BGT brakes - what do owners think?

[JohnNW]

With 3000 miles on the clock, I'm beginning to think there may be something up with the brakes on my BGT.
Firstly, the pedal feels a bit spongy and has more travel than I think (feel) is right and secondly the overall brake performance feels just a bit lacking. There is also a sense of weight transfer, front to back, when braking heavily which feels slightly disconcerting.

Any owners care to comment on the braking performance on their cars. Think I may need to book it in for the garage to look into.

My other drive is an Audi A6 (245) estate and the brakes on that are immense - solid brake pedal, very linear response and very confidence inspiring. The BGT's have on a few times made me bury the pedal at the last minute when the retardation at what I would consider to be normal pedal pressure has been decidedly lacking.

[lancslad1985]

I'm glad you've said this as mine feels the same and I've done less miles than you. Doesn't brake as sharply as I expected unless I really plant my foot down hard. My wife has a new 1.2tsi polo SE and that feels really sharp in comparison.

[markc123]

I have no problems with mine - plenty of power and modulation.

It does require you to push the pedal though - I detest many modern cars (I'm looking at you Ford), which have over sensitive snatchy brakes. Other people seem to like them like this and say the bite is confidence inspiring, so its a matter of taste, and mine runs to old school systems.....

Interestingly, this seem to be configurable on the MK7 golf at least:

In VCDS Select Control Module, go to 03 ABS Brakes, then 10 Adaptation, go to Channel:

Channel 09 Brake Assist
There are 3 settings for this
0-center (stock setting)
1-small
2-hard
I tasted this one and finally locked it in value 2. I think the brake pedal and the whole system are more sensitive. My car was not braking any better but I did not have to push down the brake pedal as low as before and as hard as before to start braking.

[lancslad1985]

I'm used to quite snatchy brakes when new so you could be right. The car does stop it just feels quite spongy unless you press hard. Considering how I've driven mine at times I know they work!

[daveb73]

I think the BGT's brakes will be similar to the GTI's (mines the 1.4 tsi GTI 2012) - these brakes are much more progressive than a standard cars brakes. Our previous Mk.5 Golf 1.9D had very snatchy brakes compared to my GTI, we were used to them and they were perfectly strong enough, but they were basically just on or off.

Sportier models tend to have a more progressive feel which might be translated as spongy but its really not, basically the more you apply force the more progressively the brakes apply, instead of just on/off style.

I used to own a Lotus Elise which had no brake servo (like a motorbike), the brakes on this were very progressive and gave loads of feel and adjustment which was great for fast and accurate driving, but to brake hard you really had to plant your foot!

Just my two-pence but I think your brakes are fine and what you're experiencing is part of the brakes design.