Brake Repair Service
Are your brakes squealing or grinding when you try to stop? You're probably in need of new brake. Let the ASE mechanics at American & Import Auto Repair of Johnson City, TN look at your cars brakes to determine what is needed to keep you safely on the road.
Our brake repair service is covered by a 2 Year, 24 Thousand Mile Nationwide Warranty.
Why are my brakes squealing?
If you hear your brakes squealing it's time for new brake pads. That is the warning indicator your brake pads have gotten to a point where they need to be replaced.
The next sound you hear will be grinding, and this is where it may get expensive as you';ll need to replace rotors, pads and maybe a caliper if it becomes seized.
You have an obligation to yourself, your passengers and other people on the road to operate a safe vehicle. And a safe vehicle has a good braking system.
Preventative Maintenance on Brakes
The good news about brakes is there are definite warning signs they are going bad. By paying attention to the following signs, you will know when your brakes need attention:
What are the brakes on a car?
There are three different parts to your brakes, hydraulic part includes the metal brake lines that can rust and burst. The second part is the brake friction material. The third is the electronic components that make the ABS anti-lock brake system work. The brakes on a car have become very complex and a brake service is more in depth than it used to be.
What are Hydraulic Brakes?
The hydraulic part or the brakes starts with the master cylinder which is also reservoir for storing the brake fluid. When you press down on the brake pedal the master cylinder converts the force to pressure and the brake lines carry the force to activate the calipers or wheel cylinders at each wheel.
The metal brake lines carry the brake fluid from the master cylinder to each wheel. The metal brake lines are usually made of steel. Because of the corrosive environment in Johnson City and salt on the roads (not as bad as in the north but still some here) these lines can rust out and burst usually in panic braking. Brake lines should be inspected and checked for safety regularly.
Rubber brake lines are used to provide flexibility for bumpy roads and are a connection from the metal brake lines to the calipers and wheel cylinders.
Brake calipers are the squeezing part that takes the hydraulic pressure and converts it to mechanical pressure and cause the brake pads to stop the vehicle. Brake calipers have a piston and seals and are on the front of newer cars.
Disk Brake rotors are the surface that the brake pads are mated to. Rotors warp when the get hot over time and need to be resurfaced or replaced. Rotors are a wear item and it is getting to be more of a common practice to replace them with the brake pads. There are minimum thicknesses for rotor safety and a discard measurement.
Wheel cylinders are used in a drum brake system. Drum brakes are used for the rear of some vehicles and convert hydraulic pressure to mechanical pressure by pushing brake shoes and slowing the vehicle. Brake drum systems are not as efficient as Disc brake system and are used only on the back of modern vehicles. Rear brakes only do 30% of the braking so this system works fine.
Why Do I need a Parking Brake?
You should get into the habit of using your parking brake to take the pressure of the parking brake mechanism in your transmission. Also if you use it regularly, it will be there in case of an emergency.
What is the difference between Brake Pads and Brake Shoes?
Disc brake pads are made with a metal plate and friction material glued or riveted on. It mates with the rotor and slows the vehicle through friction. There are three main types of friction material organic, semi metallic and ceramic. Using a good quality brake pad is important to a lasting brake job.
Brake shoes are used on drum braking systems usually on the back of vehicles. This system uses springs to return the shoes back after braking.
What are ABS Brakes?
About every car on the road has ABS (anti-lock braking) and is controlled by sensors and modules. You can feel this under a panic stop or when there is ice and snow on the road and you are stopping. You will feel a buzzing and slight pulsation in the brake pedal. This is normal and your ABS is working as designed. The ABS computer and sensors can stop the vehicle much faster than a human can. If your ABS light is on, the system is not operating properly and should be brought in to us and diagnosed.
Why Should I Change My Brake Fluid?
Brake fluid has to work hard under high pressures and high temperatures. You need to replace your brake fluid periodically because your brake fluid is hygroscopic which means it absorbs water. When it does it drops the temperature at which the fluid works at is greatly diminished. The water in the fluid is corrosive to the entire braking system. This is why it is important to have a brake fluid flush on a regular basis.
If you hear or feel any of these symptoms, bring your vehicle to American and Import Auto Repair. The cost of replacing your brakes when they first show the signs of wear is considerably less than when it reaches the rotors or worse, when you are no longer able to properly stop your vehicle. Have our ASE master mechanics do a safety inspection on you brakes and see if you need a brake service.
We provide a 2 Year, 24 Thousand Mile Nationwide Warranty.
Whether you need a front brake service, back brake service, brake pads, brake rotors, brake calipers, brake fluid flush, master cylinder or have a ABS light on, come by and see us at 3832 West Market Street Johnson City, TN 37604. Give us a call at 423-913-3111 or text 423-390-8549.
Service area: Johnson City | Jonesborough | Gray | Telford | Chuckey | Elizabethton | Erwin | Fall Branch | Greenville | Kingsport | Limestone | Mosheim | Mountain Home | Piney Flats
Zip codes 24210, 37618, 37620, 37641, 37643, 37644, 37650, 37656, 37657, 37615, 37743, 37658, 37660, 37681, 37818, 37684, 37686, 37687, 37690, 37692 37601, 37604, 37659