Why Your VAG Vehicle Deserves Top-Quality Brake Pads and Discs

Let’s talk about something we all rely on but rarely think about until it’s too late: your brakes. Yes, those unsung heroes that save your bacon every time a squirrel darts across the road, or when Karen in her SUV decides to brake-check you for no apparent reason. If you’re driving a high-powered vehicle, investing in top-notch brake pads and discs isn’t just a good idea—it’s essential.

Why You Can’t Cheap Out on Brakes

Here’s the deal: your car isn’t just any car. It’s not a budget hatchback struggling to hit 60 mph. It’s a machine that can go from zero to “I’m gonna lose my license” in seconds. With great speed comes great responsibility—and that responsibility falls squarely on your brakes. Cheap brake pads might save you a few bucks now, but when they’re screeching like a banshee and struggling to stop your beast of a car, you’ll wish you’d splurged for quality.

The Science of Stopping

Think of your brake pads and discs as the dynamic duo of stopping power. Brake pads create friction against the discs, which converts your car’s kinetic energy into heat and brings you to a halt. Now, if you’ve got cheap, low-quality pads, they’ll wear down faster than your patience in Christmas traffic. Worse, they might overheat, leading to brake fade. Trust us, brake fade is as terrifying as it sounds. Imagine pressing the brake pedal and feeling… nothing. Yeah, let’s avoid that.

Quality Matters

When it comes to brake pads and discs, you get what you pay for. High-quality brakes are designed to withstand the intense heat and stress that comes with high-speed driving and sudden stops. They’re made of better materials, last longer, and most importantly, they work when you need them most. Plus, they’ll keep that annoying brake squeal at bay, so you won’t sound like a poorly maintained bus.

Why It’s a No-Brainer for VAG Owners

If you own a VW Golf R, Audi S4, or any other high-powered VAG model, you already know you’re driving something special. Your car’s performance is a finely-tuned symphony of power, precision, and engineering brilliance. Don’t let subpar brakes ruin the harmony. Investing in premium brake pads and discs ensures your car stops as impressively as it accelerates. And let’s be honest, you’re not just buying brakes—you’re buying peace of mind.

How to Choose the Right Brakes

1. Go for Reputable Brands: Look for names you trust, not brands that sound like a knockoff video game console.
2. Check Compatibility: Make sure the pads and discs are designed for your specific VAG model. Trust us, not all brakes are created equal.
3. Consider Your Driving Style: Love the occasional track day? You’ll need performance-oriented brakes. More of a daily driver? Opt for durability and quiet operation.

Don’t Just Take Our Word for It

We’ve seen it all—from warped discs to pads worn down to the metal. The common denominator? Trying to save a few pounds on brakes. Your VAG vehicle deserves better, and frankly, so do you.

The Bottom Line

Good brakes aren’t just about safety (although that’s a biggie). They’re about enjoying your car to the fullest, knowing it’ll stop when you need it to. So go ahead, invest in those top-quality brake pads and discs. Your future self—and your car—will thank you.

Why Your VAG Vehicle Deserves Top-Quality Brake Pads and Discs

Why Regular Servicing is Essential for Your VAG Vehicle (and What Happens When You Skip It)

If you’re an Audi, Volkswagen, Skoda, or SEAT owner, you already know that your vehicle isn’t just a car—it’s a high-performance machine that’s built to last. But even the most robust engines require regular upkeep to stay in top shape. Keeping up with your VAG vehicle’s service requirements does more than maintain performance—it protects your investment, keeps you safer, and can save you big money down the line. Here’s what you need to know about why regular servicing is essential and what can happen if you let it slide.

What Are the Key Service Requirements for VAG Vehicles?

