It happens in some cases that your car makes noises in the brake calipers, you are rarely reassured by this kind of noise and you immediately tend to think that you will have an incident or that the fix will cost you an astronomical sum. So, what if you detect noise from the brake calipers on your Audi A3? It is probably not anything major and you may be able to fix it yourself, but when in doubt, since your safety and the one of others is in question, it is better to verify before a more serious failure occurs. It is with this in mind that we have decided to create this document and give you the opportunity to find the problem and find a solution. We will go through different steps, review all possible origins of caliper brake noise on Audi A3, and give you the explanations for them in order to help you fix the problem.
The different types of brake caliper noise on Audi A3 and their causes
The objective of the Audi A3 brake calipers is to come pinch the brake discs of your Audi A3 thanks to the pads they will activate. This element is an important element of your vehicle’s safety. Discovering a sound from it must therefore be looked into promptly and leaving it lying around is not a good alternative.
I hear a grinding noise on my brake calipers on Audi A3
If you notice a grinding or scrap metal noise coming from the brake calipers of your Audi A3, it is highly possible that it will be caused by brake pads at the end of their life, in fact, the role of the pads is to act as a buffer during braking and they will therefore naturally wear out over time. Each manufacturer gives an average runtime in kilometres for pads, but based on your driving style and route, this may vary. Remove the wheels in question and check the wear indicator on them. If they are out of date, they must be changed quickly as they will quickly affect your discs and keep doing this scrap or grinding noise on Audi A3. If after checking out this point, you’re still encountering a grinding noise on your Audi A3, have a look at this article to find a solution.
I feel a constant noise that stops when I brake from my Audi A3 brake calipers
If you are the victim of a continual noise in the brake calipers of your Audi A3 that only stops when you press your brake system, it is quite conceivable that caliper wear is the reason. Indeed, they can jam with time, especially if they are not used enough. In such a case, they will tend to stay on in the closed situation, so they will constantly stick the pads against the discs, which will lead to an rise in consumption and precipitate deterioration of your pads. To verify it, try to brake several times frankly to try to unblock them. If this does not work, it will be necessary to consider replacing them.
When I brake, my brake pedal vibrates on my Audi A3
If in your case, you feel a vibration when braking that would have come from the brake calipers of your Audi A3, you will have to worry about the state of your discs. Discs tend to wear over time and although they have a much longer runtime than pads, they must be swapped at some point. A vibration most often shows of veiled brake disc, you can check it by removing your wheels. If so, swap them or have them replaced by your auto mechanic.
When I brake, I feel a squealing in my brake calipers of my Audi A3
Finally, if you have a noise close to a squeak when you use your brakes, it is plausible that brake pad dust has settled in the brake calipers of your Audi A3, creating a squeak when the system is pressurized. You will have to remove your wheels and clean the calipers with a snowblower and a brush (metal or rigid).
