Brakes are arguably one of the most important components of your vehicle. Without healthy brakes, individuals put themselves and others in danger whenever they drive. Ensuring your safety and that of your family is part of the mission at Lockett’s Auto Care. Our brake repair services are extensive and affordable cover brake pad replacement and brake caliper services.
How to Know When You Need Brake Repair Services
Excessive noise is a simple and direct sign that your vehicles’ brakes need servicing. Similarly, a reduced sense of performance may mean you need a formal brake inspection. When you apply your vehicle’s brakes and feel undue vibration or pulsation, your car or truck may be showing signs of brake rotor issues. As with any performance problem, if this is put off, it can lead to more serious issues resulting in more costly repairs.
The cost to repair a car or truck’s brake system can vary. This is largely because of what components will need to be replaced or repaired. However, at Lockett’s Auto Care, we believe in presenting you with all your options so you can make the best and most affordable choice for your situation.
Brake Caliper Services
Overheating of brake pads or feeling a vibration in the brakes is an indication of a problem with your vehicle’s brake caliper. Other issues springing from issues with the brake caliper include a negative pedal feel (being tight, resistant, or too loose). Brake calipers can bind, resulting in them not retracting when the brake pedal is released. This can happen because of:
- Rusted/ frozen caliper slide pins
- Missing, damaged, or poorly installed rubber sealing boots
- Failed brake caliper piston dust seal
- Worn o-ring
Our brake repair services also extend to the following:
- Parking brake: One of the more common parking brake configurations on modern vehicles is called the ‘mini-drum’ located inside the brake rotor hat. Pulling the cable or foot lever forces the shoes outward against it. The only time the parking brake is applied is when the vehicle is at rest, so the shoes should last the vehicle’s life.
- Brake pad replacement: The brake pad is an assembly of friction material attached to a stamped steel backing plate. This can also include noise suppression.
Checking Brake Fluid and Examining the Brake Master Cylinder
Brake fluid is designed to function in the hydraulic brake system under all operating conditions. However, as it ages, it absorbs moisture lowering the boiling point and causing increased corrosion of brake system components. Monitoring your car or truck’s brake fluid quality is key to extending the life of your vehicle. While a simple check can go unnoticed by vehicle owners, which is why Lockett’s Auto Care makes our brake repair services check the brake fluid and informs you of its condition.
The master cylinder is the heart of the entire braking system. No braking occurs until the driver depresses the brake pedal. The brake pedal linkage is used to apply the force of the driver’s foot into a closed hydraulic system that begins with the master cylinder.
In the master cylinder, brake pedal movement and force are transferred to the brake fluid and directed to wheel cylinders or calipers. This cylinder is separated into two pressure chambers or circuits, providing an added level of safety in a system leak or failure. Thus, keeping your vehicle’s master cylinder in good condition is key to your braking system functioning properly.
BRAKE FAQS
Every 50,000 or if you notice squeaking or any other persistent sounds coming from the brakes.
Signs that your vehicle needs new brakes include noise while braking, commonly noted as “squeaky brakes”, as well as the brake pedal feeling “soft” requiring additional pressure to be applied to the brakes in order to come to a stop.
SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH LOCKETT’S AUTO CARE
Our team is ready to help you get the most out of your vehicle and maintain quality braking. Our brake repair services are just one of the many maintenance services we offer that keep your car or truck running in top condition. Some of our other services include:
- Battery services
- Clutch
- Differential
- Drivetrain
- Cooling system
- Engine
- Exhaust
These are just a few of the automotive services we offer. Whatever issue you are facing, you can trust us to give you an honest, thorough assessment with the fairest pricing around. Reach out to us today at 410.744.4328.