In our latest Rolls-Royce & Bentley Driver technical guide we’re sticking with our 2003 Bentley Continental GT and focusing on the renewal of the front brake pads and discs.

Brakes are, of course, safety-critical. Please don’t take chances with diminished performance. The GT is new enough to have wear sensors, but older cars will let you know in their own way – vibration, lack of responsiveness and eventually screeching or grinding. We always recommend changing pads and discs together, and always in pairs – front two or rear two together, never just one corner.

As with the oil change, because we’re lifting the GT, it is vital to put it into ‘Jack Mode’. If you don’t, the self-levelling system will exhaust its air trying to maintain ride height, risking suspension collapse when lowered. You have been warned!  On the subject of lifting, if you’re using a jack and axle stands, please make sure they’re up to spec. The GT weighs almost two and a half tonnes, which is more than some cheap kit is designed to handle. And remember to chock the back wheels.

We should talk a bit about tooling as well, as sometimes you really notice the benefits of quality kit. Having a 17mm socket with a plastic sleeve is a great example, as this helps to protect the wheel when using an impact gun. On some GT models, you have to remove the Bentley centre cap first, but on ours (an early car) we could proceed straight to the setscrews.

Another top tip is to secure the brake caliper. Don’t let it hang under its own weight as this can damage the brake hose. Before driving, we recommend giving the brake fluid level a quick check, and remember to be gentle with new brakes – ideally no hard braking for at least a couple of hundred miles to enable the new pads and discs to bed in.

We’ll do something different next time, maybe on the Arnage or Silver Spirit II. In the meantime, the usual caveats apply. Please note that these articles are intended as general guidance only. For model-specific instructions, please refer to your owner’s manual.

Finally, and I can’t emphasise this enough: safety is paramount. Please use the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and dispose of waste products responsibly. Good luck, and mind your head!

If you have any questions, queries, or tips, please get in touch on 01455 292949 or email sales@flyingspares.co.uk

Click the links for the step-by-step guide

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