new GTi T owner - 2 questions on brakes & servicing

[spudhead]

Hi all,

I've got a 2002 1.8T GTi, I've had it 6 months now, bought from dealership where they'd just given it a 10,000 mile service. It's now got 36,000 on the clock.

The brakes are - 'scuse my technical jargon - making a funny noise. A sort of grinding noise. Only at low speeds and when they're cold. And they're definitely a bit less sharp than they were at first. It's not an alarming noise but I'm a natural worrier and I have to ask - is this a normal noise for brakes to make when they haven't been serviced for a while? Or is it indicative of a problem? Would a fairly technically incompetent person - like me - be able to take a look at the brake shoes and tell that they're worn out, or worn unevenly, or something like that?

Second question is - dealership servicing. I have no idea how much a 'major' service costs in London but I've heard that one way round getting fleeced by the dealership is to take it in and just get them to do a minor service, so you get the stamp, then take it somewhere independent - and cheaper - for the rest of it. Is this advisable? Does it still count as a full dealership history? Is it more hassle than it's worth?

Cheers

[GolfGL]

First is the grinding only when braking? Should be easy to check brake pad levels. Jack it up take off the wheel and front pads are easy to see and check disc for thickness and give it a turn so you can check they aren't warped and check bearing is smooth and quiet. I havent done the rears yet but you should have discs and hand brake cable(correct me if im wrong) again pads easy to check thickness visually. For £15 the haynes manual will guide you through and have better details.

Personally i would either do the work my self by checking what should be done at the service which is in the haynes manual and if your not confident with something take it to a specialist and they can stamp the service book for you. I would guess that service would be between £120-200 depending on when last service was. At the end of the day as long as the works done and you have receipts does a full VW service history matter.

[ryushi]

Like the guy above said check them yourself or if you pop into any garage they should be able to give you a check for free and a quote to do it, I personaly change the break pads myself to save money, it's fairly easy job to do.

If they are worn down and are scraping when breaking you really need to change them, you may have scored the break disk too which might need replacing.

I get my car serviced by VW, a normal inspection service (basic oil + air/pollen filter change) is £192 inc VAT and that's from heathrow VW. (they have all the prices for all the services for all the cars up on a board which is handy)

[kompliance]

I get my car serviced by VW, a normal inspection service (basic oil + air/pollen filter change) is £192 inc VAT and that's from heathrow VW. (they have all the prices for all the services for all the cars up on a board which is handy)

My car has a service light flashing and is due a VW service light reset Thanks for the information on price and place, I only live a few mins from Heathrow!

[ryushi]

it's opposite ashford hospital on the A30 crossroads, if your close then they can give you a lift back to your house/place of work whilst they service your car , if you want a replacement car whilst they do the work you have to book way in advance and arrange your own insurance 

[ub7rm]

Hi,

With regards to the noise after cold, I take it you mean like when you first take the car out in the morning?  I get this all the time and its due to a layer of corrosion building up on the disks when its sitting there for a while (and especially if its been raining) a touch of the brakes scrapes the thin layer of rust of the disks and causes a horrible grinding noise till its gone.  Nothing to worry about and all normal - if its just when the car has been sitting for a while that is.

Think if you have alloys that 'expose' the disks it makes the noise seem louder because there is nothing to muffle the sound if that makes a lick of sense..........

HTH

[charri42]

I get my car serviced by VW, a normal inspection service (basic oil + air/pollen filter change) is £192 inc VAT and that's from heathrow VW. (they have all the prices for all the services for all the cars up on a board which is handy)

My car has a service light flashing and is due a VW service light reset Thanks for the information on price and place, I only live a few mins from Heathrow!

I assume you know its a 1 minute job to reset the service indicator yourself?

Personally I agree with the above - if money IS of importance, go for basic service and inspection, so you can put right the labour intensive stuff yourself - and get a STAMP

[GTI-T]

I get my car serviced by VW, a normal inspection service (basic oil + air/pollen filter change) is £192 inc VAT and that's from heathrow VW. (they have all the prices for all the services for all the cars up on a board which is handy)

My car has a service light flashing and is due a VW service light reset Thanks for the information on price and place, I only live a few mins from Heathrow!

I assume you know its a 1 minute job to reset the service indicator yourself?

Personally I agree with the above - if money IS of importance, go for basic service and inspection, so you can put right the labour intensive stuff yourself - and get a STAMP

How do you reset the service indicator just so i know cos mines going the come on soon 

[Flipmode]

Your Golf GTI will perform an ABS check the first time u use your brakes when u drive it, so a one off funny grind noise is absolutely normal