After my car tyre change in Singapore at Mrrjestic Tyres, my Skoda Octavia Mk4 1.5 needed some brake love next. Time for a brake pads change and brake rotor change up front, and I ended up at Avantage Kaki Bukit. Spoiler: this might be one of the most impressive workshop experiences I’ve had.
Quick summary: Front brake pads and rotor replaced with ATE Ceramic pads and an original rotor, competitively priced after getting 4 quotes, with a level of honesty and attention to detail that genuinely surprised me. Only real downside – no waiting area, but there’s a coffee shop right next door.
A Quick Bit of Background
I’ve owned my Skoda Octavia Mk4 1.5 for about 18 months now. The tyre change at Mrrjestic and this brake job actually happened within a week or so of each other – a busy stretch of car maintenance, back to back.
Why I Needed a Brake Pads and Rotor Change
This one started with a sound, not a warning light. I heard a distinct metal screeching coming from the front of the car. I’ve been riding motorcycles for close to two decades now, so that particular sound is one I know well – it’s usually the wear indicator on brake pads telling you metal is now grinding against metal.
I was confident I needed to do something about my brakes. What I wasn’t sure about was the specifics: was it just the brake pads, or the rotor too? Front only, or rear as well? That uncertainty is exactly why I wanted a proper inspection rather than guessing and ordering parts blind.