How do brake pads work?

To slow your car down or bring it to a stop, your brake pads are used to clamp down on either side of the brake discs attached to your rear wheels, to create friction and reduce speed.

Kia

Kia Motors Corporation (widely known as Kia Motors) is South Korea’s second-largest automobile manufacturer, behind their parent company, the Hyundai Motor Company.

They were initially established in December 1944, over 70 years ago, as a steel tubing and bicycle parts manufacturer who started building cars in the 1970s.

Coming from a background of building cars under licence for the likes of Fiat, Mazda and Peugeot, it wasn’t until the 1980s when Kia started to produce vehicles under their own brand name, and only more recently were they to become minority owned by Hyundai, who currently holds a 33.88% stake in the company, in 2015.

How popular is Kia in the United Kingdom?

From the mid-1990s, the amount of Kia cars on UK roads has seen a steady increase to the current number of around 800k today.

Given their reliability, value for money and market-leading 7-year, 100k mile warranty, Kia is a marque that is heading for further popularity, greater sales and added respect.

Superb value for money

With an extensive range of models to choose from, Kia cars offer excellent value. From their city car Picanto starting at under £10k, through to their luxury spec SUV Sorento at £30k, Kia cars compete with more established mainstream brands, offering not only strong price-points but with advanced levels of technology and the extended benefits you’d expect from a car of a higher price.

Kia Sportage: The 10th best selling car in the UK

Given the rise in growth of the Korean car brand, it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise to see its best selling model sneak into the top 10 best selling cars of 2018. This great value and practical SUV is ideal for family motoring; not only is it rugged and good looking, but it’s also backed with Kia’s impressive reliability and extensive warranty.

How often should brake pads need replacing?

Symptoms of malfunctioning brakes

Your car doesn’t slow down or stop as well as usual

If you feel that your brakes don’t work as well as normal or they don’t seem to provide the normal level of performance, then your brake pads could be damaged or worn out.

You can hear a squeaking or grinding noise when you brake

Any unusual sounds coming from your brakes during their operation could be a sign that the brake pads are damaged or worn down to the base plate metal.

Your brake warning light on the dashboard is illuminated

If any of your dashboard warning lights are illuminated, the sensor that detects problems or worn out parts and components has detected an issue and activated the system.

The brake pedal is in a lower position than usual

Any change of position in your brake pedal could be because of a problem with the brake pads, discs or brake fluid.

The car vibrates under braking

Excessive movement or vibration when braking could be due to problems with brake pad or disc positioning, or state of repair.

When your car pulls to one side under braking

If only one brake is working correctly, it can cause your car to pull in the direction of the functioning brake.

What happens when we replace your brake pads?

• Our efficient and fully qualified mechanics will inspect the brake system for signs of wear, damage and breakage.

• They will establish which brake pads need to be replaced and fit new ones as necessary.

• You will also be advised of any other parts that may need to be replaced for the best operation and health of your vehicle.

• Once the brake pads have been replaced, our mechanics will test it thoroughly to ensure the correct operation of the new parts and make any adjustments required for premium performance.

What causes your brake pads to stop working correctly?

The main reason your brake pads will stop functioning correctly is usually down to general wear. Over time and constant use, the friction material on the surface of the brake pad will wear out.

It’s also possible that foreign objects thrown up from the road can become trapped in the braking system can cause damage to the brake pads. The failure of other brake system components could lead to the incorrect operation, jamming or failure of your brake callipers, causing excessive wear or damage to your brake pads.