Brakes

About Brakes

Everyone knows that your braking system is what stops your car safely. have over 600 brake specialists nationwide who are fully trained and committed to maintaining your brakes in an expert and cost effective manner.

Today’s vehicle braking systems involve many different components working together to help you to stop and manoeuvre your vehicle in a controlled manner. The key components of your vehicle braking system include a master cylinder, servo, brake callipers, brake fluid and cylinders, disks, drums, pads and shoes. All the components are linked by a series of brake hoses and brake pipes containing brake fluid, so when you press your brake pedal the vehicle slows down and stops. The rate at which your brakes reduce the vehicle speed is determined by the amount and duration of foot pressure is applied to your brake pedal, and of course your braking system's condition.

Brakes are in use more often when driving around town than on a motorway journey, not forgetting that you may need to use your brakes to stop your vehicle quickly in an emergency. So maintaining an effective vehicle braking system is a top priority for every motorist.

Regular brake checks are an important part of any vehicle preventative maintenance plan. Brake checks can identify a problem before it begins to impact your braking efficiency, thus providing an opportunity to restore the effectiveness of your vehicle's braking system to its intended operating performance. The effects of a sudden brake failure can be devastating and in the event of an accident attributed to faulty brakes, the consequences of not maintaining an effective braking system could result in prosecution. Your vehicle will also fail its MoT test if braking efficiency is below specification.

The performance of your vehicle's braking system is tested on a rolling road to measure the amount of braking force generated while operating the hand and foot brake. The braking force generated is then recorded and compared to the manufacturer's specified tolerance level. Any reading or imbalance falling outside these tolerance levels will result in an MoT test failure.

As best practice for people who cover average or greater than average annual mileage and for normal coverage motorists, Kwik Fit recommend that a vehicle's braking system is checked at least twice a year.

We offer a free, no-obligation brake check that takes around 45 minutes. The inspection covers a full braking system inspection digitally measuring wear on your vehicle brake pads, shoes, discs and drums. We’ll always give you a full written report of our inspection showing the current condition of your braking system, together with a free no obligation quote should any work be required.

What do I need to know about brakes?

The purpose of a braking system is to slow and stop your vehicle. It is controlled by a foot (service brake) pedal and by a hand or parking brake.

The brakes also allow you to make an emergency stop if you need to.

It is therefore important that you ensure that your braking system is maintained and operating at optimum levels. It is a legal requirement that your braking system performs as intended and your brakes will be tested as part of your MoT.

Like all components, brakes and indeed braking performance deteriorate over time and because it happens gradually, many people don't notice the difference in their braking system. Having your brakes checked regularly could also save you time and money by preventing damage to other components.

How do brakes wear differently?

Different driving patterns have a dramatic effect on how often your brakes need servicing. For example, a set of brake pads could last up to 60,000 miles or more on a car driven mostly on the motorway, may last only 25,000 or 30,000 miles or less on the same vehicle driven in busy city traffic.

Front brakes normally wear out before rear brakes because they handle a higher percentage of the braking load, especially on front-wheel drive cars.

It is often recommended that brake pads should be replaced if the pad friction material has worn down to a thickness of 3 millimeters. Brake disc thickness should be measured and replaced if they measure at or below the manufacturer's safe minimum thickness specification.

When new parts are fitted, it's vital to drive gently and carefully until they 'bed in', which takes approximately 200 miles. Excessive braking action on new parts will potentially damage them and lead to a loss of braking efficiency and performance.

What do I need to know about brakes?

The purpose of a braking system is to slow and stop your vehicle. It is controlled by a foot (service brake) pedal and by a hand or parking brake.

The brakes also allow you to make an emergency stop if you need to.

It is therefore important that you ensure that your braking system is maintained and operating at optimum levels. It is a legal requirement that your braking system performs as intended and your brakes will be tested as part of your MoT.

Like all components, brakes and indeed braking performance deteriorate over time and because it happens gradually, many people don't notice the difference in their braking system. Having your brakes checked regularly could also save you time and money by preventing damage to other components.