Free brake check
Measured properly and written down, so you know how long you have left.
Brake pads do not fail suddenly. They wear from around 12mm of material down to the 3mm at which they should be replaced, and if you know the number you can plan the job instead of being told at the worst moment.
We measure the pads and discs on all four corners and test the fluid for water content. Brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air, and water boils far below the temperature the fluid can take — which is how brakes go soft on a long descent.
How you know you need it
- A squeal when you brake gently that goes away under harder braking
- A grinding noise, which means the pad material is gone and metal is on metal
- The pedal feels soft or travels further than it used to
- The car pulls to one side when braking
- A judder through the pedal, usually warped discs
What we actually do
- 1 All four wheels off so pads and discs can actually be seen, not guessed through a wheel
- 2 Pad thickness measured and written down for each corner
- 3 Discs checked for lip, scoring and thickness
- 4 Fluid tested for water content with a meter
- 5 You get the numbers, whether you have work done or not
Questions about this job
How thin is too thin?
Below about 3mm of friction material it is time. Below 1.5mm is an MOT failure and risks damaging the disc, which turns a cheap job into an expensive one.
Can you check without taking the wheels off?
You can guess. You cannot measure. We take them off.
How often should brake fluid be changed?
Most manufacturers say every two years regardless of mileage, because it is time and moisture that degrade it rather than use.
Free brake check — in Westhampton
118 Mill Lane, Westhampton, Westshire, WX1 4AB. Open seven days, Sunday included.