brake inspections and repairs at pP motors
At PP Motors we provide several options to service your car. Book your Interim or Full Service online today. Or alternatively choose engine oil and filter changes if your service is not yet required.
We Offer Free Brake Health Inspections
If you’re concerned about the condition and health of your brakes, our mechanics will complete a free, no-obligation brake inspection. We want you to have complete peice of mind when driving, especially when heading on long journeys. Once the inspection has been completed, our team will be in contact to advise any work which may be needed.
Is Looking After Your Brakes Important?
A service is a vehicle inspection and quality check that ensures your vehicle is most importantly safe, reliable and in great shape to give better fuel efficiency. PP Motors conduct all specific checks and replacement parts including a car oil change at certain intervals as recommended by your cars manufacturer. We offer different levels of services to suit all budgets and requirements. Get in touch today to see how we can help you
When Should You Fix Your Brakes?
There are several ways our cars let us know when to have our brakes inspected. But this isn’t always obvious, below we have listed the main indicators of when you should look for a mechanic to fix your brakes.
Grinding Sound
Over time friction material on your brake pads become heavily worn. More often than not, this results in a grinding noise as the brake pad has worn down to the metal caliper. Driving your car in this condition is extremely unsafe and it will likely scratch and inflict damage the brake discs.
Squeaking Brakes
Manufacturers design the brake set up to notify us when a change is needed. After the brake material has eventually worn down, raw metal is exposed causing the the squeaking sound, when engaging the brake disc. Another reason could be, the brake caliper has stuck and the brakes pad remains partially applied to the disc, causing an unpleasant sound whilst driving. If you’re experiencing any unusual sounds whilst breaking, we advise speaking to one of our team.
Pulsating Brake Pedal
If you notice a pulsating like sensation whilst applying the brake pedal, most likely your brake discs have become warped due sudden temprature changes. I.E. from being red hot to freezing cold, this can occur on rainy days whilst puddles are on the roads. The pulsating sensation is caused by the brake disc which was once perfectly flat, now being warped by even the smallest of degrees. Although warping is the most usual reason for this, the pulsating feeling may also apply when you hit the break pedal firmly, you Anti Lock Braking System or ABS kicking in prematurely, either way, we advise having this checked out to minimse the risk of further brake set up damage.
Spongy Brakes
Spongy brakes is a term used in the trade referring to your brakes feeling unresponsive whilst applying the pedal. If your brakes feel as though they are not working until your foot is near the floor this may indicate that an air bubble is present in the brakes lines and is preventing the brake fluid from flowing smoothly as it designed to. Brakes are paramount to our safety whilst on the roads so if you feel they are not performing as they should be, we strongly advise having them checked out.
Car Pulling To One Side When Braking
Whilst driving, you may experience your car pulling to one side, this is usually caused by a sticking hydraulic or mechanical component such as a seized caliper or brake disc. If you are experiening your car pull to one side, give us a call and we can provide you with a free no obligation brake health check.
Soft Brake Pedal
Brake pedal being soft usually follows on from spongy brakes but is the most serious of all. If you are experiencing spongey break, we strongly advise having the braking system inspected immediately. The usual cause reason for brake failure is ineffective brake fluid is insufficient and is in need of replacement, another cause could be an issue with master cylinder. Either way, we strongly advise having this checked out.
High Handbrake
Over the years, the handbrake cables in our cars become stretched and worn. This usually results in your handbrake pulling up higher than it usually does in order to lock the wheels of your car. If you are experiencing this, your handbrake cable will need adjusting. You can check if your handbrake is sitting too high as more if your handbrake exceeds 6 to 8 clicks, the chances are it will need adjusting. If your handbrake is experiencing issues, this will result in a failed MOT, so we advise getting this fixed prior to your MOT test date.
Dashboard Warning Light
This kind of warning is more prominent in newer vehicles, if a brake warning illuminates on your dashboard either once or continuously, we advise having this inspected by a professional. The main cause of this is usually a critically low brake fluid level. Other faults could be prominent like a leak in the brake hoses.
Old Brake Fluid
If it’s been two years or more since your last brake inspection or repair, your braking system may be losing effectiveness. One of the main causes of this could be hygroscopic properties which means it absorbs moisture over time. Resulting in the braking fluids properties diminishing over time, affecting stopping power and your braking ability. We advise having your brake fluid checked every couple of years even if you are not experiencing any of the issues stated above. If you have any concerns regarding your brakes, give our team a call and we will happily provide any advise you need.