Disc Brake Wiper

[Keithuk]

I was just playing about with VCDS doing the normal scan and checked out the 03-ABS Brakes and Adaptation. In the combobox it shows various parts and one was Disc Brake Wiper (BDW). I've heard of this function but never seen it on VCDS. I've search the forum and no one else has talked about it and Google doesn't show anything.



Its a function that only operates when the wipers are switched on. It appears the ABS system applies minimal pressure to the brakes so the brake pads keep the water of the discs. From the picture you can see that mine is active 1.

I just think its a stupid idea when there is a minimal brake drag on a drake disc so providing your not driving through constant deep water there is no need for a computer system to do this.

I posted the same thread on another VW forum and a VW tech said:

It was introduced as VW were having some terrible problems with customer complaints over no initial brake response in the wet back in the early nineties and this function cured the problem.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this system?

[ajmoir36]

I have nearly got 51k on the clock and loads of disc pads left so I can't see it wearing them down too dramatically.

[Buck]

Seems a good idea to me in that it doesn't actually slow the vehicle or cause excess wear.

This system is also available on a number of premium cars to ensure that when a cars braking is reduced due to wet roads etc. this isn't impacted further by the brakes not gripping when first activated - that split second could be the difference between safe stopping and an impact IMHO