Signs your brakes need attention
A high pitched squeal at low speed is usually the wear indicator on the pad letting you know you have a few hundred kilometres before metal touches metal. A grinding noise means you are already past that. A pulsing pedal usually points to warped or rusted rotors. A soft or low pedal can be air in the lines, a failing master cylinder or a leaking caliper. The ABS or brake warning light on the dash means a sensor or pressure fault that needs a scan tool to find.
What a brake service covers
We remove all four wheels, measure pad thickness and rotor thickness with a micrometer, inspect calipers and slides for seizure, check brake hoses for cracks or swelling, and test brake fluid for moisture content. We then road test the car. If pads or rotors are due, we quote you on the spot with the option of standard, premium or performance friction depending on how you use the car.
Brake parts we fit
We use Bendix, Bosch, Brembo, DBA and OEM equivalents. We do not fit cheap unbranded pads. Cheap pads dust heavily, fade under load and can damage rotors. The price difference per axle is small and the safety difference is large. For 4WDs that tow or carry load we recommend Bendix 4WD or Bendix Heavy Duty pads with slotted rotors.
ABS, traction control and electronic park brake
Modern brake systems are tied to ABS, traction control, hill hold and electronic park brake modules. A simple pad change on a Volkswagen, Audi, BMW or many newer Toyotas requires a scan tool to retract the electronic park brake caliper and reset the wear sensor. We have the diagnostic equipment to do this in house so you are not paying a dealer to reset a fault.
Brake fluid flush
Brake fluid is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture from the air. Over two to three years that moisture lowers the boiling point and can cause the pedal to go soft under hard braking, especially down hills or with a heavy load. We recommend a flush every two years and it is included in many major log book services.