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Brake Maintenance and Repair: The Basics

Auto Precision Repair — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 00:18:14 +0000

Who knew so much goes into the brakes we use daily? Brakes include drums, shoes, cylinders, and calipers! Here’s what you should do to keep your brakes functioning as they should be, and how you can address any strange noises coming from them when you put on the brakes.

The lifespan of your brakes can be prolonged by practicing good driving habits and following these routine maintenance steps.

Cheks pads and rotors: To avoid accidents, it is essential to have your brake pads and rotors checked once a year by experts. When you press the brake pedal, it creates friction and heat that wears down these parts over time. By examining them regularly, we can prevent major damage and replace them if necessary.
Flush the System: You may need to routinely flush fluid or bleed air from the lines to maintain your brake system. Depending on how often you use your brakes, it’s suggested that you flush and replace the brake fluid every 25,000 miles. You probably won’t need to have the line bled more than once every three years.
Check Brake Calipers: Every two years or 24,000 miles (whichever comes first), calipers should be cleaned and lubricated to make sure they’re always operating correctly. What are calipers? They’re the part of a vehicle’s disc brake system that generates friction within the rotors.

Now, let’s look at the signs you should look out for if your brakes are failing:

Brake light turns on: The good news is that your vehicle has a warning light for your brakes. The bad news is that unless you read the code, you may not always know what the problem is. Some common reasons for the brake light to come on include
– Low brake fluid
– The emergency brake is engaged
– ABS issues
– Worn-out brake pads
– Faulty brake light bulbs
Noisy Brakes: If you hear unsavory noises emanating from your brakes, don’t simply roll up the windows and forget about it. These may be indications that something is caught in your brake pads, they are overworn, or the calipers need to be replaced.
Unusual Vibration: If you experience any substantial shaking or vibrating when braking, it may be due to an issue with the rotors. When rotors become uneven from wear and tear, they’re not as effective at absorbing friction. And if you feel like your vehicle is being pulled to one side when you brake, calipers or hoses might be the problem.

Now you know the basics and how to maintain them and what to look for when your brakes might be failing. Also, making a routine inspection every once in a while would be ideal for keeping them in good shape and avoiding any future costly brake repairs.

Quality Brake Repair: What To Look For In This Service

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Quality Brake Repair: What To Look For In This Service

Auto Precision Repair — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 00:16:54 +0000

If you are looking to find a quality and dependable auto repair shop to replace or repair your brakes, (or any other service), here are some questions you might ask before getting this service done:

What is included in the service? Some shops will tell you that they offer a great price for brake pad replacements, but what they don’t mention is that additional work like resurfacing the rotors or upgrading the pads will cost extra. This isn’t always a bad thing, but it’s important to know exactly what is included in any repair estimate before committing to anything.
When can I expect to have my car ready? If it’s not an emergency, how quickly can the shop service your vehicle? In a day or two, or will it be more like a couple of weeks before they’re able to get to it? How long does the repair usually take – number of hours, days? Does the business provide same-day service for repairs that aren’t time-sensitive?
What is the quality of the brake system used? Think about it this way, would you rather buy a cheap knock-off purse or invest in a designer original that will last for years? The same concept applies to replacement parts for your car. Parts from lower-end brands won’t work as well or last as long as name-brand, quality components. Even though brake system parts have gotten more affordable over the years, going with the cheapest option isn’t always the best. When getting repairs done, find out what kind of OEM or aftermarket parts will be used ahead of time. And much like there are different types of oils you can put in your car (conventional, synthetic, semi-synthetic), there are also different choices when it comes to brake pads (organic vs semi-metallic vs ceramic). Talk with your mechanic about which type would work best given the make and model of your vehicle.
What is the shop’s policy on repairing and replacing brakes? For example, when changing brake pads, the piston(s) in the caliper need to be retracted so that the new pads fit. If this is not done correctly and carefully, it can cause damage to your car including making it pull to one side. In addition to inspecting and cleaning the caliper piston and its rubber boot, a technician might also clean and lubricate (or replace) the caliper pins and other hardware. These operations can take time, which some shops avoid. You should ask about the approach taken at your shop of choice.
What is the warranty? With advances in technology, vehicles today have a much longer lifespan than ever before. That’s why service shops must stand by their workmanship. Some brake system parts are “wear items” which means they need to be replaced every so often due to normal wear and tear. But even these should last a minimum amount of time, and the repair job as a whole should come with some sort of warranty from the shop on both parts and labor. Be sure to ask about this upfront.

