Brakes
Brake pads are due when the friction material has worn down to about two to three millimetres — many vehicles report this via a wear sensor. A soft pedal, pulling to one side or vibration under braking are reasons not to wait until the next service.
After standing or in damp weather almost every brake squeals briefly — that is surface rust and disappears after a few applications. A squeal that persists or turns into grinding, by contrast, points to worn pads or seized guides.
If the pedal travels further than usual or feels spongy, there is usually air in the system or too much water in the brake fluid. That is the case where you should not wait.
Usually the brake discs are warped or unevenly worn. It is not immediately dangerous, but it costs braking performance and gets worse over time.
It draws water from the air. As the water content rises the boiling point falls, and under heavy use — a long descent, towing — the brakes can then fade. A change every two years is customary.
In brief
As a rule of thumb between 30,000 and 60,000 kilometres, varying widely with driving style. A lot of city traffic shortens their life noticeably.
Not necessarily. What decides is the minimum thickness specified by the manufacturer and the condition of the surface.
Generally yes. If the pedal is also giving way or the vehicle pulls under braking, it is better to have the car collected.
Matching service
Book online or give us a call – we get back to you quickly.
