v-dug
Go Kart Champion
OK, are the stock GTI brakes supposed to be absolutely terrible? I'm talking just for spirited driving on the street and not track use. I've read some posts around here with guys saying the brakes aren't that bad...one guy saying he ran Tail of the Dragon with STIs and S2000s and his GTI was the only one without brake fade.
Why do I ask? I think there's something wrong with my brakes and the dealer won't listen to me.
1. Part of the time, on the interstate, if I'm leaving work (haven't been driving it in a few hours), I can hit the brakes maybe 15-20% and will hear a very audible "hum" noise from the brakes. It goes away after a few applications, but it definitely doesn't sound normal.
2. Just a little bit of spirited driving will makes the brakes overheat. I've noticed them getting hot a few times around town. Well, a few weeks ago I hit some curvy mountain roads, drove fast and hard but only used the brakes to maybe 30% of what they should be able to do (limited us to scrub some speed, then coasting into corners). After 3.5 miles, they were hot enough / faded enough that when I eased up to a stop sign, I rolled about 15 feet farther than they should have. In other words, they were starting to give out. After 3.5 miles!!!
I bought the car 2.5 months ago, certified used. The pads looked brand new then. I took it to the dealer last week, and he came up with a million reasons why VW brakes are different than other cars, and if I am riding the brakes they'll overheat (after the second or third time that he said that I interrupted him to tell him "I DO NOT RIDE THE BRAKES, END OF STORY."). He kept on about how the brakes just aren't meant for spirited driving, about how he tracked his R32 and replacing the pads are a must.
First question: Am I crazy? Am I expecting too much out of stock brakes? I had a Subaru Forester and could run the Tail of the Dragon and never have any brake fade. With my GTI, I'M SCARED TO TAKE IT TO TAIL OF THE DRAGON! (For those who don't know, it's 318 turns in 11 miles, or so they say). This is ridiculous. In fact, the only other car I've had brakes this bad on was a Chevy Corsica that had the cheapest, bottom of the barrel brakes pads you could buy (Wearever Silver). I've never had an OEM pad or even somewhat cheap aftermarket pad this bad.
Second question: is there a good test so I can prove there's a problem? The regional rep will be out this week to look at my peeling clearcoat, I want to address this with him too. Should I go do hard stops (70-20) and see how many I can get, and get one of you guys to compare?
I told the guy several times that this is unacceptable. If they don't repair it, I know I'm going to have to tear into a car I just bought and try to figure out what's wrong with it, which I shouldn't have to do for a car with a certified warranty. Exactly what I told him. He just wanted to write me off as driving too hard, but I'm barely using the brakes to potential. I used to autocross my Forester, I know how to abuse brakes (which it never complained once) but I am babying these brakes and they overheat.
P.S. I noticed after the first two weeks (without even driving it hard) that the calipers are fading to pink. I would guess from a pre-existing overheating issue, eh?
Why do I ask? I think there's something wrong with my brakes and the dealer won't listen to me.
1. Part of the time, on the interstate, if I'm leaving work (haven't been driving it in a few hours), I can hit the brakes maybe 15-20% and will hear a very audible "hum" noise from the brakes. It goes away after a few applications, but it definitely doesn't sound normal.
2. Just a little bit of spirited driving will makes the brakes overheat. I've noticed them getting hot a few times around town. Well, a few weeks ago I hit some curvy mountain roads, drove fast and hard but only used the brakes to maybe 30% of what they should be able to do (limited us to scrub some speed, then coasting into corners). After 3.5 miles, they were hot enough / faded enough that when I eased up to a stop sign, I rolled about 15 feet farther than they should have. In other words, they were starting to give out. After 3.5 miles!!!
I bought the car 2.5 months ago, certified used. The pads looked brand new then. I took it to the dealer last week, and he came up with a million reasons why VW brakes are different than other cars, and if I am riding the brakes they'll overheat (after the second or third time that he said that I interrupted him to tell him "I DO NOT RIDE THE BRAKES, END OF STORY."). He kept on about how the brakes just aren't meant for spirited driving, about how he tracked his R32 and replacing the pads are a must.
First question: Am I crazy? Am I expecting too much out of stock brakes? I had a Subaru Forester and could run the Tail of the Dragon and never have any brake fade. With my GTI, I'M SCARED TO TAKE IT TO TAIL OF THE DRAGON! (For those who don't know, it's 318 turns in 11 miles, or so they say). This is ridiculous. In fact, the only other car I've had brakes this bad on was a Chevy Corsica that had the cheapest, bottom of the barrel brakes pads you could buy (Wearever Silver). I've never had an OEM pad or even somewhat cheap aftermarket pad this bad.
Second question: is there a good test so I can prove there's a problem? The regional rep will be out this week to look at my peeling clearcoat, I want to address this with him too. Should I go do hard stops (70-20) and see how many I can get, and get one of you guys to compare?
I told the guy several times that this is unacceptable. If they don't repair it, I know I'm going to have to tear into a car I just bought and try to figure out what's wrong with it, which I shouldn't have to do for a car with a certified warranty. Exactly what I told him. He just wanted to write me off as driving too hard, but I'm barely using the brakes to potential. I used to autocross my Forester, I know how to abuse brakes (which it never complained once) but I am babying these brakes and they overheat.
P.S. I noticed after the first two weeks (without even driving it hard) that the calipers are fading to pink. I would guess from a pre-existing overheating issue, eh?
