Why would rear brakes wear faster than front?
- Thread starter BRABUS
- Start date
Big brake set on the front? (T32 / 204 style)
Do you have adaptive cruise?
Do you have and use auto cruise control and/or an electronic parking brake? I understand ACC uses light rear braking to maintain distance and EPB drag when setting off increasing wear. My Passat uses rear pads faster than the fronts and it has ACC and EPB.
Ah, is that why my rears wear faster?!!
On a side note, my local tyre shop said that the rear tyres should have more tread than the front!
That's interesting.....
Suppose we can use vcds to data log a trip and prove the idea.
@mmi this sounds right up your street? Maybe a data logged trip with ACC on to see if the ABS control is rear only for distance regulation?
Hmmm, rear only braking sounds dangerous
Are you sure that front and rear pads have been replaced at the same time prior to this replacement?
Also were they of the same brand/make?
I use EPB for over 3 years now and my rear pads don't get worn quicker than front.
Even tough I constantly use EPB auto-release and auto-engage.
ACC "commands" ECU to accelerate and decelerate. When the rate of deceleration by the ECU is not sufficient, then ACC "commands" ABS to slow down.
ABS braking is almost always done by all 4 wheels. There is only one exception, when the braking is initiated by the manual pull up of the EPB switch.
This is so-called Emergency Braking and then braking is performed via rear axle only(subject to EPB configuration & ABS compatibility).
It’s very subtle on the Passat, just a gentle drag to maintain distance, anything more then it’s normal braking. At least I assume (and it feels like) rear only as there is no dive and I’ve read elsewhere about ACC using the rear. ESP will also apply individual brakes as it sees fit.Hmmm, rear only braking sounds dangerous
I'd of said the obvious option is the brakes are binding either calipers not release properly or the handbrake mechanism is jammed. That's where I'd start before anything electronic.
@Nutexa Frictions any guidance?
@Nutexa Frictions any guidance?
Also check the handbrake cables aren't frayed and causing the to stick rather than sliding in and out of the outer housing, check they have free movement throughout their run, handbrake should be adjusted to 3 to 6 clicks. Lower than 3 the pads won't retract enough causing the pads to drag more than 6 the handbrake won't be effective
Just had my rear pads and discs replaced this week for the first time on my T32 at 52k, safe to say the fronts are original and unchanged from new as I bought the van with 8k mileage. No warning light for the rears, but it was highlighted at the last MOT.
I use my ACC in the Golf a lot, almost all of the time. I love it. My front brakes wear out well before the rears. Certainly in the Golf it doesn’t seem to apply the rear more than the front. Mines a DSG so it can obviously change gear if it needs to but I doubt any manufacturer would use only rear brakes in these systems?
I would look at when the pads at either end were last replaced.
Exactly the same here. MOT advisory, rear pads 90% worn & discs lipped. Front pads 50% worn, discs ok. Changed the rear pads & discs, noted that the inside pad on both sides considerably more worn than the outer pad. The wear sensor was worn, but no warning on the dash. These are the original brake pads/discs, 58k miles, 17 plate T32 with 17" front brakes. ACC DSG.
We certainly do have that feature.
In answer to your first question, we have had the van from new and this is the first time the pads have been changed at 26,045 miles.
Hahaha if only, this is a Motability van so nothing so exciting I am afraid.
only the obvious like people have pointed out mate, we've got the ACC on our Golf and wear rate is normal. does rear disc feel hotter when you've finished a journey? possibly binding?