VAG vehicles come with a manufacturer-recommended service schedule that covers everything from basic oil changes to more intensive maintenance. Here are some of the essential service intervals:

1. Oil Changes and Filter Replacements
   • Interval: Every 10,000–15,000 miles or annually.
   • Why It Matters: High-performance engines require clean oil to lubricate and protect their moving parts. Ignoring this can lead to sludge buildup, which clogs components and causes wear and tear.
2. Brake Checks and Replacements
   • Interval: Typically every 20,000–30,000 miles, depending on use.
   • Why It Matters: Over time, brake pads, discs, and fluid degrade, which compromises braking efficiency. If left unchecked, this can lead to safety issues or even expensive rotor and caliper replacements.
3. Timing Belt Replacement
   • Interval: Every 60,000–100,000 miles, depending on the model.
   • Why It Matters: The timing belt synchronizes your engine’s components. If it fails, you could face serious engine damage that requires costly repairs.
4. Transmission Fluid and Coolant Changes
   • Interval: Transmission fluid every 40,000 miles; coolant every 2–5 years.
   • Why It Matters: These fluids keep your engine and transmission from overheating. Old or low fluids can lead to premature wear, overheating, and expensive repairs.
5. Spark Plug Replacement
   • Interval: Every 30,000–60,000 miles.
   • Why It Matters: Spark plugs affect fuel efficiency and power. Worn plugs can cause rough starts, poor fuel economy, and misfires, which can damage the engine over time.

What Happens if You Skip These Service Intervals?

Skipping routine maintenance may seem like a minor oversight, but neglecting service intervals can have serious consequences for your VAG vehicle’s performance and lifespan.

1. Reduced Performance and Fuel Economy
   • Over time, dirty oil, clogged filters, and worn spark plugs reduce your vehicle’s efficiency. The engine has to work harder to produce the same power, which leads to increased fuel consumption and a sluggish driving experience.
2. Engine Damage and Costly Repairs
   • Neglecting oil changes and timing belt replacements can cause extensive damage to the engine, one of the most expensive components to repair. Engine parts can wear prematurely, and if a timing belt fails, it can cause catastrophic engine damage requiring thousands of pounds to fix.
3. Brake Failure and Safety Risks
   • Worn brakes can reduce stopping power, compromising your safety on the road. In worst-case scenarios, neglecting brake maintenance can lead to brake failure, putting you and other drivers at risk.
4. Transmission Problems
   • Transmission repairs are among the most expensive vehicle repairs. By not changing the transmission fluid, you risk damaging the gearbox and experiencing rough gear shifts, especially in automatic models.
5. Decreased Resale Value
   • When it’s time to sell or trade in your VAG vehicle, a full-service history can increase its resale value. Buyers look for well-maintained vehicles, and a lack of records could make it harder to sell or reduce the price you’re able to get.

The Bottom Line: Protect Your Investment

For VAG vehicle owners, regular servicing isn’t just about ticking boxes; it’s an investment in performance, safety, and value. Following the manufacturer-recommended schedule will keep your car running at its best and help you avoid unnecessary repairs and expenses.

Regular servicing doesn’t just benefit your vehicle; it protects your driving experience and keeps you confident behind the wheel. Looking after your VAG vehicle’s service requirements is the best way to ensure it remains reliable, safe, and enjoyable for years to come. To book in your vehicle with us for servicing or repairs, contact us ‘here‘.

Why choose us for servicing when deciding where to take your vehicle for maintenance?

Everyone knows the main dealers are generally more expensive than independent garages. But are you getting your moneys worth? No one can deny having the ease of paying for a service plan monthly instead of a lump sum each year is handy, however not when you’re paying up to double the amount you should be. Although our parts can be the same, our labour rate is far cheaper than the main dealers. We are then able to pass that saving onto the customer.

Our servicing covers the same aspects at a fraction of the cost from the main dealer. We use Genuine and OEM only parts enabling your warranty to stay valid. We carry out in depth vehicle inspection on both the interim and major services. We can also update the online service portal keeping your service history up to date. Outlined below is exactly what we include in our servicing to be completely transparent.

Whats included?

Interim – A 26 point Visual inspection of the vehicle: Checking brakes, Suspension, Exhaust systems, Engine State, Auxillery components, Lighting, Wheels and Tyres, Body work corrosion. Replacement of the engine oil and filter. Finally, check and top up all under bonnet fluids.

Major – As per the interim service with a 37 point vehicle check. Removal of wheels and clean hub faces. Check transmission fluids (Excluding automatic gearboxes). Replacement of Engine oil and filter, Air filter, Pollen Filter, Fuel filter*, Spark plugs*. Check and top up all under bonnet fluids.

*Where applicable.

