Octavia 3 2013 with about18k on the clock. Im 2nd owner and ive noticed that when driving slow I.e town traffic and I just cover the brake pedal it feels ok. A slight increase and the brake power increases far more that id like. At high speeds I dont notice it. Brake pedal feels perfect and cant see any corrosion on the outer side of the brake discs. Any suggestions as a demo car I drove before buying this one didnt do it and the partner wont drive it because of it

regards

It does not sound right.

Certainly the brakes are sensitive and light compared to other brands but they are still progressive.

It could be the emergency brake assist cutting in unnecessarily? It is supposed to action if you come off the accelerator and on the brake very quickly

It caught me out once, on an empty back street at slow speed when a cat ran across in front of me and I went from the throttle to brake and barely touched it when dramatic retardation occurred.

Luckily nothing behind me but it was really surprising for me and my passenger.

I would get a dealer to check it out as it is still under warranty

It's worth checking with the dealer, but if you are new to the Octavia then the brakes may well appear to be oversensitive at slow speeds.

 

It was a problem I had when I got my first Octy but I eventually got used to it and made allowances. I had to make a conscious effort to be gentle on the brakes in slow traffic.

 

Good luck

I can see what you are saying but it seems more like a contaminated brake friction material issue (rust grease) if its not a known common fault. But as i cant see anything and pads have loads left on them, im a bit stuck. Dealer will probably change discs and pads and then say not covered. Big bill

Certainly the brakes are sensitive and light compared to other brands but they are still progressive.

 

This sound strange to me, go figure I was noticing that mine are very very progressive and not particularly oversensitive, while they do their work when I do want to brake.

 

I'm used to more sensitive ones, but I bet it's a matter of pads. For example I miss a lot my EBC yellow pads on SWMBO's Jazz, replaced by a dull pair of Ferodo

All VW-group cars have brakes like that. You get used to it.

Edited 27 April, 201610 yr by TDIum

When car gets to 3 it has a free service before warrenty runs out. I bring it up with the dealer. Get them to check as part of service. If they say its just how they are and not a fault ill fit non vw and bite the bullet on cost

When car gets to 3 it has a free service before warrenty runs out. I bring it up with the dealer. Get them to check as part of service. If they say its just how they are and not a fault ill fit non vw and bite the bullet on cost

Get the dealer to look/test under warranty. If they find an actual fault then they'll have to cough up. If they just say you need new pads/disks then it'd probably be cheaper to do yourself or get a cheaper garage to do it. IMO it's not really worth chancing it with potential brake faults.

 

I know the brakes on the O3 are sensitive but they're not that sensitive, and you would expect it to do it at all speeds if it were just you who wasn't used to it. 

This touches a bit on what I said on the VRS TDI brakes thread. Large disks with single piston floating calipers are renowned to be 'grabby' it is a trait of the combination. 340mm is about the maximum you will find with single pot calipers. Over this size (and often a good bit smaller) they tend to go 4-pot which copes with larger disks and stays progressive. (I'm making the assumption you do not have a new TDI with the smaller disks)

 

I am no brake expert (there are a few of those who are very well-respected floating around the forums) but I hop between machines with three different combinations 340/310 single, 312/272 single and 312/282 4-pot quite regularly, the difference is very noticeable. If you have been used to one and go to the other it takes a bit of getting used to.

 

Not withstanding any of the above, there is a lot to go wrong and if you feel something is not right then it is always worth getting them checked out even if only for your peace of mind.

 

I assume you dont have a new TDi with the smaller brakes!

Edited 27 April, 201610 yr by flybynite

When car gets to 3 it has a free service before warrenty runs out. I bring it up with the dealer. Get them to check as part of service. If they say its just how they are and not a fault ill fit non vw and bite the bullet on cost

if ever you have concerns over safety critical equipment (i.e. brakes) don't put off getting it fixed. If you're username is any relationship to what you do for a living then I'm sure you would have seen the aftermath of what can happen should there be a fault with your brakes rather than what you are describing being a characteristic of the cars braking system.

Good points well made. Is there be any way of telling what size discs i have without measuring them phyically

Good points well made. Is there be any way of telling what size discs i have without measuring them phyically

All the front disks on the Mk3 VRS are 340x30mm unless it is a TDI made this year then they may be 312x25mm. If it is a new TDi then you should be able to tell 340 from 312 without getting to close.

 

I would guess you have one with 340mm disks, in which case once you have made sure they are in good shape and safe you may be able to rest a bit easier knowing there is a reason they may be a bit more 'grabby' than others?

Well its diesel if thats what you mean and its got 18" wheels with about 1"clearance on the caliper. Brother who knows as little as me just drove it and said the brakes are bloody powerfull for tiny amout of brake pedal pressure but there again its a sports model.

VW group brakes and other German brakes are a bit like that, all or nothing. You have to be gentle at first until you get used to it.

 

What car did you come from? Brakes may have been very soft on that?

 

It takes a few trips to get used to it, same with all cars really.

 

As long as the discs and pads are in good shape and the brake fluid is up to the max, nothing to worry about.

I had a fabia vrs before but they had apex brakes on them. I am kinda used to it only every now and again i get caught out in slow moving traffic etc. Its the girlfriend who wont drive it because it scared her. Really think that the massive discs and pads on it are a bit overkill for just general use i guess.