VW Golf Brake Pads Replacement » Cost · Symptoms

How much is VW Golf brake pads replacement in the UK? How often do brake pads have to be changed and when do the brake discs also have to be changed? Which signs indicate that brake pads are worn out? Plus: The best savings tips and a free of charge car garage comparison!

How much does VW Golf brake pads replacement cost in the UK?

The VW Golf brake pads replacement costs range on average between £90 – £160 per axle in the UK. The prices can vary, depending on the Golf model and car garage, in some cases significantly. The material costs can range between £30 – £90 and the labour costs between £60 – £140.

Average cost per axle » £90 – £160

It is worth checking the brake fluid, as this can also have an influence on the braking behaviour and should not be soiled. On average the brake fluid should be changed every two years. The brake fluid itself is quite cheap, you will primarily pay for the labour cost. Expect additional costs of £50 – £100 for changing the brake fluid.

For a quick overview, the following is an example of brake pads fitting in a VW Golf 5. There is a change of front and rear brake pads. All figures listed in this article are inclusive of VAT and are intended only as guidelines, which of course may vary.

Example: Brake pads replacement cost for VW Golf 5
Overview	Cost
Brake pads replacement front	£130
Brake pads replacement rear	£110
Total cost	£240

Additionally: How much to replace brake discs on a VW Golf?

Brake discs on a VW Golf need to be replaced much less frequently (on average every 100,000 – 150,000 km), than brake pads (on average every 40,000 – 80,000 km). If the brake pads are to be changed along with the brake discs, an additional cost of around £145 – £290 per axle can be expected. The price of the brake discs can also vary between front and rear axle, but for most Golf models the brake discs on the front axle are slightly more expensive.

Do the brake pads on both axles always have to be replaced? – It ́s mostly not necessary to change the front and rear brake pads at the same time, because the brake load and therefore the wear and tear will be different. The front brake pads usually wear out faster and need to be changed more often.

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What are brake pads and what do they do?

The brake pads are a crucial element of the brake system: they ensure that your car can slow down and stop safely and at the right time. The brake pads are located between brake caliper and brake discs and are pressed against the brake discs when the brake is applied. Brake pads are made of special friction material and wear out over time and must be replaced.

How long does the car garage need to replace brake pads?

» On average 1 hour per axle

The average duration for the actual replacement is about one hour per axle or 30 minutes per tyre. The exact time varies slightly depending on the car model and the garage. However, you should expect at least 45 minutes per axle.

If the brake discs also have to be replaced, the time required increases by about 30 minutes per axle. However, it may happen that some brakes are more difficult to release than others, which can considerably increase working time.

For brake pads replacement, it is therefore advisable to discuss a fixed price with the garage in advance.

What to do after changing the brake pads:

→ Drive in brake pads slowly, brake lightly several times.

→ Drive a few meters with the brake lightly rubbing.

→ Do not carry out any emergency braking before retracting the brake pads!

How often do brake pads need to be replaced?

» With normal driving style about every 40,000 – 80,000 km

If you use your brakes more often and more heavily, you can wear out your brake pads in half the time. This can also be the case when cheaper no-name parts are used instead of brake pads in OEM quality.

Cheap brake pads may have a shorter interval and require replacement after only 20,000 km. The bottom line is that cheap solutions are almost always more expensive.

Wear limit of brake pads and minimum strength:

Alternatively, the strength of the brake pads can be measured and thereby the achieved wear limit can be determined. For most brake pads the wear limit is 2 – 4 mm minimum strength. For brake shoes (drum brake) the wear limit is often as low as 1 mm.

The car manufacturers usually specify a minimum strength for each car model, which should not be exceeded in order to avoid risks. Some modern disc brakes nowadays even have a wear indicator, which informs the driver electronically via the dashboard display that it is time to change the brake pads.

Rely on brake pads in OEM quality!

For safety reasons, it is always advisable to use parts in OEM quality. Your car garage will know which brake pads are suitable for which car model. However, it doesn’t hurt to make your own enquiries to ensure that quality parts are used.