With over 25 years in the business (and a combined staff experience of over 60+ years) you can be sure your vehicle will be in good hands. Our service inspections come with a traffic light system working from green (parts in working order) amber (needs attention within a time frame) and red (unsafe/illegal and needs replacing asap). You can take your vehicle away fully aware of its condition. Any work required we can quote you ahead of your next booking so you know how much it will cost to repair and plan your budget accordingly.

If you need information on pricing and availability you can contact us on 01642 613852 or use our contact page here:

Back again with a blog on common seat Ibiza issues! The Ibiza’s popularity hasn’t really stopped growing however, its best to know where issues may arise and how to stop them!

We’ll discuss the bigger issues first, starting with the coil packs! Not too much of a costly repair however they can cause a lot of different problems. From the easiest to spot, a rough idle and running to a noticeable lack of power. You may also experience a significant drop in RPM’s whilst accelerating for no apparent reason. As well as the active gas waning light appearing on the dash when the vehicle has plenty of fuel!

Costly issues

The Ibiza is also common for having gearbox issues. Sticking in gears and lots of clunking noises! You’ll find that if your clutch is on its way out, it may be noisy in neutral but quiet when the clutch is pressed. Grinding noises, noisy in acceleration, struggling to get it into gear and a squealing when the clutch pedal is pressed. Generally there are a lot of symptoms to recognise if you think you may have a clutch on its way out! It’s a good excuse to look at upgrading to a RTS clutch kit which you can purchase here: RTS

Slightly more complex is having issues with your ECU. There are a few signs to look out for including, engine stalling or misfiring, Performance issues, car not starting and of course the warning light appearing on the dash. If you do think you may be experiencing some of the above issues, you can get your ECU tested prior to purchasing a new one. Depending on the issue you can get it repaired by companies such as ecutesting.com. However, the first port of call would be to get a diagnostic test carried out to determine the issues so your not changing parts without the knowledge its correct!

Less complex issues

Less complex issues include window regulator issues and door latch problems. New units are generally the only option to fix the issue and they both have very noticeable symptoms. The window would struggle and jump to go up and down if your having issues with the regulator. Issues with the door latch would include the door not staying closed as well as the door not opening on the first try.

So hopefully this has simply lined out some issues with the Seat Ibiza’s and any potential problems! You can get in touch with us on 01642 613852 if you are wanting vehicle inspection/diagnostic test. We carry out a full report on the vehicle which you can also keep for your records!
You can also get in touch via the contact page here: https://www.northeastautotech.com/contact/ or our Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/northeastautotech/

Common seat ibiza issues

Adding a Racingline Carbon Fibre brace?

So this one is specifically for the MQB vehicle owners! (Golf 7 & 7.5 / Leon / Octavia). This may not be a mod you have even seen before, never mind knowing the benefits to your vehicle and overall drive! The Racingline Carbon Fibre Rear Brace reinforces the bodyshell at its weakest point for a more precise and pleasurable drive.

The MQB platform vehicles have a pretty stiff bodyshell. Between the front end suspension the chassis is very rigid however, at the rear the chassis has much more flex. This means that with hard driving the handling of the vehicle is much harder. You can upgrade the suspension underneath and try to strengthen and secure however it won’t affect the flex of the body up top! VW have acknowledged this and the Clubsport  S Golf gets a factory rear brace!

How does it work?

Adding a Racingline carbon fibre brace creates a stronger, stiffer rear body. It solves this issue by locking the crucial hard points together. Despite the added stiffness, this improved handling performance comes without sacrificing any ride quality or introducing any additional noise, vibration, or harshness into the cabin. Solid billet aluminium mounts are used and secured into beautiful, ultra-stiff carbon fibre link bars drastically stiffening the rear of the chassis.

Easy to fit?

All you need to fit the brace is a set of triple square drive sockets! The brace comes in pieces, with instructions on how to put together and fit to the vehicle. That’s another pro of this performance part, you can easily fit it yourself! The clever design means that installation is simple, using existing body mounting points with no drilling and no removal of trim required, and is completely reversible. You can use the brace with the back seats up or down and it doesn’t really take up any boot space!

You can purchase the Racingline Carbon Fibre Rear Body Brace here at our sister company. ‘VAG performance’ You also have the option to pay conveniently with Klarna!

