Brakes & Brake Repair Tips: Pay A Little Attention Now Or A Lot Later
Posted by carsandtrucks on Monday, October 22 @ 06:24:47 PDT
I guess telling you that the brake system on your vehicle is important to your safety
would be stating the obvious. What surprises me is how many vehicles I see in the course
of my business that are in need of brake repair. You should have your brakes inspected
twice per year to make certain you are not playing russian roullette with your ability to
stop and maintain control of your vehicle when you need to. Your brake system is made up
of several components. There are hydraulic components, friction material, steel lines,
and rubber hoses. With diligent and timely inspections you can avoid catastrophic brake
failures. The most expensive brake repairs are generally caused by the vehicle owner
neglecting the warning signs of impending brake problems. Brake pedal fade, grinding
noises heard when applying brakes are just a couple of
warning signs that should signal
you that your brakes need attention. Brake pads or shoes with less then 1/8 of an inch of
material left need to be replaced. If you are having a brake inspection and are told the
brakes need to be replaced ask for the measurement of the remaining material. If it is
more then an 1/8 of an inch ask why the repair shop is recommending replacement. There
are several manufacturers of brake parts. Make sure you are buying quality parts,
afterall you are trying to stop a 3000 lb vehicle. This is not a place to be thinking
cheap. A quality brake job consisting of replacing brake friction material, maching the
brake rotors or drums, servicing the caliper slides, and inspecting other components will
average in the $175.00 range. Much higher then that price you should be asking for an
explanation of what is being done.
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