Your driving safety greatly relies on the performance of your car's brake system. This critical system delivers quick and reliable stopping power, preventing serious collisions and protecting you and others on the road.
A+ Brakes and Suspension, located in Brandon, Florida, is well-known for providing top-notch brake inspections, repairs, and maintenance services since 2010. Our team of professional technicians, equipped with years of experience and the latest state-of-the-art tools, ensures that your car returns to the road safely and efficiently.
Brake Inspections for Vehicle Safety & Efficiency
- Prioritizing Safety: Regular maintenance and repair of brakes are essential to minimize the risks of potential accidents. Malfunctioning brakes diminish your control over the vehicle, increasing collision or injury risks.
- Boosting Brake Performance: Worn-out brakes reduce your vehicle's stopping power, especially in emergencies. Servicing your brakes enhances their efficiency, ensuring a safer and more consistent braking process.
- Extending Brake System Longevity: Regular brake servicing is crucial for extending your brake system's durability. Ignoring brake problems can lead to damage in other parts, resulting in more expensive repairs down the line.
- Reducing Repair Expenses: Timely brake inspections can save money in the long run. Early intervention in brake issues helps avoid extensive and costly future repairs.
3 Common Signs that Your Brakes Require Professional Repairs
- If you notice unusual noises like squealing or grinding when applying your brakes, it often signifies worn brake pads that necessitate replacement.
- A brake pedal that feels spongy or sinks to the floor indicates depleted brake fluid levels or faulty brake calipers.
- Once again, if your vehicle veers to one side when braking, it could indicate warped brake rotors or unevenly worn brake pads.
- Your brake warning light can indicate several issues, such as low brake fluid or potential problems with your braking system.
Brake Calipers
Brake calipers are crucial to your vehicle's braking system. When pressing the brake pedal, the master cylinder's fluid creates hydraulic pressure on the caliper pistons. These pistons press the brake pads against the brake disc, creating the friction needed to slow down and stop your vehicle.
Brake caliper replacements don’t frequently need to be replaced, but certain signs can indicate something is wrong. For example, a jammed caliper can cause the vehicle to drift to one side during braking, leading to uneven brake effectiveness.
Addressing brake caliper issues promptly is vital, as they pose significant safety risks, including longer stopping distances or loss of control. Ignored, seized calipers can severely damage the disc and other brake components, leading to higher repair costs in the future.
Brake Fluid
Brake fluid plays a vital role in effective braking and protecting the brake system from moisture damage. It absorbs moisture, lubricates moving parts, and prevents moisture accumulation, which could cause corrosion or rust. Leaks in brake lines or master cylinder seals can introduce moisture into the system, compromising brake fluid quality and increasing the risk of brake failure.
As brake fluid deteriorates, it loses its lubricating properties, affecting the braking system's performance and reliability.
Considering the average U.S. driver usually travels around 10,000 to 15,000 miles per year and uses their brakes approximately 75,000 times, frequent brake fluid replacement ensures the ongoing safety and efficiency of your braking system.
Brake Pad Replacement
Brake pads are key to your vehicle's braking system. Their efficiency decreases over time, affecting braking performance. It's advisable to replace brake pads when they are less than a quarter-inch thick or when the wear indicator emits a high-pitched sound.
Ignoring worn brake pads can significantly increase your vehicle's stopping distance, risking accidents and safety. Regular maintenance also prevents unexpected, costly damages to rotors and other braking system components.
Brake Rotors
Brake discs, while often overlooked, are critical elements in your vehicle's braking system. Their function is crucial in safely bringing your vehicle to a complete stop. When pressure is applied to the brake pedal, the pads squeeze onto the brake discs, thereby effectively stopping the wheel rotation.
At A+ Brakes and Suspension, our skilled technicians check your discs' thickness during brake servicing. Thin rotors may not provide safe braking. Worn discs can also lose heat absorption and dissipation capacity, leading to potential cracks or failure. Damaged brake discs can cause premature brake pad wear, increasing repair costs. Consistent servicing ensures your brake discs function effectively and safely.
Drum Brakes
Drum brakes use a system where brake shoes push against a rotating drum to slow or stop a vehicle. Typically found on rear wheels, they are also used on front wheels in some vehicles.
Compared to disc brakes, drum brakes maintain better water and dust resistance, making them more suitable for driving in severe weather conditions. While not as common as disc brakes, some modern vehicles still use drum brakes for their simplicity and cost-effectiveness.
Brake Maintenance
Simple practices can significantly contribute to the longevity of your brake system. Avoid driving through wet roads whenever possible to prevent water from impairing brake performance. Regularly cleaning your brakes is essential for maintaining their functionality. Additionally, arrange routine checks with a trusted local mechanic like A+ Brakes and Suspension, who will thoroughly examine your brakes for any wear and tear. Proactive and meticulous maintenance ensures both the safety and peak performance of your brakes.
What to Expect During Our Brake Inspections
In our initial inspections, our expert technicians meticulously check key parts such as brake calipers, fluid levels, pads, and rotors to guarantee their ideal operation. We employ advanced digital diagnostic tools to assess the overall effectiveness of your braking system and recommend any necessary modifications or repairs.
Schedule your appointment online or call A+ Brakes and Suspension at 813-653-2277 today. We are enthusiastic about inspecting your brake system and helping to maintain the overall health and safety of your vehicle.
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