Pickerells Vehicle Diagnostics

Car Brake Inspections & Replacement Services at Thornwood Motor Company
Book Your Car Brake Check Today at Thornwood Motor Company

If you're concerned about your car’s braking performance or simply want a pre-journey brake check, schedule an appointment at your nearest Thornwood Motor Company centre today.

Our expert brake technicians offer a free, no-obligation brake inspection to ensure your vehicle’s braking system is in top condition. After the inspection, we'll provide a detailed brake report and a transparent quote for any necessary repairs.


When Should You Get a Car Brake Inspection?

It's crucial to stay alert to the signs that your car’s brakes may need attention. Here are common warning signs that indicate your brakes need inspection:

  • Grinding Noise: Worn brake pads can cause a metal-on-metal grinding sound, which could damage your brake discs.
  • Squeaking: This could indicate worn brake pads or a stuck brake caliper. It's essential to have this checked promptly.
  • Pulsating Pedal: If you feel pulsation in the brake pedal, it might suggest warped brake discs due to overheating.
  • Vehicle Pulling: A car that pulls to one side when braking may have a seized brake caliper or other issues.
  • Spongy Pedal: A spongy or unresponsive brake pedal usually means air in the brake lines or a fluid issue.
  • Soft Brake Pedal: A soft pedal that goes to the floor indicates a serious issue, possibly with the master cylinder or brake fluid.
  • Brake Warning Light: If your brake warning light comes on, it’s essential to inspect the brake fluid and system immediately.
  • High Handbrake: If your handbrake feels unusually high, it may need adjusting to pass your MOT.

Regular brake checks help maintain optimal braking performance and safety, especially before long trips. Additionally, checking old brake fluid is crucial for effective braking, as moisture can reduce its efficiency.


Why Choose Thornwood Motor Company for Your Brake Inspection?

At Thornwood Motor Company, we understand the importance of regular brake checks to ensure your vehicle’s safety. With over 600 brake specialists across the UK, we provide expert, affordable brake maintenance.

What Does Our Brake Inspection Cover?

Our comprehensive brake check includes:

  • Static Test: Assess the brake system's basic functionality.
  • Initial Road Test: Identify braking issues during a test drive.
  • Pads & Shoes: Measure wear and check for damage.
  • Brake Fluid: Check fluid quality and moisture levels.
  • Calipers & Hoses: Inspect for damage and leaks.
  • Parking Brake: Ensure handbrake functionality.

How Often Should You Replace Car Brakes?

Brake pads typically last 25,000 to 60,000 miles, depending on your driving habits. We recommend replacing brake pads when they wear down to 3mm, and brake discs should be replaced when they reach the manufacturer's safe minimum thickness. Our technicians are equipped to handle these inspections and replacements efficiently.


Brake Care FAQs

Still have questions? Explore the answers to some of the most common brake-related queries:

  • How much do new brakes cost?
  • Where can I get a free brake check?
  • What causes car brakes to squeal?
  • How do you test car brakes?

For further assistance or to book an appointment, get in touch with Thornwood Motor Company, where our experts are ready to help you.

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Frequently asked questions

How Much Does Brake Repair and Replacement Cost in the UK? Depending on what parts of the brake system need to be replaced, you can expect a brake repair or replacement to cost anywhere from £100 to £500. Sometimes you may just need a brake fluid check and top up which can cost around £40.

If your brake pads are worn, it's not safe to continue driving and you should have them replaced as soon as possible.

Many new and modern vehicles may not need a full service, but it is worth keeping it in optimum condition. By servicing your car regularly, you will save money in the long run by avoiding major breakdowns and costly repairs.

This type of service is undertaken by a qualified mechanic and is often done in conjunction with an oil change and repairing general wear and tear. The full car service includes checking the brakes, suspension, steering, exhaust, oil, fluids, and lights, as well as performing an overall safety check

New oil and air filters make for a smoother running engine and a more fuel efficient car, while addressing issues such as under inflated tyres will reduce rolling resistance and improve fuel consumption.

