at each rear caliper. Have your dealership service dept or mechanic check this clearance at each rear caliper if your car is showing signs of abnormal rear pad wear. This may be a widespread issue with Jettas. I believe Jettas do have a high brake force bias but that is just my opinion. New rear pad kits are not expensive...$66.00 at my dealership including new shims and caliper bolts. I've also found rear brake pads as cheap as $22.00 though at Autozone. If you do your own maintenance, buy a Bentleys manual and change the pads yourself...save some money.
#163 of 167
Re: 07 Wolfsberg Jetta Rotors [rhys5] by thess02
Oct 12, 2009 (7:10 pm)
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Replying to: rhys5 (Aug 25, 2009 1:52 pm)

Well I just replaced the rear brake pads on my 07 Jetta at 56,770 miles. The left inside pad was down to 5mm. Minimum pad thickness according to VW is 2mm. I went with pads from Autozone for $21.00 for both rear wheels. These are OEM equivalent and seem fine so far...quieter than the original pads actually....and stop just as well as the originals. The rotors were fine. The Autozone pads carry a lifetime warranty by the way...when they wear out I get a new set...free of charge. I did not replace the caliper bolts as specified in the manual though. The bolts looked perfect. They are not self-locking however and require reapplication of blue loctite on the threads prior to reinstallation...which I did accomplish. The factory brake kit comes with new bolts (loctite pre-applied) and shims for $66.00. I changed them a bit early..could have gone another 10,000 miles...but the entire job took less than 1 hour. Inspect your own and change the pads yourself.

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