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Volkswagen Jetta Brakes and Rotors

272 messages,  Last post on Jan 15, 2013 at 7:07 AM

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

Messages Page 25 of 28

#233 of 272 VW Jetta 08 rear brake by marcondes

Apr 25, 2010 (7:23 pm)

The way I see here, a lot of people are having the same problem with the brakes as I'm having.
I took my Jetta to my mechanic because of squeaking noises and was told my rear pads were low and needed to be replaced. After the work was done and driving for about 20 minutes I smelled something and stopped the car and saw smoking coming out of the rear passenger side. Called the mechanic and was told it could be grease from the mechanic's hand and if it did not go away to bring it back.
Since it stopped I did not brought it back. They after the smell and smoke came back but it was Sunday. My wife took it back on Monday and they said it was a problem with the caliper. They ordered and got the part 1 week later, but it was ok because I did not see any more smoke. After they replace the caliper, I drove for about 5 minutes and felt the brakes very low and had to return to the shop for then to check on the fluid. They bled all the lines just to be sure and told me it was ok.
I drove for about 10 minutes and smelled burning again and after I got out of the car a lot of smoke was coming from the rear tire. I called the mechanic and they had the car towed back to the shop. My mechanic adjusted the brakes again and told me it was probably a problem with the master cylinder and I should have it checked by the VW dealer which I did the day after(04/24). They checked the car and said that nothing was wrong with the brakes. But today 04/25 my wife was driving the car again and she felt the burning smell is back.
What should I do???

#234 of 272 Re: VW Jetta 08 rear brake [marcondes] by 2008__jetta

Apr 25, 2010 (10:06 pm)

Replying to: marcondes (Apr 25, 2010 7:23 pm)
Marcondes,
 
Call your State's Attorney General's office. Many states have a Lemon Law. In Missouri, if you take your car to a dealership 3 times, and the issue still isn't fixed, then they can step in using the Lemon Law to force them to take action. Regardless, the Attorney General's Office of Consumer Affairs can give you advice. Did they replace both calipers? They did on mine. The parking brake was remaining engaged on my brakes causing smoking and burning too. Make sure you keep the paperwork so you have documentation to support your claim. Also, visit http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ to file a complaint. If we all file a complaint, then perhaps VW will be forced to deal with these problems. Good luck.

#235 of 272 Re: VW Jetta 08 rear brake [2008__jetta] by jeffyscott

Apr 26, 2010 (5:31 pm)

Replying to: 2008__jetta (Apr 25, 2010 10:06 pm)
But he only went to the dealer once, after the other shop sent him there.

#236 of 272 Re: brake "problems" ? [bpeebles] by markm001

May 06, 2010 (10:27 am)

Replying to: bpeebles (Feb 03, 2010 5:44 pm)
Bpeebles, the issue isn't that the brakes are wearing out, its that 1) the rear are wearing out at such a high rate 2) the rear rotors are getting hotter than they should. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------
A simplified explanation, engineers forgive: When a car is traveling forward and brakes are applied, the inertia of the sprung mass (everything supported by the springs) shifts forward and down. This means the vertical component of reaction forces is greater at the front wheels than the rear . This translates into a greater friction force at the front wheels and thus stopping power. If you are designing a brake system to stop a car in the shortest distance possible you rely on these front wheels to do the majority of the braking. It is almost universally true that a cars front pads wear out faster than the rear because they do most of the work. It is almost universally true that most cars which have 4-wheel discs also show more brake dust build-up on the front wheels as evidence of this. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------
 
So, in a round about technical way, I'm essentially saying that the VW dealers are lying when they say that VW has intentionally designed a car that doesn't follow this design. I've had one saleman say it was the ESP system applying the brakes to the rear, I've had another saying that the rear brakes on VW's do more fo the braking. In either case, is was simply examples of "They all do that".
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------
The hot rear rotors and premature wear strongly suggest that either 1) VW has a bad design (I suspect the emergency brake auto adjust mechanism), 2) the parts are not being manufactured or assembled properly or 3) a little bit of both. I'm inclined to believe the last option.
 

