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At Bruce's Tire & Auto, we understand the importance of maintaining your vehicle’s stopping performance. Whether you drive a pickup truck with heavy-duty brakes, a sports car, or a minivan, maintaining your vehicle’s stopping power is vital to the operation of your vehicle.
We've taken the extra step to ensure that all of your brake-related needs are available under one roof. Thanks to our ASE-certified mechanics, our use of high-quality replacement parts, and our money-saving service coupons, it's no wonder drivers come straight to Bruce's Tire & Auto when they're looking for a trustworthy brake shop in Los Banos.
Your brake system is composed of several key components:
When you press down on your brake pedal, your master cylinder sends fluid through your brake lines and into your brake calipers. Your brake calipers feature small pistons that expand and contract to help your brake pads clamp and release from your brake rotors. This team effort is what brings your vehicle to a stop.
Neglecting your brake maintenance can lead to costly repairs while jeopardizing your vehicle’s ability to stop. Components such as your master cylinder, your calipers, and even your brake lines can be quite costly to replace. For this reason, we recommend bringing your vehicle into our brake shop in Los Banos when you're due for brake service. Here are the average intervals for your serviceable brake components:
Your vehicle may be telling you that you need brake repair services. However, not everyone who experiences these symptoms from their vehicle understands what they mean. Here are a few examples of common symptoms that indicate your vehicle is in need of brake maintenance or repair services:
If you're noticing grinding noises when you hit the brakes, this could be a sign that it’s time to schedule service at our brake shop. Brake grinding can be the result of worn brake pads. If left unchecked, grinding brakes could lead to damage to your rotors, calipers, and more— resulting in more expensive repairs.
Many brake pads feature a metal bar built inside of them that will squeak when they make contact with your brake rotor. These metal bars are built deep within your brake pad and only begin to squeak when your pads are worn low. This excess squealing or squeaking is often a telltale sign that you are in need of brake pad replacement services.
Brake pads that have worn thin get hot much quicker than thicker brake pads. Because hot brake pads cannot stop your vehicle as efficiently as cool pads, one of the many things you'll notice when your brake pads have worn thin is that it takes much longer to slow your vehicle. You may notice yourself having to brake harder as you approach a stop sign or a traffic light.
Your brakes should smoothly bring you to a stop when you press down on your brake pedal. However, when your brakes need attention, you may notice that your vehicle vibrates when you attempt to slow down. Cabin vibrations when you slow down are almost always a sign that you need brake service. If your vehicle is vibrating when you brake, we recommend scheduling an appointment at our brake shop in Los Banos at your earliest convenience.
At Bruce's Tire and Auto, we are the true experts at all things relating to your vehicle — and that includes your braking system. Whether you need something simple, such as brake pad replacement services, or you require more extensive brake repair services, our brake shop in Los Banos is equipped to handle everything that your vehicle needs.
In addition to our competitive pricing, we offer spectacular service coupons to help you save money. Schedule an appointment at Bruce's Tire & Auto today and trust the experts to handle all of your brake-related needs.
Schedule A Brake Repair Service
Brake pads typically need to be replaced every 25,000 to 65,000 miles. The frequency that your brake pads need replacing will depend largely on your driving habits and driving style. Drivers who trek through the city and do heavy urban driving will find that they need to replace their brake pads more often. This is because their style of driving puts a heavy strain on their brakes. In addition, drivers who do a lot of towing will also notice that they need to replace their brakes more frequently.
In contrast, drivers who commute largely on the highway will notice that their brakes typically need to be replaced less frequently than city drivers. This is because highway driving typically requires less use of the brakes than city driving. With the right habits, some drivers will find that they can go as many as 65,000 miles before needing brake pad replacement.
Additionally, vehicles that have regenerative braking systems, such as hybrid and electric vehicles, may be able to go as much as 100,000 miles before needing brake pad replacement.
There are various indications that there might be a problem with your braking system. When you press down on the brakes, your vehicle should stop with assurance. Abnormalities in your braking system can be a sign that your vehicle is due for brake repair.
Here are a few of the most common signs that there's a problem with your brakes:
These symptoms are usually key indicators that your vehicle needs brake repair. While each sign has its cause, they are usually clear indicators that you should bring your vehicle into our Los Banos auto shop for brake repair or servicing at your earliest convenience. We strongly recommend having your brake system inspected immediately if your vehicle is displaying any of the above symptoms. Driving your vehicle with reduced stopping power or when there are problems with your brake system can lead to a collision should you ever need your brakes for an unexpected stop.
Because brake rotors and brake pads don’t wear at the same rate, it’s sometimes okay to only replace your brake pads and not your rotors. However, to ensure the best brake performance and enjoy the most life out of your brake pads and brake rotors, our brake shop will first inspect your brake rotors to ensure that they’re thick enough to remain in service. If so, we’ll remachine your rotors to ensure that they have full contact with your new brake pads. This process is often referred to as resurfacing or remachining the rotor.
However, if your brake rotors are worn to their minimum thickness, and you’re receiving a brake pad replacement, both the pads and rotors must be replaced at the same time. Putting new pads on old rotors can make these metal discs dangerously thin and cause them to crack. Brake damage can seriously jeopardize your vehicle’s stopping performance.
Bad rotors or rotors that are worn or warped can cause vibrations while driving. Your brake rotors are disc-shaped and feature a smooth metal surface that your brake pads clamp onto when you press down on the brake pedal. As your brake pads clamp onto your rotors, friction between the two parts causes heat to rise quickly. When you let off the brakes, this allows your brake pads and rotors to cool.
However, there are times when a driver's habits or emergency braking can cause your brake rotors to warp. This is because heavy brake usage can cause your brake rotors to get so hot that the metal becomes pliable and bends out of shape. Once your rotors have warped and lost their perfectly smooth disc shape, your brake pads no longer have a smooth surface to grab onto. As your brake pads grab onto your warped rotors, this can send vibrations through the cabin.
Here are a few driving habits and situations that increase the likelihood of your brake pads overheating and warping:
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