Brake Service & Repair

If you notice any of the car brake symptoms or warning signs found below (or anything else that seems “not right”), it’s a good idea to have your auto brakes checked. Brakes Plus® will provide you with a FREE brake check. If our brake service inspection reveals they do require repair, we will explain exactly what’s required and what’s optional. We will then provide you with a written estimate before any brake repair work is done. Call the location nearest you to schedule an appointment.

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

• Complete auto brakes inspection
• Replacing pads or shoes
• Lube calipers and hardware
• Machine rotors or drums
• Test drive

It’s important to keep your brakes in top working condition. To avoid wearing them down you should never ride your brakes and always give yourself time to brake instead of stopping abruptly. Front brakes usually wear out faster than rear brakes so have them looked at every 6 months.

SYMPTOMS

• DRAG – Sticking brakes, hot wheels or engine which seems to have lost power. Auto brakes may be failing to release; the condition can reverse itself, leaving you with no brakes at all. This would indicate brakes service is needed.
• PULL – Vehicle pulls to one side when brakes are applied. May be underinflated tire, misadjusted brakes or brakes are in need of car brakes repair.
• HARD PEDAL – Requires extreme pressure to make brakes function. Can indicate power brake trouble, restricted hydraulic lines, frozen calipers or wheel cylinders, or damaged brake linings
• BRAKE LIGHTS – Red indicates a problem as simple as the parking brake on, or low fluid, to something as serious as a hydraulic system failure. Yellow indicates deactivation of your ABS system. While your brakes should work, it does require inspection at the first opportunity.
• VIBRATION – Brake pedal, steering wheel or entire vehicle shakes, vibrates or pulsates when brake is applied. May indicate need to resurface disc brake rotors – or signal a serious problem of a loose component or faulty steering mechanism.
• SQUEAL – Brakes should operate with a minimal amount of noise. Some noise is normal but excessive squeal, screech, grinding, groaning, chatter, clatter or bang means your brakes need of car brakes repair.
• LOW PEDAL – Pedal nearly touches floorboard before brakes function. May activate your brake warning light. Problem may require a simple adjustment – or indicate something much more serious.
• GRAB – “Touchy” brakes that grab with the least pressure. May indicate a problem as simple as grease or oil contaminated linings – or as serious as loose or broken component ready to fail in an emergency.

Brake Pads/Shoes:

There are many different levels of brake pads and shoes on the market today, each varying in quality. At Brakes Plus®, we only install top of the line, Industry Best brake pads/shoes that come with a Lifetime Warranty. In most cases we recommend/install ceramic brake pads with our $99 and $149 Brakes Packages.

Ceramic pads represent the latest in brake pad technology. Ceramic brake pads produce less brake dust, have better stopping power and create less brake noise.

As brake technology continues to evolve, more and more auto manufacturers are outfitting their autos with ceramic pads right from the factory. We offer ceramic brake pads to our customers and most of these pads will cost the same or less than our competitors brake jobs, and we are using Industry Best ceramic brake pads!

Brake Rotors:

Brake rotors are vehicle specific and a very important component to the braking system. Brake pads clamp down onto the brake rotor, which stops your vehicle. This function creates heat. The brake rotor dissipates the heat, allowing your braking system to work properly.  If that heat can’t escape, it leads to brake fade, which reduces the brakes’ stopping power. If the brake rotor is worn past specification, it needs to be replaced. Visit our Locations page to find the closest Brakes Plus and schedule your brake service today.

Brake Inspection:

Brakes Plus® offers Free Brake Inspections and has the industries best equipment to diagnose and repair your brake system. We will remove all four (4) tires and do a complete brake inspection on all braking components before recommending any brake service. Brake Inspections generally take 20-30 minutes, if we have a brake service bay available. We will not perform any brake service without your authorization. If you are at our store when we complete the Brake Inspection, we will offer to bring you into the shop so you can see for yourself the condition of your brakes before any work is done.