Most drivers know that braking means slowing or stopping a vehicle. The mechanical aspects of the brakes themselves are just one issue. There’s also the power brake system and brake fluid.
Let’s step back. A car or truck rolls brand new off the showroom floor at a local dealer. It has brand new brakes with brand new brake pads. The brake lines and the power assist are filled with fresh fluid and are completely clean inside. And the vehicle tires are brand new, with full tread. Naturally, braking power is at its peak performance.
Now, as your drive from here to there, the miles start to add up. Most car owners tend to focus on the brake pads. In the automotive service community, the pads, and shoes on drum brakes, are called the friction material. That’s because they provide the friction used to stop the vehicle. The pads are designed to be effective throughout their useful life – it’s not until they are worn so thin as to be out of spec that they lose stopping effectiveness.
The mechanical parts of the brakes have pistons and springs that get quite a workout while stopping the vehicle. Over many miles, these wear and get gummed up. They start to lose effectiveness gradually and could even fail. That’s why a regular brake inspection is important.
That leads us to brake fluid service. Some of the critical additives in the fluid that lubricate and clean the vehicle fluid system are depleted over time. That and moisture building up in the system deteriorate the performance of the fluid. Brake fluid replacement includes flushing the system to clean out deposits, water and dirt. Then the system is filled up with fresh fluid.
Our brake repairs include a warranty that covers parts and labor for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first (excluding rust & corrosion).