Sensitive Brakes?

[Sanman]

I have to be very careful braking with my Tiguan, its a sensitive flower, pushing too hard on the brakes makes it stands on its nose at low speed.
Makes it difficult to do a sensible rolling to a halt stop.
Has my Tiguan got a bad caliper or something, or are all Tigs super sensitive?
I notice also when I brake hard from 100km/h, it initially brakes well, but then hits a wall if I brake harder - it seems all its braking performance is used up in the first 2cm of pedal travel

[team_v]

It could just be the 4 wheel disk brakes.

I almost went through the windscreen when i hit the brakes on my brothers car (4W DB) after driving mine (Old car with 2 drum brakes).

They are a lot more responsive than older brakes and especially older drum brakes.

If the issue persists, you could check it out when it goes in for a check up, until then, just brake a little lighter

[Transporter]

I have to be very careful braking with my Tiguan, its a sensitive flower, pushing too hard on the brakes makes it stands on its nose at low speed.
Makes it difficult to do a sensible rolling to a halt stop.
Has my Tiguan got a bad caliper or something, or are all Tigs super sensitive?
I notice also when I brake hard from 100km/h, it initially brakes well, but then hits a wall if I brake harder - it seems all its braking performance is used up in the first 2cm of pedal travel

All new VW's are like that, many people on this forum asked the same question. You will get use to the brakes with a very short reaction time. Everybody else did, and they like the brakes like that I'm sure it's the only the way the brakes should be, they stop you very fast.

[Arctra]

I have to be very careful braking with my Tiguan, its a sensitive flower, pushing too hard on the brakes makes it stands on its nose at low speed.
Makes it difficult to do a sensible rolling to a halt stop.
Has my Tiguan got a bad caliper or something, or are all Tigs super sensitive?

If you were in Sydney I'd offer you a test in my Tig to see whether it's just yours or if it's a standard Tig trait. It might be worth your while taking another "test drive" with a dealer car to check?

I notice also when I brake hard from 100km/h, it initially brakes well, but then hits a wall if I brake harder - it seems all its braking performance is used up in the first 2cm of pedal travel

Yip, this is a "safety feature" from VW called Brake Assist. A quote from VW:

"The most common cause of a rear-end collision is that, although some drivers react quickly during an emergency, they do not press the brake pedal down hard enough. As a result, the vehicle is not decelerated with the maximum braking power, the braking distance is extended and the risk of a collision increases. In this case, the brake assist system from Volkswagen assists the driver by increasing the braking power. The vehicle’s stopping distance can be reduced considerably as a result."

You can read up more on it here: http://www.volkswagen.com.au/vwcms/m...ke_assist.html

[Sanman]

It might be worth your while taking another "test drive" with a dealer car to check?

Yip, this is a "safety feature" from VW called Brake Assist. A quote from VW:

You read my mind - I'll have to pop down to a dealer to check. I don;t remember the Demo Tiguan being that sensitive. I thought the pads might wear in. I hired a Territory for a trip last weekend (can't have a small Tiguan and 7 seats ) and after I got back in the Tiguan, noticed afresh that I would stand it on its nose unless I concentrated.

Brake Assist, from MB fame, applies the brakes harder and longer on a fast onset pedal push - this is just extremely over-assisted brakes, very hard to roll to a stop smoothly without it bindng.

[Cam]

I can remember driving our GT Sport when it was brand new and the brakes were very sensitive. Over the past 15,000kms they've settled in a bit, although they're still touchy.

You get used to them.
I'd see what the dealer says, maybe even get a service manager to take it out for a quick test with you in the car to see what they think?

Cam

[Transporter]

You read my mind - I'll have to pop down to a dealer to check. I don;t remember the Demo Tiguan being that sensitive. I thought the pads might wear in. I hired a Territory for a trip last weekend (can't have a small Tiguan and 7 seats ) and after I got back in the Tiguan, noticed afresh that I would stand it on its nose unless I concentrated.

Brake Assist, from MB fame, applies the brakes harder and longer on a fast onset pedal push - this is just extremely over-assisted brakes, very hard to roll to a stop smoothly without it bindng.

Hmm, ...ABS should not allow brakes to lock. If they're over assisted the dealer should be able to adjust the sensitivity. Like someone mentioned, if they say that there is nothing wrong, test drive with them another Tiguan and demand fix if the test Tiguan is different (normal brakes) to yours.

[NickZ]

What you are seeing is not Brake Assist - it is simply the characteristic of the brakes. Brake Assist only activates in an emergency situation. If it detects that you have pushed the brake pedal suddenly, but not fully depressed the brake, it will automatically apply maximum braking power.

However, brake assist does not come on if you press the brake pedal lightly or moderately (as you would under normal braking conditions).

[gregozedobe]

I have to be very careful braking with my Tiguan, its a sensitive flower, pushing too hard on the brakes makes it stands on its nose at low speed.
Makes it difficult to do a sensible rolling to a halt stop.

As everyone says, VAG cars tend to be a bit overassisted, but usually you get used to it pretty quickly. The suggestion to try another Tig to compare is a good one.

