Brake repair and replacement

Brake pads press against a disc to slow the car, and both wear down in normal use.

What brake repair means

Pads are the cheaper part and wear faster, so they are replaced more often; discs are usually changed every second or third set of pads. Brake fluid absorbs water over time and is normally changed every two years.

What the job covers

Brake pads and discs front and rear
Brake fluid change
Handbrake and parking brake adjustment
Brake pipe and hose replacement
ABS fault diagnosis

When you might need it

A squeal or grinding noise when you brake, or a brake warning light on the dashboard.
The car pulls to one side under braking, or the pedal feels soft or travels further than it used to.
You can see through the wheel that the pad material has worn thin.

What it costs, and what changes the price

Typically £120 to £350 per axle.

Front and rear are priced separately, and front pads wear faster.
Pads alone cost far less than pads and discs together.
Performance and large vehicles use bigger, more expensive parts.

How long it takes

Pads on one axle take about an hour. Pads and discs together take two to three hours.

What the MOT data shows

Out of 42,728,066 MOT tests in 2025, these are the parts covered by this job that testers recorded as faults.

Part	Recorded in 2025
Brake pads	791,292
Service brake performance	544,975
Rigid brake pipes	369,142

Every defect, ranked.

Common questions

How long do brake pads last?

Anywhere between 25,000 and 60,000 miles depending on how and where you drive. Town driving with a lot of stopping wears them faster than motorway miles.

Can I just have the pads done and leave the discs?

Often yes. A garage will measure the disc thickness and check for scoring or lipping, and will tell you if the discs still have life in them.

What does a brake fluid change do?

Brake fluid pulls in moisture from the air, which lowers its boiling point and can make the pedal feel soft under hard use. Changing it restores the original feel.