Macclesfield’s Brake Testing & Fitting Specialists

We’ve been testing and replacing brakes for more than 40 years, Cottage Street Garage is Macclesfield’s automotive repair specialists, with expertise in car servicing, MOT testing, tyres, brakes, exhausts and air conditioning.

It’s no surprise that the braking system on your vehicle is one of the most important features to maintain – after all, it ensures that you stop safely! With competitive prices on all makes of brake pads, shoes and discs, Cottage Street Garage is the local expert to help maintain your vehicle’s braking system.

We will examine the wear on your vehicle’s brake pads, shoes, brake discs and drums and restore the condition of your braking system as near to the manufacturer’s original specification as possible. Cottage Street Garage is not tied into selling any one brand of brake component, so we will always give you impartial advice towards the most appropriate parts for your braking system and your pocket!

Whether it’s for a brake check or brake part replacement, our friendly team of mechanics is always on-hand to give expert and impartial advice to help keep you on the road. Our fair and honest pricing on all servicing, MOT tests, tyres, brakes and exhausts means that we offer the same quality service as a main dealership, but at a much more affordable price!

Just drop into the garage or call us on 01625 426507 to see how we can keep you motoring!


Opening Times
Monday – Friday 8:30am – 6:00pm
Saturday 9:00am – 1:00pm
Sunday (Closed)

Find Us
Cottage Street Garage
Cottage Street
Macclesfield
Cheshire
SK11 8DZ



Motoring Tips – Brakes & Braking System

What is my braking system?

Vehicle braking systems involve many different components that work together to help your vehicle stop and manoeuvre in a controlled manner. The key components of your vehicle braking system include a master cylinder, servo, brake callipers, brake fluid and cylinders, disks, drums, pads and shoes. All these components are linked by brake hoses and brake pipes containing brake fluid, so when you press your brake pedal the vehicle slows down and stops. The rate at which your brakes reduce the vehicle speed is determined by the amount and duration of foot pressure applied to your brake pedal, and of course the condition of your vehicles braking system.

Disc brakes: A disc brake system consists of a brake disc, a brake calliper and brake pads. When the brake pedal is applied, pressurised hydraulic fluid squeezes the brake pad friction material against the surface of the rotating brake disc. The result of this contact produces friction which enables the vehicle to slow down or stop.
Drum brakes: A drum brake system consists of hydraulic wheel cylinders, brake shoes and a brake drum. When the brake pedal is applied the two curved brake shoes, which have a friction material lining, are forced by hydraulic wheel cylinders against the inner surface of a rotating brake drum. The result of this contact produces friction which enables the vehicle to slow down or stop.
ABS & parking brakes: The anti-lock braking system (ABS) works by limiting, applying and releasing the pressure to any wheel that decelerates too quickly. This allows maximum stopping force to be applied without the brakes locking-up and the car skidding. The ABS tests itself each time the ignition is turned on. If a defect is detected for whatever reason, the ABS turns itself off and the normal braking system is used on its own. The ABS warning light will inform the driver of a defect in the system. The parking or hand brake is a lever mechanism that is applied to hold a vehicle in a parked position. It activates braking components at the rear of the vehicle’s braking system.


Why is maintaining my braking system important?

The purpose of a braking system is to slow, stop and control your vehicle, as well as perform safe emergency stops when required. It is therefore important that you ensure that your braking system is maintained and operating at optimum levels. It is also a legal requirement that your braking system performs as intended, as your brakes will be tested as part of your MOT. As with any car component, brakes and braking performance deteriorate over time, which makes it difficult to notice for many drivers. At Cottage Street Garage, we believe that motorists should have their vehicle brake system regularly checked (i.e. every 6 months). Not only does this ensure your braking system works to its optimum levels, it could also save you time and money by preventing damage to other components.


How can I tell if my brakes need attention?

Different driving patterns have an affect on how often your brakes need servicing (e.g. a set of brake pads could last up to 60,000 miles for a car driven mostly on the motorway, where the same set of pads may only last 30,000 miles or less on the same vehicle driven in busy city traffic). In most cars the front brakes will usually wear out before rear brakes as they handle a higher percentage of the braking load.


Why is brake fluid important?

Brake fluid plays a crucial role in the braking system, as it helps transfer the force created when a driver presses the brake pedal directly onto the wheel hub. Brake fluid also serves as a lubricant of all movable parts and prevents corrosion. Heat generated under braking (especially heavy or prolonged breaking), can affect the boiling point of the brake fluid and impact its effectiveness, as it only works best as a liquid and not as a vapour when it’s become too hot. The boiling point of brake fluid can be reduced through time from things such as water contamination. Therefore, maintaining brake fluid is critical to avoiding potential brake failure.