Audis have a reputation for high performance, however, if the brakes on your Audi A3 are not regularly serviced, then your vehicle may not be performing at its best. Most vehicle manufacturers recommend that drivers have their vehicle’s brakes removed and serviced at least every year. A good practice to ensure your vehicle’s brakes are performing well is to have the brakes inspected by a technician any time you bring your vehicle in for service.

Risks Without Regular Brake Service

Your vehicle’s brakes play a significant role in your vehicle’s safety. Without regular brake service to ensure your vehicle’s brakes are working properly, you are putting yourself and anyone else on the road at risk.

In addition to the safety hazard of neglected brakes, keeping your brakes in good condition can save you money by prolonging the life of each component of the braking system, because if one part goes bad it can compromise the integrity of other brake components.

If you are in need of routine brake maintenance or have noticed that your brakes If you are in need of routine brake maintenance or have noticed that your brakes are not working properly, bring it to Woodinville Sports Cars and our expert automotive technicians will provide the service it needs to get back out on the road safely.

Signs of Brake Issues

It is important that you pay attention to any signs that your vehicle’s brakes may not be performing well. If you notice any of the following signs, take your vehicle to an automotive service center immediately for an inspection and maintenance:

• vibrations in brake pedal when applying pressure
• squealing, screeching, or grinding noises when pressure on brakes
• visible scratches or notches on brake rotors
• slow brake responsiveness or requiring longer stopping distances to come to full stop
• brake warning light comes on
• vibrations or pulsations in steering wheel
• vehicle pulling to one side during braking
• burning, chemical odor and/or smoke coming from wheel
• soft brake pedal (pedal sinks further to floor than normal)

Causes of Brake Issues

The following are some of the reasons that your vehicle’s brakes may not be functioning adequately:

• Worn Brake Pads: There are two types of automotive brakes: the ones with pads and rotors and the ones with drums. You can usually find at least one set of pads and rotors brakes on most Audi models. As soon as your brakes begin making a noise, it may be a sign of worn brake pads and you should get them replaced immediately. The sooner the brake pads are replaced, the less likely they are to ruin the brake rotors, which will save you money.
• Worn or Warped Brake Rotors: Even with regular brake pad maintenance, the brake rotors are still liable to become worn or warped over time. Brake rotors are what the brake pads clamp down on to stop the wheels from spinning so if they are in bad shape, then your vehicle may experience reduced performance and have a noticeably longer braking distance, which can cause accidents.
• Debris Caught in Brake Caliper or Worn Brake Caliper: The brake caliper is responsible for squeezing the brake pads against the brake rotors to stop the wheels. Over time, the brake caliper can become worn due to heat from the friction, or debris from the road can get stuck within the component. When either of these things occur, the brake caliper can stick and not allow the brake pads to pull fully back into their off position. This can cause rough braking in your vehicle and wear out your brake pads faster.
• Leaking Brake Fluid: The master cylinder creates the power necessary for the brakes to operate. If brake fluid is leaking from the master cylinder or elsewhere in the braking system, then it may not be able to generate enough power to force the brake pads to clamp onto the rotors. This can cause the soft brake pedal, where you may notice your brake pedal sinks closer to the floor than normal.
• Malfunctioning Brake Hose or Brake Caliper: Sometimes a brake hose or brake caliper can malfunction in the braking system causing the vehicle to pull to one side when braking.

Woodinville Sports Cars

It is crucial that you have the brakes on your Audi A3 regularly serviced to ensure your vehicle is safe for the road. Woodinville Sports Cars services vehicles in Bothell, Kenmore, Kirkland, Mill Creek, Monroe, Redmond, Snohomish, and Woodinville, WA. If you are in the area and in need of routine brake maintenance or have noticed that your brakes are not working properly, bring your vehicle to Woodinville Sports Cars and our expert automotive technicians will provide the service it needs to get back out on the road safely.