Well-known manufacturers of high-quality brake pads are among others:

ATE • Akebono • Bosch • Bendix • Ferodo • Jurid • HerthBuss • Textar • TMDFriction • Hawk • NAPA • AC Delco • Motorcraft • Brembo • Mintex • Valeo • FTE • Hella Pagid • Zimmermann • TRW • Wagner

Signs / symptoms when it is time to change the brake pads

High quality brake pads are made of premium friction material, but sooner or later they wear out and have to be replaced due to the unavoidable, strong friction during braking. The life of the brake pads in comparison to other car parts is therefore rather short.

So it is all the more important to keep the brake pads in good condition, also to avoid high costs due to subsequent damage. Ideally, you should keep to the brake pads replacement interval specified by the manufacturer.

At the very latest, however, you should go to a garage as soon as the following symptoms occur:

» Reduced brake power

If the brake power is not as strong as usual, this can be a sign of worn out brake pads. However, impurities in the brake pads could also be responsible for this.

» Vehicle pulls to the side when braking

If your car noticeably pulls to one side when braking, this is a possible indication of worn or damaged brake pads and should be inspected more closely.

» Warning indicator lights up

On many newer car models a warning symbol in the dashboard display lights up when the brake pads are too worn off and need to be replaced. Check your cars manual to find out what this symbol looks like.

Noticable Symptom: A loud squeaking of the brakes

» Squeaking / squealing brakes

With heavily worn out brake pads a noticeable squeaking can be heard when braking. This can be the case when the friction material of the brake pads is completely worn off.

» Brake wear limit under 4 mm

One way to visually check this is to measure the wear limit. For each car model there is a recommended minimum strength, which should not be exceeded. Usually this is between 2 – 4 mm.

» Vibration when braking

A strong vibration during braking is in most cases a sign of overheating of brake pads and discs. If vibration or “rattling“ occurs during braking, you should visit a garage as soon as possible.

» Soft pedal feel when braking

If the pedal feels “soft” when the brake is applied, this may be a sign of rust between the support plate and friction material. Also in this case the brake pads (and brake discs) should be checked and replaced if necessary.

Important: As soon as one of the symptoms occurs, you should contact a garage to avoid any safety risks. Ignoring the signs of worn out brake pads can not only be a danger to yourself and others, but also result in very high repair costs.

Brake pads worn out: Is it still possible to continue driving?

» Depends on the condition of the brake pads but not as a general rule

Unlike some other car problems, you can still drive with worn out brake pads in most cases, but unless it is clear what the source of the problem is, it is not worth taking the risk and putting yourself and others in danger.

In addition, far greater damage can be caused, such as further failures of brake parts (including brake discs/ drum brakes).

Therefore, it is worth leaving the car and having it examined first. Generally, brake pads should be changed within the recommended intervals, but at the very latest when the first symptoms appear.

The car brand Volkswagen

Volkswagen is the largest car manufacturer in Europe. As the parent company of several brands, the group can point to impressive figures, especially as its vehicles are available in 150 countries worldwide. The company’s flagship and core brand is VW.

Currently, the brand comprises more than 40 models, which can be found in almost all type and price classes. And the fact that even used cars are still sold at considerable prices shows that they have an extraordinarily good reputation.

Popular VW car models in the UK

The most popular Volkswagen models in the UK include the Golf, Polo, T-Roc, T-Cross, Tiguan, Passat, up!, ID.3, ID.4 and Caddy. In 2021 Volkswagen became the UK’s best-selling car brand, marking the first time the German car maker has topped the sales charts in this country.

The VW Golf

The VW Golf is by far Volkswagen’s best-selling and most popular model and is a key contributor to the company’s success. In 2019, the Golf was the second most sold car in the UK with 58,994 new registrations. With around 40 million Golf sold so far since 1974, this Volkswagen, including its derivatives such as the Cabriolet or Variant, is one of the most successful cars ever offered.

The five-seater compact class car is available as a two- and four-door model. Other body variants include the Golf Variant and the Golf Plus. In addition, a sportier variant, the Golf GTI, is offered. So far, the Golf has been launched in eight model generations:

Golf 1 (1974–1983)

Golf 2 (1983–1992)

Golf 3 (1991–1997)

Golf 4 (1997–2003)

Golf 5 (2003–2008)

Golf 6 (2008–2012)

Golf 7 (2012-2019)

Golf 8 (since 2019)