#237 of 272 Re: brake "problems" ? [markm001] by bpeebles

May 06, 2010 (6:33 pm)

Replying to: markm001 (May 06, 2010 10:27 am)
I agree with all you have said.
 
In summary:
*)If rear brakes are simply wearing faster than you expect... .this is NORMAL for VWs and is easily corrected by installing harder pads than original equipment.
*)If rear rotors are running hot all the time (even when not using brakes) then there is a problem.
 
NOTE: If BOTH rear rotors are running hot.. it is VERY unlikey that the problem is the calipers or the internal parking-brake mecanism.... In such cases, suspect the parking-brake lever is not adjusted properly. (or sticking on)
 
Personally, I use my parking brake EVERY TIME the vehicle is parked and have never-EVER had an issue.
 
 It is more likely to be problematic for someone who only uses the parking brake occasionally. This is because the moving parts do not stay 'loosend up' and are likely to stick in the 'applied' position... even when the lever appears to be released.

#238 of 272 Re: brake "problems" ? [bpeebles] by 2008__jetta

May 06, 2010 (7:12 pm)

Replying to: bpeebles (May 06, 2010 6:33 pm)
I use my parking brake every time too. I've still had problems...twice. I have a 5-speed. Is yours automatic? By the way, the paint is again chipping off of the hood again. The dealership has already repainted the hood once. Apparently there was some defect when the car was initially painted. Suggestions?

#239 of 272 Re: VW Jetta Brakes & Rotors [tmycakes] by chordman

Jun 21, 2010 (5:23 pm)

Replying to: tmycakes (Feb 07, 2008 3:28 pm)
My Mk 5 2008 Jetta SE made horrible squealing sound at 5,00 miles. Took it in to Murrieta, CA. Nothing they can do. But, noise was reduced (I think they sprayed something on the pads). At 13,000 the squealing returned with a vengeance....horrible and loud. Like a school bus, or big semi. Took back to Murrieta. "Out of wear and tear warranty. But, we'll do free brake check." Turns out emerg brake cable was too tight, which caused squeezing on caliper. $375 to replace pads and turn rotors (and of course, adjust the brake cable). Well, I asked the dealer for a "comp" b/c I've never had brakes go out so soon in 25 years of driving! They said no. So, I called VW Corp, which was a complete joke. They sent me an "apology" letter with the BBB number. I called BBB, presented the facts and filed a claim. I received a check four weeks later. Everyone should use BBB to help them in this situation. I definitely think VW has a serious design flaw. I wrote and filed a report with NHTSA for possible recall list. If enough people do this, maybe VW will have to issue a recall and/or reimburse people their money.

#240 of 272 Re: VW Jetta Brakes & Rotors [chordman] by 2008__jetta

Jun 21, 2010 (7:04 pm)

Replying to: chordman (Jun 21, 2010 5:23 pm)
Wow, I should've filed through the BBB too.

#241 of 272 Re: brake "problems" ? [2008__jetta] by bpeebles

Jun 21, 2010 (7:27 pm)

Replying to: 2008__jetta (May 06, 2010 7:12 pm)
If your paint is peeling a 2nd time... they did not prep the surface properly. They must have taken some "shortcuts" when they painted it.

#242 of 272 Sign of rear brake issue? by ops2

Jul 02, 2010 (9:57 pm)

2010 JSW TDI Manual. ~13K. Left rear wheel, tire, and wheel well hot/warm to the touch after 30 minute drive. Left rear barely warm. Is that waste heat from the exhaust, or a symptom of the sticky caliper issue (I *think* there was an odor, but I've got wicked case of allergies at the moment and couldn't smell a garbage truck). FWIW, I use the parking brake routinely. What should I be looking for on the disk as evidence of/lack of problem?

Messages Page 25 of 28

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