Brake Pad Replacement
Brake pads are the part designed to wear out. When the friction material is thin, stopping distances grow and the metal backing plate can start cutting into the disc, which turns a pad job into a pad and disc job. We measure what is left, fit new pads in axle sets and test the brakes before the car goes back to you.
From AED 199per axleWritten quote after diagnosis, before work startsConvenience fee applicable · shown on your written quote
- About 1-2 hours per axle once the parts are on hand
- Pickup and delivery from your door
- Convenience fee applicable · shown on your written quote
- Diagnosis free with repair
Signs you need brake pad replacement
- A high-pitched squeal when you press the brake pedal lightly
- A deep metallic grinding that you can feel through the pedal
- The car takes longer to stop than it used to
- A brake pad warning light on the dashboard
- Dark brake dust building up on one or more wheels
- The pedal travels further down before the car responds
What usually causes it
Normal friction wear
Every stop removes a thin layer of pad. Most pads carry a small metal tab that touches the disc when the material is nearly gone, which is the squeal you hear. It is a warning, not a fault, and it is the best moment to book.
Sticking slide pins or a tired caliper
If a caliper cannot slide freely, one pad drags on the disc and wears far faster than its partner. Finding one worn-out pad next to a healthy one on the same wheel points to the caliper, not the pad.
Driving style and load
Heavy SUVs, towing, and braking late from motorway speed use pads faster than gentle driving. The same car can need pads at 25,000 km or at 60,000 km depending on how it is driven.
Wear sensor reached the limit
Many European cars have a thin wire embedded in the pad. Once the pad wears down to it, the circuit opens and the dashboard lights up. The sensor is a single-use part and is replaced with the pads.
How we do brake pad replacement
- 1
Wheels off and measure
We remove the wheels, measure pad thickness and disc thickness against the minimum stamped on the disc, and look at the caliper, hoses and boots. You get the measurements, not just a verdict.
- 2
Clean, lubricate, fit
Calipers are cleaned, slide pins are greased with brake-rated grease, and new pads go in with their shims and clips. Pads are fitted to both wheels of an axle together so the car stops evenly.
- 3
Electric parking brake service mode
On cars with an electric rear parking brake, the caliper motor has to be retracted with a scan tool before the pads can be fitted, then recalibrated afterwards. Forcing the piston back by hand can damage it.
- 4
Bed in and test
We pump the pedal until it is firm, check the fluid level, then road test with a series of gradual stops to bed the new pads against the disc. We re-tighten the wheels to the correct torque.
By make and model
Audi / Volkswagen
Many models fitted with an electric parking brake need the rear caliper piston wound back through a scan tool service routine, not pushed in with a clamp.
BMW
Several models have brake pad wear sensors on one or more wheels. When the sensor wire is worn through, the warning light stays on until the sensor is replaced with the pads.
In Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman
Stop-start traffic on Al Ittihad Road, Emirates Road and the Sharjah to Dubai commute means pads work hard in high heat, and fine sand packs into caliper slides. Pads that look fine from outside the wheel can be worn through on the inner side, so we always inspect both pads on each wheel rather than the one you can see.
Questions about brake pad replacement
Do I need new discs with every pad change?
Not always. If the discs are above their minimum thickness and have a smooth, even surface, new pads can go on them. If they are scored, lipped or too thin, we show you the measurement and quote discs as a separate line.
Can I choose cheaper pads?
Yes. The quote can list OEM and aftermarket pads with a price for each. We would not suggest used pads, since the friction material is the thing that stops the car.
Should front and rear pads be changed together?
Pads are changed in pairs on the same axle, but front and rear wear at different rates. We replace only the axle that needs it, and tell you how long the other axle has left.
Is it safe to drive while I wait for the appointment?
Squealing means you have time, grinding means you do not. If you hear grinding or the pedal feels different, tell us when you book and we will arrange pickup and delivery quickly.
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Get a written quote
Tell us about your car. You get an itemised quote before any work starts, and you choose OEM, aftermarket or used parts.