Shelley Vehicle Repairs

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

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

Towns

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

Counties

Hertfordshire   Essex