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What does a brake pad replacement cost?

Pad replacement is the most common brake job and the one whose quotes vary most. Here is what explains the spread.

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What changes the price

We do not publish an average price: we do not yet have enough real data to give an honest one. Here is what makes up the bill instead.

Pad material
Ceramic, semi-metallic or organic: the material changes price, noise, dust and how long they last. Two quotes can be offering very different products under the same one-line description.
Front or rear
Front pads are usually larger and work harder. The rear can cost more if the car has an electronic parking brake that must be retracted electronically.
The condition of the rotors
New pads on scored rotors bring noise and vibration back quickly. If the garage recommends rotors too, ask for the measured thickness — not just the recommendation.
Hardware included
Clips, springs and high-temperature grease are normally part of the job. Cleaning and lubricating the slide pins makes a real difference to how long the pads last.

When an inspection is needed

A pad can look fine from outside and be worn on a taper. Measuring means taking the wheel off — that is what separates an estimate from a guess.

How it works

  1. 1

    Tell us what your vehicle needs

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  2. 2

    We look for garages able to perform the work

    We contact garages in your area.

  3. 3

    Compare the offers you receive

    Price and availability, side by side.

  4. 4

    Choose the option you prefer

    You are free to walk away.

Common questions

Why do you not publish an average price?

Because it would be made up. We have no marketplace data yet, and a national average would be wrong for your vehicle in your city anyway. A number we cannot stand behind is worse than none: you would negotiate against it and we would have to defend it. What we can give you is real quotes for your actual car.

How do I compare two quotes properly?

Check that they cover the same work: the same parts quality, the same number of wheels or components, whether labour and taxes are included, and what happens if something seizes once it is apart. Two quotes hundreds of dollars apart are often quoting two different jobs.

Do all four need doing at once?

No. Pads are replaced per axle — both front wheels together, or both rear — because braking has to stay balanced. Doing all four is only necessary when all four are worn.

Are cheaper pads a bad idea?

Not necessarily, but they are not free either: budget pads often wear faster, produce more dust and can be noisier. Over three years the initial saving sometimes disappears.

Give us the year, make and model and get offers for your actual vehicle.

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What we don't promise

We don't guarantee a number of offers, a response time, or a saving. We pass your request to garages and show you what they say. If nothing comes back, we'll tell you.

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