Free Brake Checks?

debtdebt

If that's the case, pick a local garage or one that you've used. Half an hour of labour to have a poke around shouldn't cost more than £25.

forgotmyname

The brakes can make lots of noise, providing there is sufficient pad material and the discs are not worn below their limits and it provides enough braking on the rollers they will pass.

How often do you use the car? Do you brake fairly heavily now and then or only gentle braking?

The discs on my car rust quite often, it sits unused for days at a time. Then it may only do a short journey.

AdrianC

pennypincher3562 wrote: »

Still, I reckon the MOT should have picked up brake issues - let's face it, it's a critical MOT issue.

The MOT checks that a (low) bare minimum of braking is reached, and that there's not an imbalance left-to-right. It checks that the pipes aren't rusted, and nothing's loose or leaking. And that's about it.

The wheels aren't removed. The brake pad and disc thicknesses aren't checked, unless they're visible with the wheel on.

A service certainly should check the pads and discs, though.

I can see how ABS could be perceived to fit your description. Do you have a car-clued-up local friend who could give you a second opinion?

motorguy

pennypincher3562 wrote: »

Still, I reckon the MOT should have picked up brake issues - let's face it, it's a critical MOT issue.

A little bemused that you reckon the MOT people should have picked up a potentially critical MOT issue, but you didnt at all mention that you had concerns about the brakes to the MOT people, that they could home in on in case it failed / cost you money?

By what you're describing though, its probably pads getting close to be worn out or discs with a lip on them - neither of which should be expensive.

motorguy

Strider590 wrote: »

Sounds like the ABS kicking in, in which case you probably just have cheap/nasty tyres which don't have enough grip at this time of year.

Thats a massive leap of conclusion there and i'd say totally wrong. :eek:

ABS kicking in wont produce what would be described as a crunching or grinding sensation.

I'd say worn out pads or discs (or both) are the most likely cause.

AdrianC

motorguy wrote: »

ABS kicking in wont produce what would be described as a crunching or grinding sensation.

I can see how the pedal pulsation could be described as feeling like that through the foot.

interstellaflyer

AdrianC wrote: »

The MOT checks that a (low) bare minimum of braking is reached, and that there's not an imbalance left-to-right. It checks that the pipes aren't rusted, and nothing's loose or leaking. And that's about it.

But surely if the brake performance was at the lower end of limits then it would go down as an advisory?

AdrianC

interstellaflyer wrote: »

But surely if the brake performance was at the lower end of limits then it would go down as an advisory?

You would hope that a tester would flag it, yes.

motorguy

AdrianC wrote: »

I can see how the pedal pulsation could be described as feeling like that through the foot.

The pulsing of ABS kicking in will never in a million ears produce a crunching or grinding. Worn / faulty pads or discs, yes. ABS no.

AND if it is healthy ABS kicking in then its going to be associated with excess speed / instability of the car, neither of which we know to be happening.

AND it relies on the massive assumption that the O/P is running the cheapest of the cheap ditch finders

Tiddlywinks

You suspect your brakes may be faulty - you know, those vital bits of kit that may be needed for an emergency stop - this is not the time to just 'wait and see' or be a cheapskate... get to a garage now.