Mechanical Repair
Brake repair near you
Brake repair for a soft pedal, pulling, warning lights, leaks or seized calipers, with the system bled and road-tested before you drive away.
- Time at the shop
- 2 h
- about
- Mobile service
- Available
- at your address
- Shops in Canada
- 2
- doing this work
- Your price
- You set it
- shops bid on it
You set the budget
Shops near you send their bids
2 shops in Canada do this
Mechanical Repair
What brake repair is
Brake repair covers the braking system beyond routine pad wear: the calipers and wheel cylinders that squeeze, the hoses and steel lines that carry fluid, the master cylinder, the ABS sensors and the parking brake. Trouble shows up as a soft or sinking pedal, a pull to one side, a shake through the wheel, a warning light or fluid at a wheel.
The technician inspects and road-tests first, so the repair matches the fault. Failed parts are replaced, with calipers and hoses normally changed on both sides of the axle together, and the system is bled with fresh fluid until the pedal is firm and the reservoir is at its mark. A road test with a hard stop follows, and you get a report on what was found and what else is wearing.
A fluid flush or a hose takes about two hours; a seized caliper or a master cylinder can take half a day.
- For cars, EVs, vans and trucks
- Takes about 2 h
- Can be done at your address
What does brake repair cost?
It depends on your vehicle and the shop. Post a job with your budget and compare the bids shops near you send.
Get bids
Name your budget. Shops near you bid.
2 shops across Canada do brake repair.
What to expect
Brake repair, step by step
What the job normally covers, what to mention in your request, and the signs that it is time. Every shop says what its bid includes.
The job
What’s included
- Road test and pedal check to reproduce the complaint, with the parking brake tested on a slope where safe
- All four wheels off and the pads, shoes, rotors and drums measured for wear and damage
- Brake fluid level and condition tested, and the hydraulic system checked for leaks and swollen hoses
- Steel lines, flexible hoses, calipers, wheel cylinders and master cylinder inspected for rust and seepage
- ABS and stability control codes pulled with a scan tool, and the wheel-speed sensors checked
- Failed parts replaced once you approve, with calipers and hoses changed on both sides of the axle together
- System bled with fresh fluid of the type on the reservoir cap until the pedal is firm
- Final road test with a hard stop, and a written note of any other worn brake parts
Checklist
Before you post
- 01Describe the symptom exactly: soft or sinking pedal, pull, noise, vibration or light, and when it happens
- 02If the pedal sinks to the floor or the fluid reservoir is empty, do not drive; arrange a tow or a mobile visit
- 03Ask which parts are being replaced and whether the left and right sides of an axle are done together
- 04Ask if the price includes bleeding, fresh fluid of the correct type and a road test
- 05Ask that any ABS or brake warning codes are recorded on the work order before they are erased
- 06Find out the warranty on parts and on labour, and whether seized bleed screws or rusted lines could add to the estimate
Signs
When you need it
- The pedal feels spongy, sinks slowly to the floor or needs pumping to build up
- The vehicle pulls to one side when braking, or one wheel is hot after a drive
- The brake or ABS warning light stays on
- The steering wheel or pedal shakes when braking from highway speed
- Fluid drips near a wheel, the reservoir keeps dropping, or a safety inspection flagged rusty brake lines
Sound familiar?Tell shops near you what you need and what you want to spend.
Get bidsHow it works
Get brake repair done in four steps
You set the budget and choose the shop. Posting is free, and you pay the shop you hire once the work is 100% done.
- 01
Post your job
Choose the service, describe the job and your vehicle, and set your budget. It takes two minutes and costs nothing.
- 02
Shops compete
Nearby shops that do the work see your request and send their best offer: price, when they can start, what is included.
- 03
Accept the best offer
Compare bids, ratings and distance, then hire one shop. The others are told, politely.
- 04
Talk and get it done
Your conversation with the shop opens right away to agree on the day. You pay only after the job is complete.
Keep exploring
Related services
Brake pad replacement
Brake pad replacement on the axle you choose: new pads, rotors measured, slides cleaned and lubricated, and a road test for pedal feel and stopping.
Inspections
Safety inspection (Safety Standards Certificate)
Safety inspection at a licensed provincial station: brakes, steering, tires, lights and body checked, then a safety certificate issued on a pass.
Suspension & steering repair
Clunks, wander, a bouncy ride or heavy steering traced to worn suspension parts, shocks, struts, joints, bearings or the steering rack, then repaired.
Towing, Roadside & Transport
Towing
A towing service sends a tow truck for a vehicle that cannot be driven and delivers it to the shop, home or scrapyard you choose, by flatbed or wheel-lift.
Mobile Mechanics
Mobile mechanic
A mobile mechanic comes to your driveway, workplace or parking spot with tools, a scan tool and common parts to diagnose, service or repair your vehicle.
Questions
Questions about brake repair
General answers for drivers in Canada. The shop you hire confirms the details for your vehicle.
Is it safe to drive with the ABS light on?
Usually for a short, careful drive, but book it soon. The regular brakes normally still work while the anti-lock function is off, so a wheel can lock and skid on a wet or icy road, and traction and stability control may be disabled too. Leave extra distance. If the red brake light is on as well, or the pedal feels wrong, do not drive.
Why is my brake pedal soft or spongy?
Common causes are air or old, wet fluid in the lines, or a leak from a hose, caliper or the master cylinder. Rubber hoses that balloon under pressure and rear drums out of adjustment can do it too. A pedal that slowly sinks while you hold it down points to a leak or a worn master cylinder, and the vehicle should not be driven.
How often should brake fluid be replaced?
Many manufacturers ask for fresh fluid every two to three years, whatever the kilometres. Brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air, which lowers its boiling point and corrodes the calipers, lines and ABS unit from the inside. A test strip or moisture meter shows how much water it holds, and dark fluid is a sign it is overdue.
Why does my steering wheel shake when I brake?
Usually the front rotors have uneven thickness or rust deposits, so the pads pulse against them and you feel it in the wheel. A sticking caliper, a worn wheel bearing or loose suspension parts can cause the same shake. The shop measures rotor thickness and runout and checks for a hot wheel, which suggests a seized caliper, before recommending machining or replacement.
Should I ask for brake repair or brake pad replacement?
Choose brake pad replacement when the signs are wear: squealing, a thin pad or a longer stop. Choose brake repair when something behaves wrongly, such as a soft pedal, a pull, a warning light, a leak or a parking brake that will not hold. Either way the technician measures the pads and rotors, and tells you if the job turns out to be the other one.
Something else to ask? Once you hire a shop, you talk to it directly in your request’s conversation.
Ready when you areTell shops near you what you need and what you want to spend.
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