Summertime Brake Service and Repair

Summertime is a great time to have your vehicle’s brakes checked out. In most areas, the weather is warm and dry, so issues with your brakes often make themselves known now. Winters can be hard on your whole braking system, with snow, ice, and road salt causing wear, rust, and corrosion on the components. Even excessive rainfall can affect your brakes. Slippery roads can require more braking, which can create higher than ‘normal’ wear on your brake fluid, brake pads, and rotors. Now is the time to schedule your summertime Auto Maintenance and Brake Service to check out your Brake Pads, Brake Fluid, and do any needed Brake Repair.

SUMMER AUTO MAINTENANCE

With all the miles we put on our vehicles during the summer, now is a good time to schedule your summer auto maintenance. Have an oil change, plus check out the basics:

• Fluids & Filters
• Tires
• Wipers
• Lights & Fuses
• Hoses, Belts & Gaskets
• Exterior Wash
• Interior Clean & Organize

Check your owner’s manual to see if it is time for your Brake Service as well. You can piggy-back services at your auto shop to save yourself time and money. Most auto manufacturers recommend having your brakes inspected & serviced every 5,000-7,000 miles or 4-6 months (whichever comes first).

BRAKE SERVICE

A Brake Service will include an inspection of the braking components, cleaning and lubricating when necessary. The main purpose of a Brake Service is to check that all the parts are working correctly and the vehicle is safe to drive (and stop). If any of the components show excessive wear or damage, then a technician can either repair or replace them. A qualified service technician can help guide you through the options available.

• BRAKE PADS
  Brake pads are consumable components. Every time you use the brakes, you create friction between the brake pad and rotor, which wears down your brake pads. Therefore, your technician should replace worn brake pads. Auto manufacturers design some brake pads to make a squealing sound once they wear down enough to need replacing. Pay attention to that sound. If it progresses enough to make a grinding noise, you have waited too long and now your brake pads are too thin, grinding metal on metal.
  
• CALIPERS
  The calipers are like hydraulically driven pistons and clamps that squeeze the brake pads against the rotors when you press on the brake pedal. This pressure and friction is the reason your vehicle slows down and stops. The calipers (and pistons) are subject to rust and road debris, which can cause them to stick open or closed. Once this happens, it can change how well your brakes respond, and often cause damages to both your brake pads and the rotors.
  
• ROTORS
  The rotors are basically a spinning metal disc behind your wheel that is compressed by the brake pads via the calipers to stop your vehicle. If the brake pads are not changed often enough, the rotors can get warped, scratched, or otherwise damaged, which require them to be resurfaced. They can also accumulate rust and road debris which should be cleaned off regularly. 
  
• BRAKE FLUID
  The brake fluid is the literal moving force behind your vehicle’s braking system. The pressure of the fluid being pushed through the brake lines is what makes all the components move properly. If the brake fluid is low, check for leaks. However, if no leaks are found, then the brake pads may need to be replaced, or the brake fluid may be near the end of its life. Brake fluid is a consumable item and factors like driving habits, heat, and humidity can impact how often it needs to be topped off and/or changed.
  
• BRAKE FLUID FLUSH
  Brake fluid that has reached the end of its life can become acidic and corrosive which can affect the other components in your brake assembly. Once your brake fluid becomes acidic it should be flushed out and replaced with fresh brake fluid to avoid more expensive repairs in the future.

BRAKE SERVICE & REPAIR IN CLARKSVILLE, TN

At A&R Complete Auto Care, our number one goal is to provide complete customer satisfaction. Every day, with every customer, we focus on providing high-quality Auto Repair Services, coupled with top-notch customer service.

SCHEDULE A BRAKE SERVICE TODAY

Let our certified technicians help you with your summer Auto Maintenance, Brake Service and Brake Repair. Call us at (931) 552-0606 or make your service appointment online today!