Car Brakes - Herne Bay

If your brakes are squealing, grinding, or feel different under your foot, they should be checked as soon as possible. Autocheck inspects and repairs braking systems on most cars and vans, covering pads, discs, calipers, brake fluid, and parking brakes.

Warning signs your brakes need attention

Your brakes will usually tell you when something is wrong. The most common symptoms are:

• Squealing when you brake. Many pads have a small metal indicator that squeals once they’re close to worn out.
• Grinding or scraping. This usually means the pads have worn down to the metal and are now damaging the discs. Stop driving and get it checked.
• Vibration through the pedal or steering wheel. Uneven or warped discs are the usual cause.
• The car pulling to one side. A sticking caliper or uneven pad wear can make one side brake harder than the other.
• A soft or sinking pedal. Air in the system, a fluid leak, or old fluid can all cause this, and it needs looking at urgently.
• A brake or ABS warning light on the dashboard.

Brake work we carry out

Most brake problems come down to a handful of components, and we handle all of them in-house:

• Brake pads and discs, always replaced in pairs across the same axle so the car brakes evenly
• Sticking or seized calipers
• Brake fluid changes, as fluid absorbs moisture over time and becomes less effective
• Corroded brake pipes and perished hoses
• Handbrakes and electronic parking brakes
• ABS and brake warning light faults

Electronic parking brakes need diagnostic equipment to release the rear calipers safely during pad changes. Our Zeus and Autel systems handle this, along with reading any brake-related fault codes.

Brakes on hybrid and electric cars

Hybrid and electric cars use regenerative braking to slow down, so the pads and discs do less work. That sounds like good news, and pads do tend to last longer, but discs can rust, and calipers can seize simply from lack of use. Regular checks matter just as much on these cars as on petrol or diesel models.

How we approach brake repairs

We measure your pads and discs against the manufacturer’s limits and only recommend replacing what has genuinely worn. You’ll get a clear explanation and a quote before any work starts, and most brake jobs are finished the same day.

Our workshop is just off the A299 Thanet Way, and if you’d rather not drive a car with brake concerns, we offer collection and delivery within five miles, subject to availability.

Book a brake check online, and we’ll find a time that works for you.