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?Should I change my brake pads?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!!Should I change my brake pads?yes if you value your lifeShould I change my brake pads?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 needsShould I change my brake pads?If you have alloy wheels you may be able to see the brake pads %26amp; 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.Should I change my brake pads?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.Should I change my brake pads?yes i would, its not worth risking when its the brakes, peace of mind when you've done it.Should I change my brake pads?Take the car for a full service check-up. This should put your mind at rest.Should I change my brake pads?Yes IT is advisable.Should I change my brake pads?Don't panic, Gizzapint's got it - mine does the same too until the light rust film is removed. However, for your own peace of mind get your brakes checked anyway.Should I change my brake pads?i think vhange its for your good only
okay so just change itShould I change my brake pads?YES
change the brakes or at least have them checked out.Should I change my brake pads?its so easy to check jack up and secure the front of the car remove the wheel and look at the pads and disk if there is no friction material on the pad change them if the disc is badly scored change it the manufacturers service book will tell you when the fluid needs changingShould I change my brake pads?Yeah!
Change the Rotors and Pads
You do not need to change the fluiit leave it alone just add to it when the level gets low.Should I change my brake pads?Pads need changing nothing elseShould I change my brake pads?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. |__| %26lt;- 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.Should I change my brake pads?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.Should I change my brake pads?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.Should I change my brake pads?inspect them without removing them it could be grit from the salt on the roads if possible jack the car up and remove a front wheel
make sure the ground is firm and look at the thicknes of the pads normally ther is a good 1/4 inch of pad if this is wafer thin AND check the disc for being scored and it is warped regardsShould I change my brake pads?change pads as it sound as if theyre worn. if the discs are worn or have grooves in them change them tooShould I change my brake pads?Think, if the engine breaks, you stop. If the brakes break, you DON'T stop. Get it done.Should I change my brake pads?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!Should I change my brake pads?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
