Braking a car (VW Passat B3)

General instructions

Brake pad wear depends largely on operating conditions and driving style. When driving in the city or with a sporty driving style, it is necessary to check the brake pads more often than provided for in the service plan.

To reduce brake pad wear, use engine braking, timely switching to a lower gear - this reduces the intensity of brake use. Braking should be smooth, avoiding unnecessary strong pressing on the brake pedal. During prolonged braking (on the slopes) you should brake not continuously, but at intervals.

Under certain conditions (for example, after driving through a deep puddle, during heavy rain or after washing the car) brakes may become less effective due to wet or icy (in winter) brake discs and pads - in this case, several intensive braking actions are necessary to dry the brakes.

When driving on a road that has been salted, the brakes may also be slow to operate if they have not been used for a long time - the layer of salt on the brake discs and pads must first be removed.

Caution: If the factory front fairing is damaged or replaced with another one, it is necessary to ensure that there is unimpeded access of air to the front wheel brakes - otherwise the brake mechanisms may overheat.

Vacuum brake booster

Caution: The brake booster operates using vacuum, which can only be achieved when the engine is running. Therefore, do not allow the car to move with the engine off - the effectiveness of the brakes will be greatly reduced in this case.

Caution: If the brake booster is not working, the brake pedal must be pressed with much greater force to compensate for the lack of booster.

Anti-lock braking system (ABS)

The anti-lock braking system plays a significant role in increasing active safety. The decisive advantage compared to conventional braking systems is that even when braking on a very slippery road, the wheels do not lock, while maintaining the maximum possible control of the vehicle under the given road conditions.

However, you cannot expect ABS to reduce braking distances in all circumstances. When driving on gravel or deep fresh snow, braking distances increase - this should be remembered and you should act with increased caution in such conditions.

ABS operation characteristics

When the speed reaches about 6 km/h, an automatic check is triggered, during which a characteristic sound of sucked air is heard.

If a wheel slows down too quickly in relation to the speed of the car and is close to locking, the pressure in the brake circuit of that wheel is reduced. On the front wheels, the pressure is regulated in each brake mechanism separately, and on the rear wheels - together. In this way, the pressure in the brake mechanisms of both rear wheels is the same, and driving stability is preserved as much as possible.

The pressure regulation is noticeable by the pulsating movements of the brake pedal and characteristic sounds. Thus, the driver is warned that the wheel or wheels are on the edge of locking.

In order for the ABS to function optimally in this mode, the brake pedal must be pressed - do not stop braking under any circumstances!

Warning: Remember that ABS does not cancel the laws of physics. This should be especially taken into account when driving on slippery or wet roads. When ABS starts working in the anti-lock mode, you should immediately reduce your speed in accordance with the road conditions and the situation. Do not abuse the increased safety offered to you.

If there are any faults with the ABS, the warning light comes on.