Audi Brake Service
Brake Service & Repair at Audi Minneapolis
Is your stopping delayed when applying pressure to your brakes? Do you notice a grinding or screeching sound? If the answer to any of those questions is yes when you are driving...It is time for Audi Minneapolis to check your brakes. Brakes are one of the most important parts of a vehicle to have checked regularly. Feel free to ask our certified technician to take a look at your brake system when you bring your car in for an oil change. They will inform you if the brake pads are wearing down or if they notice anything going on under the car that shouldn't be.
Set up an appointment or contact us with any questions you might have regarding this service. Our service team will provide you with the best service with trained technicians who know what to look for and how to repair it with quality parts.
Brake Inspections
Anytime the wheels are off your vehicle (such as for a tire rotation), it's a good idea to inspect the brake pads for wear. Often you won't notice an excessive amount of brake pedal travel when the pads are excessively worn, although you might notice longer stopping distances. That's why inspections are important, taking the guesswork out of brake maintenance. You can even get a pretty good look at the pads yourself if you have wheels that allow a view of the calipers and rotors. Friction material that's worn ¼" thick or less means the pads definitely should be replaced soon.
When to Replace Brakes
Brake pads wear over time and can wear down more depending on your driving habits, therefore causing your braking to potentially be unsafe. If you're like the average driver, putting about 15,000 miles a year on your vehicle, you'll step on the brakes about 75,000 times over the course of that year. Every time you apply the brakes, even lightly, it's scraping a bit of friction material off of the brake pads.
It's commonly recommended that you should get your brakes inspected every 6 months or during an oil change and should replace your brake pads every 50,000 miles. Factors like hard braking, road debris, and poor maintenance can all lower your brake pads lifespan.
Bad Brakes Warning Signs
If you notice any warning signs such as delayed stopping when applying pressure to the brakes, applying more pressure to get your Audi to stop, or hear a screeching sound, it is time to bring your Audi in for service. Our service team will take an in-depth look to see what might be going on with your brakes and keep you informed on the progress.
Brake Fluid
It's easy to forget brake fluid in a maintenance schedule, but brake fluid can become contaminated over time. It's also hygroscopic, meaning that it attracts and can support water, and that water can be "boiled off" during hard braking, leading to brake fade. If you can run the tip of a screwdriver along the bottom of the fluid reservoir in your master cylinder and it comes back with any gunk on it, it's time for a brake fluid exchange. Brake fluid exchanges (with manufacturer-approved fluid) can also reduce corrosion and other problems on connectors, seals, and other parts of the brake system.
Brake Components
Rotors and Pads: Rotors are steel discs and hubs that the brake pads sit on while the pads are metal backing pads. Together these components work to make your wheels stop rotating when you press on the brake pedal.
Calipers: Brake calipers are essential to the hydraulic brake system and sit over the brake rotor holding the brake pads. The hydraulic piston housed in the caliper extends and squeezes the brake pads together to slow or stop your car.
Brake Lines: Brake lines are hoses made of braided steel or rubber that are found throughout your car and connect to the master cylinder and each individual brake caliper.
Wear Indicator: Brake pads feature wear indicators that make loud squeaking noises when your brake pads are running low due to the friction between the metal material and your brake pads.
Types of Brake Pad Material
- Semimetallic brake pads are among the most common and cheapest pads on the market. Composed of wire, copper, steel wool, binders, and other materials, the compound of friction material in semimetallic pads is durable but can be hard on the surfaces of brake rotors. Semimetallic pads also may not perform well in extreme cold.
- Non-asbestos organic (NAO) pads are comprised of rubber, Kevlar, glass fibers, and other materials. These pads are quieter, but also softer and can create a lot of brake dust.
- Low-metallic NAO pads differ from NAO in that they might contain copper and other metals for longer wear and better heat transfer. The downside is that they can be noisier and still generate a great deal of brake dust.
- Ceramic brake pads are a high-performance design, a compound of ceramic fibers, fillers, and binders. Ceramic pads are extremely hard and can wear a long time, but are considerably more expensive.
Why Service at Audi Minneapolis
Our Audi repair and service center in Minneapolis is equipped with all the latest technology to ensure your Audi is getting the best care possible. Our Audi repair technicians are regarded as the best in all of Minneapolis. You can feel confident when you drop off your car at our service bay that we will have it back on the road quickly. When you choosing to service or repair your new or used Audi with us, you'll unlock an array of impressive benefits that include:
- Access to our certified Audi parts center with Audi-approved products
- Service deals and coupons
- Affirm service financing
- Genuine parts and accessories
- Access to our Audi Tire Center with all major brands at competitive prices
Brake FAQs
When you wear down your brakes enough, there are small, metal hairs at the bottom, which make loud noises. When the squealing begins, your brakes are nearly out of gripping material and need to be changed.
Vibrating may suggest that your rotors are warped.
It’s recommended to replace your brake pads at least every 50,000 miles or sooner depending on your driving habits.
- Inspecting for even wear
- Checking brake fluid levels
- Measuring brake pad/shoe thickness
- Checking for any leaks in the brake line
- Inspecting calipers for wear, fluid leaks, and movement
- Checking anti-lock brake sensors
- Testing hardware and making necessary adjustments
- Brakes feel spongy or hard to press down
- Squealing or grinding noises
- Your car pulls to one side
- Your steering wheel or brake pedal shakes when applying the brake
- Your Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) warning lights come on
Yes, brake fluid is essential to help transfer the movement and force created when you press down on the brake pedal.
Audi-certified technicians have been specially trained and understand what it takes to keep your Audi running in optimal condition all year around. Certified technicians will work within the bounds of your warranty, only using genuine parts and accessories for all your maintenance and repair work.
Yes, routine maintenance helps protect you and ensure your car's performance and longevity.
Routine maintenance includes:
- Brake inspection and repair
- Tire rotation
- Fluid and tire check
- A/C and heating inspection
- Transmission flushing and repair
- Wiper blade replacement
- Battery test
- Engine checkup
OEM stands for “Original Equipment Manufacturer”, these parts are made by the manufacturer and are backed by a warranty.
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Audi Minneapolis
9393 Wayzata Boulevard
Minneapolis, MN 55426
- Sales: 763-744-9393
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