If you have any questions regarding the fitment or whether its for you, pop us a message ‘Here’. We always have someone available and happy to help with any queries.

Thinking of upgrading to a REVO Air intake kit? You’ve come to the right place! We’ll go through the benefits of upgrading and the hardware/software options to go along side. Air intake kits are a complete replacement of the OEM standard already fitted to your vehicle. Initially you may be thinking about having a Stage 2 remap, in which an upgraded intake kit is required. This is because the standard kit cant allow enough air through the engine to allow for the stage 2 power, Therefore it becomes a restriction on power. Upgrading allows the engine to access enough air and reach the turbo as quickly as possible whilst minimising turbulence and restriction.

What does it do?

So as a result of the air being able to travel through the engine effectively, there are many benefits. Boost can be maintained for longer which will give you access to more power through the rev range. You will experience a more aggressive sound, which is why upgrading the Air intake is usually the first port of call for hardware upgrades. You can also gain a lot from just upgrading this one part. They are also not too complex to fit, and usually only take half an hour with a specialist.

Why REVO?

REVO have worked alongside some of the biggest names in the Air Filter industry. Therefore, engineering and designing one of the highest flowing kits available. They carry out extensive testing and use the highest quality materials to enable their products to be top of the market.

Where to buy?

You can purchase the REVO Air Intake Kits through our sister company: VAG-performance. If you require any information on fitment, best software and hardware to go hand in hand, you can email us or fill out the contact form here: Contact

What are the benefits of upgrading to a Superpro Anti Roll bar on your VAG Vehicle?

As most people should know now, we are a Superpro performance dealer. Therefore, any Superpro bushes, anti-roll bars and control arms, you can purchase through us or our sister company ‘VAG Performance’ https://www.vag-performance.co.uk/

We get a lot of enquiries for Superpro upgrades. However, a lot of people don’t actually know how the parts actually benefit your car. To start with lets find out how the anti-roll bars affect your vehicle!

What does it do?

Anti-roll bars or Sway bars help keep the vehicle structure and contact to the road when turning. The Bar will distribute your vehicle’s weight over all four tires to keep your vehicle as flat as possible through a turn. Sway bars improve a car’s handling around turns and corners by controlling the vehicle’s weight transfer, including body roll. By working to keep the wheels on each side of the car as even as possible, they help keep the car more planted and maintain a strong contact patch between the tires and the ground.

Certain vehicle models struggle more with poor traction and road handling therefore would massively benefit from having an upgraded Super pro anti roll bar. The most common vehicles we fit these too are Golf R’s and Audi S3’s. It reduces under steer in quattro vehicles having the upgraded rear anti roll bar fit.

What are the differences?

So what are the differences between stock anti-rollbars and upgraded ones? Aftermarket bars are often solid rather than hollow stock bars, with wider range of adjustment. They are largely beneficial for performance vehicles or vehicles that carry or tow loads. That being said, anyone can benefit from an upgraded Anti-rollbar as it will give an overall better driving experience.

You can contact us here: https://www.northeastautotech.com/contact/ to enquire or get a free no obligation quote.

Upgrading to a Superpro Anti Roll bar?

Common Skoda Fabia issues… what to look for? Following on with our monthly study of a popular vehicle; We thought we’d move onto a slightly more standard daily driver, the Skoda Fabia.

What to look for?

One of the most common issues we come across is with the Windscreen washer pump. The pump itself either packs up or (throughout the winter months) the pipes block up and split. Water then leaks in the passenger footwell. Because of this people usually assume it’s their door seals and the water pump is overlooked.

The next problem they have is with Suspension. The Fabia suspension is known to be quiet stiff and a firmer drive. Due to this, its prone to failure. When buying a Fabia always do the bonnet test. Push hard on the bonnet and if takes more than 1-2 bounces back to get back to normal, have the suspension checked over by a specialist.

Skoda Fabia’s (1.4ltr Petrol engines) have a reputation for being one of the most oil dependent cars out there. If you are looking to purchase a Fabia and the oil is low, we would question the service history. We would also double check the rest of the vehicle. Purely because, if the oil has not been checked regularly, maintenance on the rest of vehicle may have been neglected.

Window regulator issues.

