Your vehicle’s brakes are arguably its most important safety feature. Brakes that are functioning at a level below 100% are dangerous. But how do you know if your brakes are not 100%? Here are some of the most common warning signs, which should not be ignored.
- Your dashboard brake light comes on.
- Your vehicle is making squealing, squeaking, or grinding noises.
- You hear and feel a wobbly, vibrating, or scraping sound.
- Your vehicle is leaking fluid in the vicinity of the tires.
- Your brake pedal feels spongy or soft.
- Your vehicle pulls markedly to one side when braking.
- You notice a burning smell while driving.
- Your vehicle bounces up and down when stopping.
We strongly encourage you to call us at once for an appointment or stop by the shop for a free brake inspection. Bad brakes must be fixed. When you bring your vehicle to us, we go through our brake inspection checklist to determine what is wrong. Included in our diagnostic evaluation are the following.
- Check the brake fluid level.
- Check all brake pads for wear.
- Check the brake calipers for uneven wear,
- Check the brake rotors for gouges and scratches.
Once the brake problem(s) has been identified, you’ll be given our diagnosis along wIth the remedies. You’ll also receive our estimate for repairs. Depending on the problem, we may recommend one or more of these remedies.
- Top off the brake fluid
- Flush brake fluid and replace
- Replace the brake pads
- Rebuild or replace the calipers
- Machine or replace the rotors
Once we’ve determined if a problem exists, we’ll discuss your options with you and give you a cost estimate. Many problems can be fixed same day. We use only the finest parts in your repairs and we always take time to explain all warranties in easy-to-understand language.
We know your safety and health are riding on our advice and workmanship and we treat your vehicle as if it were our own.