Brake pads and discs replacement and fitting

Get your worn car brake pads and discs replaced by trusted mechanics nearby

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£439.51

Average driver quote for brake pads and discs replacement

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

The cost of a brake pads and discs replacement can vary depending on your car due to differences in labour time and parts needed. Across all makes, models and locations, the average cost for replacing brake pads and discs was £439.51

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

You can also find below the average cost for both front and rear brake pads per car make when fitted through WhoCanFixMyCar.

Car MakeFront Pads Average PriceRear Pads Average Price
Audi£143.51£113.84
BMW£135.82£124.36
Citroen£113.35£107.69
Ford£107.31£111.11
Mercedes£138.67£133.19
MINI£120.88£101.70
Nissan£99.06£90.15
Peugeot£110.36£111.79
Renault£96.12£98.11
Vauxhall£108.00£99.20
Volkswagen£120.98£104.26
Volvo£126.22£114.91

Are brake pads and discs the same?

Brake discs are metal plates that are fitted to the inside of your car’s wheels. When applying the brakes, the brake discs are clamped between two brake pads which allows you to slow down. Over time, both the brake pads and discs can become worn and failure of either part will cause extensive problems, making a repair or replacement necessary.

The braking system is a critical part of your cars’ functioning and safety, and as such, it’s important to ensure that your brake pads and brake discs are in top working condition at all times.

Being aware of the tell-tale signs of failure of the brake pads and discs is crucial in order order to avoid dangerous accidents from occuring when driving. A specialist mechanic will also be able to diagnose any potential problems with your brake pads or brake discs with a simple visual check.

  • Brake pads and disc change

    The average price of brake pads and disc fitting booked on WhoCanFixMyCar is £439.51.

    Brake pads and discs need replacing every 25,000-60,000 miles, or if you notice an unusual noise when you brake. It's a standard job, and a professional can quickly fit your new brake pads and discs.

    Can include
    • Brake testing
    • Full brake pad and disc replacement
  • Brake repairs

    The average cost of a brake repair booked on WhoCanFixMyCar is £440.93.

    Wear or failure of the brakes requires an urgent repair. Brake repairs are a common job and often include the replacement of parts.

    Can include
    • Diagnosis
    • Brake pad replacement
    • Brake caliper repair
    • Brake fluid replacement
    • Handbrake repair
    • Brake lines repair
    • Brake disc replacement
  • Mobile mechanic

    The average cost of a mobile mechanic booked on WhoCanFixMyCar is £81.64.

    A mobile mechanic will visit you at your home or workplace and can carry out a wide range of different repairs. If the repair is more complex, the mechanic will collect your car, take it to a garage to be repaired, and drop it off when it's finished. The exact cost of a mobile mechanic will depend on the repair you need.

    Can include
    • Home visit
    • Servicing
    • Tyre change
    • Oil change
    • Recommended repairs

Which service do you need?

Brake pads replacement

Brake pads are a critical vehicle component as the car cannot come to a safe halt without them functioning properly. Pads are fitted to the calipers which push the pads into discs which are fitted to the car wheel. When a car is moving, the pads grip the discs to slow down the wheel and thus slow the whole car down. A high amount of heat energy is created from the resulting friction, which wears the pads down overtime.

Regular maintenance of brakes is imperative to keep safe and spot any damage that may require repair. If you would like to find out more about when your brakes need servicing read our dedicated guide.

Brake disc replacement

Brake discs are fitted to the wheel and are gripped by the pads. Replacement of the discs is more expensive than that of the pads. If a mechanic advises you to replace your discs, they will likely suggest changing the pads at the same time due to the low cost of the pad parts and the small amount of extra labour time needed.

Top warning signs your car needs replacement brake pads or brake discs

There are several signs that your pads and discs are not operating properly. If your car is taking much longer to come to a stop, that is the most obvious indication there is a problem present. However, other warning signs that your brake pads or discs (or both) need replacing include:

  • Burning smell

  • Spongy pedal

  • Screeching noise

  • Grinding noise

  • Pulling to one side

  • Squeaking noise

Getting brake pads and discs fitted

Brake pads and discs fitting

Brake pads and discs image

Common problems with the 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. You must take your car to a garage as soon as possible if you notice this sign, and must not drive the car anywhere else.

