Brake pad replacement

When should brake pads be replaced?

Brake pads are wear parts that typically need replacement every 30,000–60,000 km, depending on driving style, vehicle weight and the type of roads you drive on. City driving with frequent braking wears pads faster than highway cruising, and heavy SUVs go through thicker pads quicker than small passenger cars. On electric cars pads often last considerably longer because regenerative braking handles most of the work — but in turn we must check that they don't seize from lack of use.

As a rule of thumb, pad thickness should not drop below 3 mm. Once the wear indicator tab starts scraping the disc, you'll hear a distinct metallic squeal — that's the pad's final warning before metal meets metal and you destroy the brake disc.

Symptoms and warning signs

Common symptoms of worn brake pads are squealing on braking, pedal vibration, longer stopping distance and a brake warning light on the dashboard. Uneven wear can also cause pulling — the car drifts to one side when you press the pedal. Scraping noises without braking usually mean the pads are fully worn and the wear indicator is permanently in contact with the disc.

What we do at the workshop

We lift the car, remove the wheels and take out the pads. Pad thickness is measured with a vernier caliper while we simultaneously check brake discs for grooves, cracks and even wear. The caliper is cleaned, slide pins are lubricated with high-temperature grease, and the piston is wound back into its bore. On EVs and cars with electronic parking brakes we must put the system into service mode via diagnostic equipment before retracting the piston — otherwise we risk damaging the caliper motor.

After fitting new pads we pump the pedal several times to build pressure, then run a short brake test to confirm everything functions correctly and that pads sit evenly against the disc.

Original or aftermarket parts?

We offer OE parts (from the original manufacturer), OEM (same factory, aftermarket packaging) and quality brands such as Brembo, ATE, TRW and Bosch. Original parts usually deliver the longest service life and least noise, while quality brands can be more cost-effective without compromising performance. We never recommend the cheapest no-name pads — they produce more dust, perform poorly when cold or wet, and don't last.

What about the warranty?

Replacement at an authorised workshop with quality parts does not affect the new-car warranty. We document all work in the service book and keep the invoice as proof. We give 12 months' guarantee on work and parts purchased through us.

Book online easily or call us on 41 17 32 24.