Brake Systems Repair

Good functioning brakes are one of the most important systems in your vehicle for your safety.

When should you replace the brakes?

Brake pads are generally thought to be good from anywhere between 80,000 to 100,000 kms. However, the real answer to how long brake pads can last will vary from vehicle to vehicle and from driver to driver. For example, if you tend to drive the most often in urban areas or in heavy commuter traffic, you’ll be engaging your brakes a lot more frequently than someone who drives in rural locations or on highways. Some people also tend to “ride the brake,” meaning they press and depress their brakes more habitually than other drivers, causing the brake pads to wear away more quickly.

With a little attention and forethought, it can be easy to know when to replace brake pads on your vehicle. Signs to look for?

  1. Squealing or Screeching Noises
  2. Less Than 3 mm of Brake Friction Material Remaining
  3. Deep Metallic Grinding or Growling Noises
  4. Indicator Warning Lights illuminating
  5. Steering Wheel Shakes When Braking

 

So, when should we replace The Brake Fluid?

The recommended intervals for changing brake fluid are all over the board depending on the manufacturer, from as often as every two years to actually never. Wait, never? Really, never! So, this leaves it up to the owner to consult what the manufacturer says in their vehicle's maintenance schedule and rely on the advice of a trusted service provider.

Replacing brake fluid might cost $100 or less on many vehicles, but replacing rusted brake lines, brake calipers and other brake parts can run several hundreds of dollars, so clearly there's value in keeping up with maintenance. As a rule of thumb, it's wise to have the brake fluid replaced every 50,000 km or every 3 years.

We always inspect your brakes visually on a hoist as well as with a road test to look for steering wheel vibration, steering wheel pulling and brake pedal pulsing before making an estimate if there are any repairs that need to be done.

We always use great quality parts and thoroughly clean a lubricate your brake system to give you optimal braking power and long life to the components.

If you have any questions, please give us a call or book an appointment here online.