When Should You Do Brake Repair on Your Car?
Keep yourself, your family and other drivers on the road safe by making sure your brakes remain in top condition.
Really no set schedule exists to have this critical safety feature checked by a mechanic. Brakes wear out more quickly, though, if you live in a city where you do a lot of stopping because of traffic and stop lights. Additionally, brakes should be checked more often if your vehicle regularly hauls heavy loads or you live in a mountainous region. If you spend a majority of your time driving on the highway or in the country, and you rarely step on the brakes, they should last longer.
As a rule of thumb, many car experts recommend brake pads undergo replacement about every 50,000 miles. However, depending on other conditions and factors some brakes may need be replaced after 25,000 miles, while others can last 70,000 miles or more. Experts suggest your brakes undergo a thorough inspection at least once a year.
Annual Brake Repair Service
In general, your normal yearly brake service includes an overall system check of rotors, calipers, hoses, drums and master brake cylinders. At some point resurfacing of drums or rotors may be required, if extra wear is detected. In addition, brake service usually includes the cleaning and adjusting of drums and checking the parking brake. Most garages will also flush the brake fluid and remove any air found in the brake lines.
Depending on the degree of wear on your brakes the cost to repair or replace them can typically range from $180 for four brake pads, and up to $500 to $700 for a full replacement of brake pads, calipers and rotors at DeBroux Automotive.
“Make sure you go to a trustworthy and reliable auto shop for your brake system work,” says the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The NHTSA reports many accidents result from poor quality work and parts on brake systems. We are experienced and certified in Brake Repair at DeBroux Automotive. We are happy to help!
Signals You Need Brake Repair — Now!
Bring your vehicle into our shop right away, if you notice any of the warning signs below.
- Continuous squealing, screeching or grinding brakes
- Low or spongy brake pedal
- Having to push down hard on your brake pedal in order to stop
- Brake warning indicator light stays on
Other warning signs also exist, such as the brake pedal pulsating when you barely touch it. This could signify a worn or warped disc. If you have an Anti-Lock Brake System on your car — standard in most cars since 2012 — you have less to worry about but we recommend you have it checked.
In addition, you may feel the steering wheel and car pull to one side when you brake. You likely have a front brake pad that needs to be replaced.
You also may notice your car travels longer and longer distances before it comes to a complete stop. Brakes go bad slowly, so this may be hard to detect.
A more serious problem with the brakes could be occurring if the brake warning light pops on while you’re driving down the road. This could be an indication that you have low brake fluid and for safety reasons, immediate attention is recommended.
DeBroux Automotive’s Experienced Mechanics Specialize in Brake Repair
When you need an annual checkup of your vehicle’s brake system or sense you may need brake repair, call us and bring it to DeBroux Automotive. Our locally owned auto repair shop has been in business since 1989 and has built a reputation in the Pensacola, Florida area for performing high-quality work at a fair price. We can fix almost any type of vehicle, including classic cars!