When entrusting your car to a repair shop, remember that they should be focused on serving their customers. Make sure you feel like you’re getting honest answers to your questions, and listen for thoughtful responses. A trusted technician will be happy to explain repairs in detail, and a quality shop will keep you updated on what is being done to your vehicle and even save the old parts for your review upon request. If you don’t feel you’re being treated with respect or given all the information, don’t hesitate to look elsewhere for service.

Brake Maintenance and Repair: The Basics

Tips To Keep Your Brakes In Good Condition

The post Quality Brake Repair: What To Look For In This Service appeared first on Auto Precision Repair.

Tips To Keep Your Brakes In Good Condition

Auto Precision Repair — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 00:15:41 +0000

Not many people are aware that their driving habits influence how long their brakes will function. Depending on the vehicle, brakes usually need to be replaced after 20,000 to 70,000 miles. However, multiple elements can influence a brake’s lifespan and cause that number to fluctuate significantly from car to car. The life span of your brakes depends on both the region in which you live as well as the quality of your brake pads and rotors. If you find yourself frequently starting and stopping in city traffic, for example, you’ll need to replace your brakes more often than someone who drives primarily on rural roads with little stop-and-go traffic.

By making a few adjustments to your driving style, you can improve your safety on the road and make your brakes last longer, let’s take a look at the easiest things you can do to do so.

Don’t Speed: Your brakes work harder the faster you go, so to save your brake pads, don’t push them to the limit by speeding too much. Besides, this endangers your safety and others.
Do Coasting: The coasting method is when you take your foot off the gas and let the car begin to slow on its own before using the brakes. It’s not necessarily proper for every driving scenario, yet it can be helpful when coming up to a turn or if there’s a stop sign forthcoming.
Engine Braking: Next time you’re driving down a steep hill or winding around a mountain, don’t press the brake pedal down. Engine braking is much more effective and will save you wear and tear on your brakes. Engine braking is more commonly known as shifting down gears to slow your car. It’s easy to do and helps preserve your brakes by giving them a break.
Don’t overload your vehicle: Keep your vehicle’s brakes in good shape by not overloading it. The more weight your car has to carry, the harder the brakes work and the faster they wear down. Take out anything you don’t need so that you’re not putting too much strain on your brakes. Be mindful of the weight of aftermarket parts before you install them on your vehicle. They might be heavier than their original equipment counterparts, which would put extra strain on your brakes and gas tank. Heavier vehicles also wear down tires quicker, so it’s ultimately not as cost-effective in the long run.
Flush Brake fluid: Brake fluid naturally attracts water, which can reduce braking performance and cause internal corrosion. To prevent this from happening, we recommend replacing and/or flushing your brake fluid regularly. The general industry recommendation for a brake fluid flush is every two years or 25,000 miles. To get the specific manufacturer recommendations for your make and model, you can check your own vehicle manufacturer owner´s manual.

There are some brake problems that only a practiced eye will catch, though. If you want, you can choose an in-depth brake inspection. This type of inspection will reveal things like unevenly worn brake pads that a general inspection might not uncover, having these inspections performed regularly will prevent future costly brake repairs down the road.

Quality Brake Repair: What To Look For In This Service

Signs Telling Your Car Might Need A Brake Repair

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Signs Telling Your Car Might Need A Brake Repair

Auto Precision Repair — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 00:09:32 +0000

Because braking systems have become so technologically advanced, they now comprise multiple components that work together. Consequently, if one component is not working correctly, it could adversely affect the entire system.

Consequently, when the brakes don’t work, it’s not always indicative of a problem with one brake component. Still, some parts are more likely to experience issues than others.

Some of the more common signs that your car might need a brake repair are linked to several braking system components, let’s take a look at these:

