Can Brake Pads Fail Your MOT? 

Brake faults cause one in ten MOT failures, and worn brake pads are common culprits, though one of the most easily avoided. In fact, we could prevent almost half of all MOT faults by carrying out simple car services. So, here’s how not to let brake pads fail your MOT.

How Not to Let Your Brake Pads Fail Your MOT

First of all, if your brake pads are less than a quarter of an inch in thickness, you need to replace them. Thin brake pads will fail an MOT.

Checking your brake fluid level is another easy pre-MOT check to reduce the risk of brakes failing. Brake fluid should sit between the minimum and maximum markers under the bonnet. You can find a range of brake fluids here.

Don’t Let Your Brake Pads Fail Your MOT: Brake Inspections

A mechanic will test your braking system, including your brake pads, in two ways during the MOT:

• An inspection of the physical braking components.
• A test to determine brake efficiency.

During the physical examination, the mechanic will check the condition of your:

• Brakes
• Handbrake
• Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
• Electronic braking system (EBS)
• Brake fluid

Read full details of the MOT brake inspection here.

The mechanic will then carry out the second test using a rolling road brake testing machine, which takes a reading from each wheel to measure brake efficiency.

How Can Brakes Fail Your MOT?

These are the reasons why your brake system might fail the MOT.

Brake Components and Systems

• The brake pads are damaged or worn to below a quarter of an inch in thickness.
• The brake pads or linings are contaminated, missing or incorrectly mounted.
• The brake pipe, hose or connections are damaged.
• The brakes are inadequate at wheel, or grab or lag severely.
• The brake pipes, discs, drums, back plates or calipers are defective, contaminated or missing.
• The ABS or EBS warning device is defective.

Brake Pedal

• There is insufficient reverse travel on the footbrake.
• The rubber on the brake pedal is excessively worn.
• The brake pedal pivot is excessively worn.

Handbrake

• The handbrake ratchet does not hold correctly.
• The handbrake lever pivot/ratchet mechanism is excessively worn.
• The handbrake level moves excessively.
• The handbrake control is missing or defective.

Brake Fluid

• The brake fluid is below the minimum mark.
• The master cylinder reservoir cap is missing.
• The brake fluid warning light is illuminated.
• The brake fluid level warning is defective.
• The brake fluid is contaminated.

In the most likely case, if your braking system is damaged, you will have noticed at least one of these symptoms – get your car checked by a professional if so.

Don’t Let Your Brake Pads Fail Your MOT

There are other simple checks that you can make before your MOT to improve your chances of passing. Read these here.

You can also find tips on how to make your brake pads last longer here.

Don’t let your brake pads fail your MOT. Order any spare parts that you need to keep your car in ultimate condition by searching your number plate below. Our car lookup tool will show you all the car parts that will fit your vehicle.

All DIY car service parts are manufactured by trusted, high-quality brands. Here are just a few of the brands that we stock.