Window regulators are also a common part for failing on a Fabia. If your windows aren’t going up and down properly, sticking or falling to one side; these are all symptoms of your window regular being faulty! There are a couple of tips to try and prevent the regulator from failing. Once the window is up, don’t hold the button as it puts extra pressure on the motor. Also try using rubber care products. This will stop the seals from going hard and will allow the window to go up and down freely.

The Skoda Fabia electric power steering pump is very common to fail on all models. What starts off as intermittent loss of power steering, usually leads to total failure if left to progress.
Common Faults include:
1. Intermittent loss of steering.
2. Steering heavy on idle & on revs.
3. Noisy power steering pump.
4. Blowing fuses.
5. Steering warning light on.

Gearbox issues

Last but not least the DSG gearbox. Certain 7 speed Fabia’s suffered serious issues with the VW manufactured 7 speed gearbox. Most cars with this gearbox were recalled. However, check when buying that the gearbox is nice and smooth and there aren’t any pre-existing issues. You will get also get a fault on the dash come up when selecting gear if there is a fault with the gearbox. This will simply say ‘PRNDS’. If this warning light occurs, we would advise getting a diagnostics test done asap.

You can get in touch with us on 01642 613852 if you are wanting vehicle inspection/diagnostic test. We carry out a full report on the vehicle which you can also keep for your records!
You can also get in touch via the contact page here: https://www.northeastautotech.com/contact/ or our Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/northeastautotech/

Common Skoda Fabia issues

What’s the difference between Petrol RON?

We’ve been having a lot of enquiries recently regarding REVO re-mapping which is great! However, a few customers have been running their petrol vehicles on 95 RON. A low RON petrol shouldn’t be used on high performance vehicles, you should be using a Petrol RON of 97+.

Many people may not know the difference between the Petrol types and what it means by using a higher-grade. RON refers to the octane rating. This is a measure of how easily the fuel will ignite within the engine of a car. The higher the octane rating is, the harder it is for the fuel to ignite because the fuel requires greater compression in order to do so. However, because high octane fuel burns much hotter, it can burn more efficiently, and therefore performs better for higher-performance car engines that require it.

Your vehicle manual will advise you on which grade you should be using, you can also find the information on the inside of your filler cap.

Using a higher RON petrol offers benefits such as:

Improved lubrication throughout the pistons and Higher performance/slightly more power.

When REVO carry out their on the road testing, they actually specify the gains based on 99+ petrol. Therefore, you cant expect the same sort of gains if your not running the right Petrol.

Whether your vehicle is high performance or standard please make sure you are running the correct fuel for your vehicle.

If you are wanting some performance related information, whether it be REVO software or hardware parts you can find out more here: https://www.northeastautotech.com/performance-and-tuning/

To buy any Performance hardware, go to our sister company: https://www.vag-performance.co.uk/ Here you can find parts from Superpro performance, Racingline, Revo and more. For advise on parts or software call the office on 01642 613852.

Our brake fluid servicing starts at £55 with the option to upgrade to Millers Oils Racing Brake Fluid.

We recommend carrying out a brake fluid service every 2 years, regardless of mileage. This is a preventative measure to ensure the correct running of your vehicle. Brake fluid is hygroscopic, which means it attracts moisture. As you can imagine that does not do your vehicle any favours. With many parts of the braking system being metal. It can lead to corrosion of the metal components if not regularly maintained.

Over time the brake fluid also becomes contaminated with metal particles, reducing the boiling point of the fluid and in turn reducing the braking power of the car.

The upgrade to using Millers Oils is beneficial as the it has a dry boiling point of up to 310 degrees. As opposed to the standard fluid minimum of 230 degrees. This in turn provides exceptional resistance to vapour locking and good compressibility for an improved brake feel. Brake fluids play a key role in driver experience and vehicle feedback. Therefore Millers Oils motorsport brake fluids maintain their viscosity even at high temperature and are robust against water absorption to ensure consistent performance.

Upgrade to Millers Oils for an extra £25.

Alternatively, you can purchase Millers Oils Racing Brake Fluid direct from our sister company VAG Performance here: https://www.vag-performance.co.uk/product/millers-racing-brake-fluid-300/

In addition to the above, find out what other services we carry out as well as Brake Fluid Servicing. Have a look through our additional services page here: https://www.northeastautotech.com/additional-services/