How Much Does It Cost to Repair Brakes?

Stephen Wright, 2 years ago

2 min read

  • Repair
  • Cost
  • Brakes
Mechanic working on car brakes

WhoCanFixMyCar identifies some of the most common problems with brakes and how much it costs to fix them

How much does it cost to replace brake pads and discs in the UK?

Across all makes, models and locations, the average cost for replacing brake pads and discs is £439.51.

Your brakes are one of the most important safety systems fitted to your car. So, it goes without saying, that it is essential that you have your brakes (and discs) inspected regularly by a mechanic to ensure they remain in good working order at all times


Average cost of new brake pads and discs by location

In order to help you understand how the price of this specific service type fluctuates from one location to another as well as between car brands, we have created the following tables:

Average cost of brake repair by location
Birmingham£201.74
Derby£208.74
Glasgow£189.10
Leeds£208.89
Liverpool£233.26
London£276.61
Manchester£206.89
Newcastle£248.68
Wolverhampton£190.97

Please keep in mind that these prices are not exact prices for each city as each price has been calculated using thousands of mechanics estimates for brake pad and disc repair on every make and model of car.

The only way to find out how much it will cost you exactly, if you need a repair, is to get free and bespoke quotes from the best garages in your local area.

Average cost of new brake pads and discs by make

Car MakeAverage Price
Audi£491.72
BMW£688.04
Citroen£426.20
Ford£381.83
MINI£367.28
Mercedes£577.94
Nissan£364.91
Peugeot£443.96
Renault£458.08
Toyota£352.25
Vauxhall£408.91
Volkswagen£385.20
Volvo£480.28

Potential problems with your brakes

Warning light on the dashboard

If a warning light appears on your dashboard it’s often a sign that there is an issue either with your ABS or your brake pads. Don’t ignore the warning. Make sure you get yourself booked into a garage so they can run a diagnostic check.

Spongy brakes

Normally your brake pedal should feel firm when you press it. However, if you can push the pedal to the floor with little resistance or the brake pedal feels spongy, this may mean a loss of brake fluid. It could also indicate contamination of the brake fluid with water, which dilutes the brake fluid’s boiling point (and can cause your brakes to fail). 

Squealing brakes

Squealing brakes can be something of a nuisance but they are often a sign that your brakes have worn low. 

Car judders when braking

Have you ever felt your brakes judder when braking at high speed (similar to your ABS being activated)? This is often a symptom that your brake discs are warped.

If you notice any of these signs (or if you suspect that your brakes are not functioning as well as they should be) we would recommend that you have them checked out at a local garage at your earliest convenience. 


Top Tips

When you have your brakes repaired, it is also important to ensure that the following points are kept in mind:

  • When you are having your brake pads replaced, you should also have your discs replaced and ensure each axle has its own new set.

  • During the first couple of hundred miles after having your brakes replaced the performance of your new brakes may not be perfect as they need to ‘bed in’. So you should therefore avoid heavy braking if it can be helped during this time.

  • After the installation you should also pump the brake pedal until it becomes stiff to break the new equipment in. However, you should also ensure the wheels freely rotate when the pedal is not pushed down.

If you follow this advice, you will ensure your brakes serve your vehicle in the best possible way.


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