Do brakes need to be serviced?
We have talked about getting your car’s oil changed and the tires rotated on a routine basis, and how important it is to stay on schedule with those tasks. Another recommended routine task is brake repair service.
The brakes on your car are as vitally important as the engine, transmission, tires, and wheels. Therefore, getting brake repair when needed and keeping on top of your car’s brake maintenance are important as well. The brakes on a car are a vital component in the safety system of your car that is used every time you get behind the wheel of your car.
As much as keeping the engine, transmission, and wheels in good working order is important, having your brakes stop is more important. It can be a matter or injury, life, or even death when your car isn’t able to stop. Routine brake repair and check-up service is recommended to assure that they are working and able to come to an abrupt stop if needed.
Yes, every car manufacturer has a recommended schedule of brake service check and brake repair, usually every 25,000 to 70,000 miles. Depending on your driving habits and style, the brake pads may need to be inspected more frequently by an authorized mechanic.
For most drivers, too many driver, don’t think anything about the brakes of the card as long as they are stopping the car when needed. When the pads and rotors become worn out, they can’t stop your car as quickly, leading to a dangerous situation. Besides the apparent danger of having brakes inspected for any needed brake repair, when ignored, it can cause more damage to your car’s wheel system.
This is why a routine brake maintenance service is recommended before your brakes quit working. Waiting until you’re having issues of your car not stopping as quickly and securely as it should, then getting a brake repair job, is dangerous. A brake repair job should be scheduled as soon as you notice any stopping issue with your car.
What does brake service include?
Authorized and fully equipped brake repair shops will provide a full inspection of your car’s entire braking system. This goes beyond checking and adding brake fluid and changing the brake discs or pads. This will include disassembling the brake system and checking all parts for brake repair or replacement needs. A good brake check and brake repair isn’t done is just a matter of minutes.
An experienced auto mechanic will perform the following:
- Replace hoses that are broken, cracked, chaffed, or swollen.
- Replace any hoses that are leaking.
- Replace corroded, damaged, kinked, or leaking steel brake lines.
- Perform brake repair or replacement of leaking or worn caliper or wheel cylinder.
- Repair or replace brake seized guide pins or seized pin caliper.
- Check for uneven bake pad wear.
- Check master cylinder for leaks.
- Check if brake pedal is sinking to the floor.
- Inspect brake drums and rotors by measuring the wear and tear.
- Check brake drums and rotors for heat cracks, rusting, warping, or other damage .that requires brake repair or replacement .
- Replace any brake hardware needed while replacing brake pads or brake shoes.
- Replace drum brakes retaining clips and return springs.
- Replace corroded or frozen brake self-adjusters.
- Brake repair service the wheel bearings if applicable.
- Lubricate brake caliper slides and shoe pads.
- Bleed and flush brake fluid, replacing with new brake fluid.
- Inspect and adjust parking brake.
- Inspect any ABS system fault codes, repair or replace any components needed, including accumulator, hydraulic modulator, or wheel speed sensors.
How do you know when your rear brakes are bad?
Every part of the braking system has a lifespan and knowing if your car needs a brake repair job or when to repair brake pads or other parts of your car’s braking system is important. The brakes on your care an important safety component and not something to take lightly or dismiss any of the following indications.
- The Brake Light: When a red or yellow brake light indicators comes on, check that you r emergency parking brake isn’t on and if it isn’t, then it is time to take your car in for brake service or brake repair. Do not ignore this light. Today’s car’s have electronic sensors that know when something is going bad before it reaches a danger point.
- Noises: Any squeaking, squealing, or grinding noises from the brakes needs to be inspected by a mechanic, the sooner the better. A high-pitched noise while applying the brakes usually indicates the brake pads are wearing out and a brake repair job is needed to replace the brake pads. A grinding sound is an indicator of several different issues with the brake system and a brake inspection is recommended.
- Scraping, Vibrating, or Wobbling Brakes: A shaking, vibrating response from your brakes could mean your car needs brake repair of the discs or rotors.
- Brake Fluid Leaking: If the brakes seem “soft” when you press on them or you notice brake fluid under your car, you need to take your car in for a brake repair service immediately.
- Soft, Spongy Brake Pedal: Again, if you have a soft and spongy response when pressing on the brakes, take your car in for a brake repair service immediately.
- Car Pulls to One Side When Applying Brakes: This is an indication that your car needs a brake inspection and adjustment, or possible brake repair service.
- A Burning Smell: A car should never have any type of burning smell while driving. Especially if you notice a sharp chemical smell after applying your brakes hard in a sudden stop.
How much does it cost to get your brakes fixed?
Brake repair prices can vary between brake repair shops throughout the New Jersey and Pennsylvania areas, but the average cost of a complete brake repair service can start around $300 and go as high as $1,000.
How long does it take to get brakes fixed?
Again, this can vary from brake repair shops in the area and how severe the brake damage is on the car. The time can be as little as 30 minutes up to a couple of hours. The make and model of the car have a factor in this time as well.
Never take your car’s brake system for granted. Trusting the brake repair to an inexperienced mechanic that may or may not know how to repair a brake line leak is taking a risk on your life, your passengers, and anyone in the area of your car. Call 609-737-7226 today at brake repair in Hopewell and Pennington, NJ.