Brake Pad Replacement
Also called brake shoe change
Brake pads are the friction blocks that squeeze the disc to slow the wheel, and they wear away every time you brake. Replacement restores stopping distance and stops the metal-on-metal damage that follows if pads are run to the backing plate. It does not cure a spongy pedal, a pull to one side caused by a seized caliper, or vibration from a warped disc, though those faults are checked while the wheels are off.
What the job includes
- Wheel removal and measurement of remaining pad thickness
- Disc thickness and surface condition measured against the minimum
- Caliper slide pins cleaned and greased so the pads release properly
- New pads fitted with anti-squeal shims or grease where specified
- Brake fluid level adjusted as the caliper pistons are pushed back
- Road test and gentle bedding-in of the new pads
Signs you need this
- Metallic squeal or scraping when you brake
- The car takes noticeably longer to stop
- Brake pedal travels further than it used to
- Heavy brake dust on one wheel compared with the other
- Pad material visibly thin when you look through the wheel
Not all of these have to be present, and one of them on its own can mean something else entirely. That is what the diagnosis is for.
How we do it
Measure before quoting
Wheels come off and pad and disc thickness are measured, so you replace what is actually worn.
Service the caliper
Slide pins are cleaned and greased and piston movement is checked, because a sticking caliper eats new pads quickly.
Fit the new pads
Pads are fitted with the correct shims and hardware, and the fluid level is adjusted as pistons are retracted.
Road test and bed
The car is driven and braked progressively so the new pads seat evenly against the disc surface.
How we work
The same on every job, which is why we can write it down.
Diagnosis before quote
We find the fault first. A price given over the phone for a noise nobody has heard is a guess.
The price is agreed first
You approve the work and the cost before a spanner is picked up. Extra work means another call.
Parts you can check
We tell you whether a part is genuine, OEM, aftermarket or used, and what each one costs.
Old parts returned
Ask and we will hand back whatever we replaced. It is the simplest proof that the job was done.
Book brake pad replacement
Fill this in and a person will call you back to confirm the time and the price. Only your name and one way to reach you are required.
Before you book
Questions we get asked
If your question is not here, ask it. We would rather answer honestly now than have you find out after booking.