Audi Brake Service in Boerne: What Wears First and How to Tell It Is Time

The short (2) version

I work on one car at a time. When you bring your Audi to my shop in Boerne, I’m the one who puts it on the lift, inspects it and calls you. There is no handoff. I see the problem, I explain it and I fix it.

Here is what wears first on an Audi brake system.

The Pads and Rotors The pads are friction material. They clamp against the rotors to slow the car, and every stop takes a little of the pad with it. Many pads carry a small metal tab that squeals when the material gets thin. Wait past that and you’ll hear grinding, which means the metal backing plate is riding on the rotor. By then the rotor is usually damaged. If a rotor is grooved or worn unevenly, you’ll feel a shake in the steering wheel or the pedal when you brake.

I check the pad thickness and the condition of the rotors. If the pads are thin, I tell you. If the rotors are worn, I tell you. I don’t guess. I measure.

The Brake Fluid This is the part most owners ignore. Brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air. Over time that moisture lowers the temperature at which the fluid boils. Brake hard enough and the fluid can boil, and that makes vapor bubbles. Vapor compresses. Liquid does not. When the fluid boils, the pedal goes soft.

The factory schedule calls for new brake fluid every two years. That is a safety item, not an upsell. I check the fluid’s condition during service. If it’s dark or holding moisture, it needs changing.

How to Tell It Is Time You don’t have to wait for a warning light. Watch for these signs:

The short version

If you notice any of these, call me. I’ll inspect the system and tell you what’s worn and what’s still good. I won’t sell you parts you don’t need.

The shop is at 28460 Windwood Dr E in Boerne, by appointment. If you’re in North San Antonio, I’m twenty to thirty minutes up I-10.

Call me with your year and mileage. I’ll tell you what I see.

• /Longer stopping distance. The car takes more road to stop than it used to.
• /Squealing or grinding. The pads or rotors are wearing out.
• /Vibration. A shake in the steering wheel or the pedal when you brake.
• /Soft pedal. The pedal feels spongy or sinks.