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. Book your car in for a brake inspection if this happens.

Squealing brakes

Squealing brakes can be something of a nuisance but they are often a sign that your brakes have worn and the brake pads and discs could need to be replaced.

Car judders when braking

Have you ever felt your brakes judder when braking at high speed? This is often a symptom that your brake discs are on their way out. Get the brake discs replaced and often the technician will recommend that you have the brake pads replaced.

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 as soon as possible.

Are brake pads or brake disc replacement necessary?

Noticed some warning signs that your brake pads or brake discs might be in trouble? Wondering whether to get them changed now or leave it for a couple of months before sorting? In short, the answer is yes. You must absolutely get a garage technician to inspect the brake pads and discs and get them replaced immediately if there is uneven wear or they are badly scored.

Find local brake pads and brake disc fitting services, mechanics, and garages

The good news is that the majority of the specialists, mechanics, and garages on our network can help with your brake pads fitting and brake disc replacement. We appreciate that finding the best garage for any services or repairs can be difficult, but with the help of WhoCanFixMyCar you will find numerous garages in your area, complete with reviews and prices for brake pads fitting and replacement.

You have a choice of choosing franchises, independent garages and you may consider them depending on the cost and reviews. You will find that independent garages are often able to carry out work at a better price.

If you decide that an independent garage is the way to go, you’ll want to make sure you’re choosing a reputable and high-quality mechanic with the right qualifications to do the job. At WhoCanFixMyCar, we help you compare trusted garages near you by reviews, ratings and price to give yourself complete confidence that they will do the work well. You can then compare the quotes and read reviews from previous customers to find the best brake pads and brake discs replacement deal before booking the local garage online.

Get your brake pads and brake disc fixed at home

Looking for a hassle free way to have your brake pads and discs replaced? Maybe you’re hoping someone will come out to your home or work and do the job whilst you get on with your daily work or chores.

The good news is that there are numerous mobile mechanics that will offer to complete a brake pad and disc replacement from your drive, or they will collect your car to take it to their garage and then drop it back off when they are done.

Learn more about brakes

How do I know my brake pads are worn?

Brake pads make a distinctive noise when they need to be replaced. You may hear a screeching or squealing noise that doesn’t go away when you release the pedal. When braking, listen for a grumbling or grinding sound from your car.

How do I know I need new brake discs?

Typically, discs don’t need to be replaced as often as pads. However, worn brake pads pressing against a brake disc can cause increased wear or ‘scoring’ of the surface - which is why it’s so important to replace pads when you spot signs of wear.

How often do you need to change your brake discs?

Brake discs can last anywhere between 25000 and 60000 miles. This is dependent on the type of driving the vehicle is used for. You can expect brake discs to be changed at 25000 with busy town centre driving. However if a vehicle is used on the motorway it can do up to 60 000 before needing to be changed. What you may also find is that the front discs will probably need to be changed first as they carry most of the weight when braking.

How can I check my brake pads to see if they are worn?

Brakes naturally deteriorate over time and need to be changed, normally this is around 50 000 miles for discs and 30 000 miles for pads. To check them and thus work out whether they need replacing first see if the Brake warning light has illuminated on the dashboard.

Secondly, any squeaking or squealing noises are a sign replacement is required. The vehicle pulling to the left or right when braking (one pad may be more worn than another and will need replacing.) is another sign of a problem. Additionally, having to press the brake pedal all the way to the floor before the brakes are effective is a check which will tell you whether repair or replacement is required.

What is a brake fade?

Brake fade is the temporary reduction or complete loss of brake power. It's caused by a buildup of heat, which causes friction on the surface of the brake pads preventing the pads from working correctly.

For example if brakes are continuously pressed when going down a steep hill you may get to the bottom and release the brakes are no longer working. Brake fade is extremely dangerous because while pressing your brakes it may feel like they are still working.

Unexpected behaviour within the braking system such as increased stopping distance is a good indicator. To avoid brake fade it's best to drive steadily and reduce the gear rather than continuously press down on the brakes. If brake fade happens, reduce gear to get to a speed where you can safely pull over. The brakes will be very hot from overheating but should be back to normal after cooling down for an hour.

How much does a brake pads and brake disc replacement cost?

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

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