I notice also when I brake hard from 100km/h, it initially brakes well, but then hits a wall if I brake harder - it seems all its braking performance is used up in the first 2cm of pedal travel

This concerns me more - if you brake really hard (as in mash the pedal as hard as you can) then you should invoke the ABS, which is quickly releasing and re-applying the brakes so the tyres don't skid. This is an almost violent experience - the brake pedal will shudder and vibrate, and the tyres will moan and make noises as well. At this stage the car should be stopping so hard it feels like the front end is almost diving into the road surface, your body should be thown against the seat belt, and your face should feel like it is trying to leave the front of your skull. (even my big Transporter van does this, so a lighter Tig should do it too).

My first suggestion is to try pressing the brake pedal as hard as you can, to see if ABS is actually working properly. Safety hint, make sure there aren't any other vehicles around, and especially for a long way behind you. Also make sure there is nothing loose in the car, a 1g stop will thow anything loose forwards with a lot of force.

Most people don't realize how hard their car can stop, so don't press the brake pedal hard enough to get ABS working, especially on a dry road with good traction. If ABS isn't working, take your car to your dealer ASAP, as there is something wrong with your brakes, and it is possible they may suddenly fail.

[T&M]

Sanman, I've just been trolling thru some threads to see if I could find anything on the Tiguans brakes too.

Holy cr*p I nearly went thru the front windscreen on the first drive!! Compared to our larger / heavier / full-size 4WD, who's brakes were shocking, the Tiguan pulls up on a postage stamp. Yes it took a few stops to get used to it, but I would rather this than the opposite.

[harrip]

I spotted the following on a thread on Whirlpool. I think it shows why the Tig's brakes are so sharp - cause it stops quickly

Here's a small selection of distances taken to brake from 80km/h to a standstill, as given by NRMA:

1.8 litre petrol Civic: 32.4m
Corolla Ascent: 30.7m
Landcruiser 80 series: 30.5m
Nissan Patrol ST: 30.2m
Hummer H3: 28.4m
VE SS: 27.2m
Lancer VRX: 26.9m
BA XR8: 26.1m
Nissan X Trail ti CVT: 25.7m
A CX7: 25.5m
Civic Hybrid: 25.2
Mazda 6: 24.8
Audi RS4: 24.1m
Lotus Elise: 23.9m
Diesel Tiguan: 23.7m
Mazda 6 MPS: 23.7m
V8 diesel Q7: 23.4m
V6 Rav 4: 23.39m
Passat CC: 22.9m
WRX STI: 22.7m

[Sharkie]

I spotted the following on a thread on Whirlpool. I think it shows why the Tig's brakes are so sharp - cause it stops quickly

Here's a small selection of distances taken to brake from 80km/h to a standstill, as given by NRMA:

1.8 litre petrol Civic: 32.4m
Corolla Ascent: 30.7m
Landcruiser 80 series: 30.5m
Nissan Patrol ST: 30.2m
Hummer H3: 28.4m
VE SS: 27.2m
Lancer VRX: 26.9m
BA XR8: 26.1m
Nissan X Trail ti CVT: 25.7m
A CX7: 25.5m
Civic Hybrid: 25.2
Mazda 6: 24.8
Audi RS4: 24.1m
Lotus Elise: 23.9m
Diesel Tiguan: 23.7m
Mazda 6 MPS: 23.7m
V8 diesel Q7: 23.4m
V6 Rav 4: 23.39m
Passat CC: 22.9m
WRX STI: 22.7m

I'm sure those with wider tyres (and better) will stop even quicker than that. 215s (103s & 125s) and 235s (147s) have susbstantial differences in grip.

Upgrade the suspension and stopping distance decreases even further due to less "nosedive" under braking ......

[donweather]

I spotted the following on a thread on Whirlpool. I think it shows why the Tig's brakes are so sharp - cause it stops quickly

Here's a small selection of distances taken to brake from 80km/h to a standstill, as given by NRMA:

1.8 litre petrol Civic: 32.4m
Corolla Ascent: 30.7m
Landcruiser 80 series: 30.5m
Nissan Patrol ST: 30.2m
Hummer H3: 28.4m
VE SS: 27.2m
Lancer VRX: 26.9m
BA XR8: 26.1m
Nissan X Trail ti CVT: 25.7m
A CX7: 25.5m
Civic Hybrid: 25.2
Mazda 6: 24.8
Audi RS4: 24.1m
Lotus Elise: 23.9m
Diesel Tiguan: 23.7m
Mazda 6 MPS: 23.7m
V8 diesel Q7: 23.4m
V6 Rav 4: 23.39m
Passat CC: 22.9m
WRX STI: 22.7m

Impressive to see a Rav4 up there with the best.

[T&M]

Also impressive to see a SUV that weighs 1600-1700kgs in sixth place!!

[G-rig]

Op, What were you driving before that, a 10yo car?
Just have to learn to ease on the brakes dont just stamp your foot (nothing wrong with them).