Skip to main content

Launching in Surrey

Brake repair quotes

Brake pads and discs wear a little every time you slow down, so replacing them is routine maintenance. Calipers, hoses, pipes and the handbrake need attention less often. Post the job with the car’s registration and garages on Matchanic can quote for the exact parts.
Post your brake job

Post the job free with your registration and postcode. Garages on Matchanic can see it and choose whether to quote, and you only go ahead if you accept one. Matchanic is new and launching in Surrey, so there may be few or no garages on Matchanic near the car yet.

If the brakes feel wrong

  • If the pedal feels soft or sinks towards the floor, or the car pulls hard to one side when you brake, stop when it’s safe and don’t drive on until the brakes have been checked.
  • If the car shouldn’t be driven, you can post a mobile mechanic callout. Garages see a callout like any other job and choose whether to quote, so there’s no set response time. It isn’t a breakdown or emergency service.

Signs your car may need this

  • A high-pitched squeal when you brake. Some pads have a metal wear indicator that squeals when they’re low.
  • A grinding or scraping noise, which can mean the pads have worn down to the metal.
  • A brake pad wear warning on the dashboard, on cars with wear sensors.
  • A judder through the pedal or steering wheel as you brake, which can point to uneven discs.
  • The car pulling to one side under braking.
  • A pedal that feels soft or spongy, or travels further than it used to.
  • A handbrake that has to be pulled higher to hold, or a fault message from an electronic parking brake.

Jobs you can ask garages to quote for

The jobs you can choose for this when you post. Pick the one that fits, or the closest, and add the detail under ‘Anything else’.

  • Brake inspection
  • Brake noise diagnosis
  • Front pads
  • Rear pads
  • Front and rear pads
  • Front discs
  • Rear discs
  • Front and rear discs
  • Front discs and pads
  • Rear discs and pads
  • Front and rear discs and pads
  • Brake caliper replacement (front)
  • Brake caliper replacement (rear)
  • Brake shoes replacement
  • Brake drum replacement
  • Handbrake adjustment
  • Handbrake cable replacement
  • Electronic parking brake repair
  • Brake hose replacement
  • Brake pipe replacement
  • Brake master cylinder replacement
  • Brake servo replacement
  • ABS sensor replacement
  • ABS pump or module repair
  • Brake wear sensor replacement

What affects the price

Each garage sets its own price. These are the things that usually make the difference.

  • Which parts: pads only, discs only, or discs and pads together.
  • Which axle: the front, the rear, or both.
  • The car’s make and model, and the size of its brakes.
  • Parts from the car’s maker or from other brands.
  • An electronic parking brake, which usually needs a diagnostic tool to work on the rear brakes.
  • Anything else found once the wheels are off, such as a sticking caliper or a worn hose.

What to tell the garage

If you’re not sure what’s needed, choose ‘Brake inspection’ or ‘Brake noise diagnosis’, then say what you hear or feel under ‘Anything else’. Front, rear, pads and discs are separate jobs on the list, so if an MOT or a garage has already told you what’s needed, pick the one that matches and copy their words.

Describe the noise or feeling and when it happens: a squeal when you first set off, a grind as you stop, a judder from higher speeds. Say whether the car has an electronic parking brake (a switch rather than a lever).

Questions about brake repairs

  • Do I need new discs every time I have new pads?

    Not necessarily. Discs wear more slowly than pads, and a garage measures them against the minimum thickness the car’s maker sets. If they’re worn, scored or uneven, they’re usually replaced with the pads. If you don’t know which you need, choose ‘Brake inspection’ and let the garages say.

  • Why are the front and rear brakes separate jobs?

    They’re different parts, and the front brakes do more of the work when you slow down, so the two often wear at different rates. The list has front, rear and both-axle jobs for pads, discs and the two together, so a garage can price exactly what you ask for.

  • Is it safe to drive with squealing brakes?

    A squeal isn’t always a fault: dust, damp or new pads can cause one. A squeal that’s there every time, a grinding noise, a soft pedal or pulling to one side all need checking soon. If the pedal is soft or the car pulls hard, don’t drive on.

  • What’s a brake fluid change?

    Brake fluid absorbs moisture over time, and the handbook says how often it should be replaced. It’s on the Car servicing list as ‘Brake fluid change’, and a garage may suggest it alongside brake work.

Related jobs

Start with your registration

Posting a job is free, and you don’t have to accept a quote.

Post your brake job

Matchanic is launching in Surrey. How Matchanic works · Matchanic in Surrey