Brake Service

 

Brake pads wear out over time requiring brake service.  The amount of time they last is based on factors such as driving conditions and the way you apply your brakes. 

 

Brake fluid is another very important component of your braking system and should not be overlooked. 

 

Periodic brake service is necessary to keep your car running safely, especially with the high traffic conditions here in NJ.

 

When your car is maintained regularly at Birch Tire and Car Service, our courtesy inspection will inform you when it is time for a detailed brake inspection or brake service. 

 

We don’t want you to get out on the road and find you have a problem stopping.  Also, it’s always better to deal with something through preventative maintenance than to have a serious brake repair problem while you are on the road.  Without periodic maintenance, a brake job can become quite costly and that’s something we’re certain you want to avoid. 

Signs You Might Need a Brake Job

 

Your Car’s Brake Light is On:  This could be something very serious and should not be ignored.  First check to make sure your emergency brake is not engaged.  If it isn’t, you could have a drop in hydraulic pressure and your brakes may be near total failure.  Most likely, brake service is required and you should have them checked immediately.

 

Grab:  Do your brakes feel “touchy” or “grab” with the slightest amount of pressure?  This symptom may be an indication of a very simple problem, but it may also mean there are loose or broken components that can fail in the event of an emergency. 

 

Hard Pedal:  If you must apply extreme pressure for your brakes to function, you are experiencing what is referred to as “hard pedal.”  This condition can indicate trouble with your power brakes, restricted hydraulic lines, frozen calipers or cylinders, or damaged brake linings.

 

Drag:  Brake drag occurs when the lining is in constant contact with the rotor or drum. This situation reduces fuel mileage and if not corrected can lead to overheating of the brake linings and diminishing of proper braking ability. 

 

Minor brake drag can sometimes be corrected with brake system maintenance.  Severe drag almost always requires brake service.

 

Squealing:  If your car or truck is making a squealing noise while driving that goes away when you apply to brakes, you may need a brake job.  Most likely your brake pads are worn sufficiently enough to allow their "wear indicators" or "sensors" to touch the disc brake rotor.  When this occurs the "sensor" emits that high-pitch noise to warn you that your brakes need immediate attention.

Birch Tire provides a 12 point courtesy brake test at no charge. 

 

Preventative brake maintenance is the best way to avoid brake failures.  

 

When doing a brake job, you probably only think about replacing your worn pads and shoes.  This is one key repair but it's not the only one.

 

Remember: your braking system is “a system.”  It's only as safe as its weakest component. If one part of the system fails, the load transfers to another part, adding more wear and increasing the chances for more failure, or at the very least, increased repair costs.

 

Birch Tire and Car Repair carefully checks everything from the pedal to the wheels, including:

 

1. Check pads and shoes for wear and
replace if necessary.

2. Check brake lines and hoses for leaks,
kinks or blockages.

3. Check all wheel cylinders and replace or rebuild, if necessary.

4. Check the calipers and replace or rebuild, if necessary.

5. Check drums and rotors for excessive wear, run-out and thickness variation.

6. Machine drums or rotors to provide proper surface finish.

 

7. Hardware worn beyond service limits or fatigued should be replaced to insure system integrity. (Most car manufactures recommend flushing the brake system on a regular basis. Corrosion can increase the cost of brake system repairs significantly) (*additional cost may apply)

8. Check brake fluid in the master cylinder. Make sure it is clear and at the full level. If needed, fill master cylinder reservoir to the proper level with new brake fluid from a sealed container, or flush brake system to eliminate contaminants out of the system.

9. Most manufactures recommend a brake fluid flush every 24,000 miles or at time of a brake job.

10. Road test your vehicle.