Loud screeching noises: Loud screeching noise coming from your car’s brakes is a common sign that they are about to fail. Although it may seem alarming, this does not necessarily mean an immediate failure of the system. In many cases, it simply indicates that the brake pads need to be replaced. If you notice this sign, take your vehicle to a nearby shop and have the brake pads replaced as soon as possible.
Unusual vibration on the brake pedal: Another sign that the rigging system is not working correctly is a strange vibration coming from the brake pedal. Remember, any time you feel a vibration while driving, it means there is an issue with the car. While these issues might not seem severe, they can cause major problems quickly. To be cautious, any time you feel vibrations in the pedals, bring your car to a mechanic.
Brake liquid leaks: Vehicles rely on specific fluid levels to function properly. Some of these fluids play a role in vital components that can affect major systems in your vehicle. For example, the brake fluid is essential, and if the level is too low, it could cause problems with stopping your car. Take any puddle of fluid you notice on the ground under your vehicle seriously. Learn how to differentiate between different types of fluids leaks, so you can confirm whether it’s coming from the rating system or not. Confirming that it is, in fact, a brake fluid issue, you’ll need to get it refilled and maintain the correct level of fluid for your car to function properly. However, sometimes leaks are due to cracks or damage within hoses and connections. If this is the case with your vehicle, inform your mechanic so they can make repairs before filling up the system again–Otherwise, you’ll just continue experiencing the same problem over time.
Loud grinding noises: Grinding noises coming from your car’s brakes often indicate that they are about to fail. If you hear any strange noise coming from your vehicle, it is important to get it checked out by a professional mechanic. Although in some cases these noises may be linked to a minor issue, oftentimes they are indicative of much larger problems. As such, you should take your car to a mechanic as soon as possible to get the problem diagnosed and fixed. Once your mechanic has diagnosed the problem as being in the braking system, you and the mechanic will need to determine what is causing it. A grinding noise typically indicates insufficient lubrication because some components may be grinding against each other. If this is Lubricant low supply case, your mechanic can apply grease or another type of lubricant to fix it.

The braking system is one of the most important parts of your vehicle, and you should always keep up with its maintenance. When the brakes fail, it can easily lead to dangerous situations that could harm your life and others. So, don’t jeopardize your integrity or others, and make sure your braking system is working all the time properly. If you are unsure of the condition of your brakes, take your vehicle to an auto shop and let a specialist take care of it – You might need a brake repair and don’t know it.

Tips To Keep Your Brakes In Good Condition

What Everyone Should Know About Car Brakes

The post Signs Telling Your Car Might Need A Brake Repair appeared first on Auto Precision Repair.

What Everyone Should Know About Car Brakes

Auto Precision Repair — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 00:04:04 +0000

Two types of brakes are commonly used in cars: drum and disc brakes. These brakes apply pressure to part of the wheel assembly, which slows down or stops the wheels from moving. The goal has always been to find the most effective way to stop vehicles, and there have been many improvements made to braking technology over time.

A drum brake is a device in the shape of, you guessed it, a drum. It contains brake pads that expand and press against the sides of the drums to generate friction, and slow down or stop movement. Unfortunately, heat is a common consequence of friction. So if you use your brakes often, they can get pretty hot.

The Difference Between Disc and Drum Brakes

Disc brakes are similar to drum brakes, but with one key difference: The pads pinch a rotating disk that is part of the wheel assembly. Like drum brakes, this generates friction which can cause heat. Band brakes have pads that contract around the outside of the drum. So both types of car brake systems rely on applying force to create friction and impeding movement, but where they apply this differs (disc vs. drums).

Unexpected issues are bound to pop up when you’re driving, whether it’s a pothole in the road or another car creeping into your lane. In these moments, brakes become one of the most important parts of keeping your vehicle running safely. Being able to stop on a dime could mean avoiding an accident altogether.
Over time, using your car’s brakes regularly will cause some wear and tear to the braking system, which can make it less effective and therefore less safe. Because of this, all drivers must know what they can do to help improve the safety and condition of their brakes so that they are always working properly and avoid brake repairs

Avoid Overloading the Car: When your car has heavy luggage, the brakes have to work harder and aren’t as effective. Overloading your car shortens the lifespan of your brakes and makes them less safe. Keep your vehicle lightweight by only carrying items you need in the car, this will lighten the load on both yourself and your brake pads.
Avoid Using the Accelerator and the Brake Together: Although it may be tempting to press on the brakes and accelerator at the same time when driving down a hill, doing so can be very dangerous. When you brake ride or put pressure on both pedals, your car’s brake lights will turn on but it will still speed up; this puts you and other drivers at risk. It’s best to use only one foot for each pedal – that way, you won’t accidentally press them both at the same time. Slowing your car by changing gears or pressing the brakes lightly instead of using the accelerator is more effective, and you can let gravity do the work.
With time and use, parts of your car’s braking system will become more worn, no matter how well you take care of it. That’s why professional brake tests and checks are important to determine when these parts need replacing. For example, very warn-down brake pads can be extremely dangerous while driving; they might not stop your car as quickly as usual if you have to slam on the brakes, which increases the chance of an accident.
If your car is equipped with a dashboard warning light for close brake pad wear, take heed of the message and get them replaced as soon as possible.

If you are unsure of the current condition of your brakes, or if you might need brake repair, take your car to an auto shop and have a specialist look into them.

Signs Telling Your Car Might Need A Brake Repair

The post What Everyone Should Know About Car Brakes appeared first on Auto Precision Repair.