Areas we cover

Postcodes

CM17   CM12   CM13   CM7   CM1   CM20   CM8   CM23   CM24   CM22   CM11   CM5   CM2   CM3   CM0   CM6   CM14   CM15   CM16   CM19   CM4   CM21   CM9

Towns

Broad Street Green   Mill Green   Little Burstead   Oxen End   Cold Norton   Stagden Cross   Fryerning   Tillingham   Toot Hill   High Easter   Shellow Bowells   Farnham Green   Virley   Great Saling   Little Hallingbury   Margaretting   Doddinghurst   Tye Common   Great Burstead   Fyfield   Hatfield Peverel   Hatfield Broad Oak   Thorley Street   Bishop's Green   High Garrett   Bran End   Howe Street   Matching Tye   Elsenham   Great Warley   Allen's Green   Takeley Street   Hutton   Cornish Hall End   Barnston   Ramsden Heath   Dunton Wayletts   Wickham Bishops   Broomfield   Norton Mandeville   Foster Street   Monsale   Asheldham   Beauchamp Roding   High Ongar   Moreton   Epping Upland   Steeple   Little End   Stanford Rivers   Downham   Heybridge Basin   Broadgroves   Epping   Childerditch   Mundon   Mountnessing   Coxtie Green   Brook Street   Cobler's Green   Great Hallingbury   West Hanningfield   Thornwood Common   Norton Heath   Matching   Berners Roding   Duton Hill   Coopersale Common   Pickerells   Cooksmill Green   Berden   Stoneyhills   Bocking Churchstreet   Langford   Ramsey Island   Faulkbourne   Good Easter   Widford   Bishop's Stortford   Sandon   Deal Hall   Writtle   Bacon End   Howe Street   Bicknacre   Great Canfield   High Wych   Black Notley   Bannister Green   Epping Green   Howe Green   Chipping Hill   Causeway End   Church Langley   Little Parndon   Chignall Smealy   East Hanningfield   West Horndon   Great Oxney Green   Danbury   Bradwell-on-Sea   Stondon Massey   Ingatestone   Tollesbury   Althorne   Edney Common   Little Warley   Little Baddow   Gamble's Green   Churchgate Street   Blackmore   Kelvedon Hatch   Great Leighs   Aythorpe Roding   Witham   Smith's Green   Harlow   Great Waltham   Henham   Moulsham   Little Laver   Goldhanger   Sheering   Braintree   Great Braxted   Great Easton   Ulting   Mashbury   Hatfield Heath   Navestock Side   Blackmore End   Rivenhall   Chickney   Abbess Roding   Jasper's Green   Boreham   Manuden   Sawbridgeworth   Churchend   Roydon Hamlet   Matching Green   Bocking   Woodham Mortimer   Shenfield   Duck End   Little Braxted   Heybridge   Great Totham   Gilston Park   Tolleshunt D'Arcy   Dengie   Felsted   Birchanger   Threshers Bush   Ramsden Bellhouse   Roydon   South Green   North Weald Bassett   Crays Hill   Heybridge   Brentwood   Chignall St James   Great Bardfield   Spellbrook   Chipping Ongar   Burnham-on-Crouch   Hazel End   Little Bardfield   Cock Clarks   Billericay   White Notley   Bamber's Green   Chelmsford   Southminster   Bradwell Waterside   Potter Street   Fuller Street   Beazley End   Fairstead   Farnham   Butcher's Pasture   Greensted   Maldon   Great Baddow   Salcott   Clatterford End   Ford End   Cressing   Thorley   Finchingfield   Tylers Green   Nine Ashes   Fiddlers Hamlet   Bardfield End Green   Hazeleigh   Theydon Bois   Ugley   Woodham Walter   Bardfield Saling   Pilgrims Hatch   Tolleshunt Major   Stock   Panfield   Herongate   Crix   Silver End   East Horndon   Bradwell   Broxted   St Lawrence   Rivenhall End   Hope End Green   Takeley   Bobbingworth   Loves Green   Roxwell   Galleywood   Great Dunmow   Great Parndon   High Laver   Galleyend   South Weald   Eastwick   Church End   Stansted Mountfitchet   Magdalen Laver   Latchingdon   Hastingwood   Tolleshunt Knights   Little Totham   Ingrave   Ostend   Great Canney   Ugley Green   Shelley

Counties

Hertfordshire   Essex