Cars need to go ...
... and then they need to stop.
Why?
Every time you step on the brakes there is wear on the brake pads/shoes and rotors/drums. Also moist air is introduced into the master cylinder (in our weather) and that causes wear of the hydraulic system. We check brakes with every oil change and tire rotation. Our goal is to get as much life as is safely possible out of the brake pads and shoes on your vehicle. It's a very gradual process, we work to let you know the status before you hear a grinding sound.
But ...
There are two basic configurations: disk front brakes and drum rear brakes, or 4-wheel disk brakes. Though not all cars have ABS (antilock brake system) it plays very little role in maintenance and rarely requires repair. We have the equipment to repair your ABS if needed. Braking systems are very reliable and require little maintenance. Keeping an eye on the brake pad thickness during tire rotation is important. Uneven pad wear is an indicator of potential problems.
Reporting shaking when braking to us is important. It can mean that the rear brakes are not doing there share of the stopping, or that the car may have a seizing front brake caliper, or the car has been in an extreme stopping condition that has overheated the brakes, or it's just time for a brake job.
Front brake pads last between 30,000 to 60,000 miles. However Jamie McNett somehow got 120,000+ miles on his Camry front pads. On Japanese cars the rotors can be machined once, sometimes twice. On European cars the rotors always have to be replaced. Rear brake pads last somewhat longer than front pads. Rear shoes last 150,000+ miles in most cases. They still require periodic maintenance, cleaning and checking the self adjusters.
We always machine or replace brake rotors when doing a front brake job. A correctly done brake job should have no significant differences in longevity and performance from new. A brake job without diligent attention to the rotors is unsafe and will not last nearly as long!
We try to use Akobono ceramic pads if available. They are great! They last longer, stop better, dissipate heat better (reducing the chance of warping rotors) and tend not to squeak. http://www.akebonobrakes.com/aftermarket/.
We put a lot of effort into using original equipment quality rotors. We do not use Chinese rotors! We pride ourselves on using the highest quality parts on all repairs.
Changing brake fluid every two year will help reduce internal corrosion of the brake hydraulic system. This can greatly increase the life of the brake calipers, wheel cylinders, and master cylinder as well as helping prevent brake fade in extreme/panic stopping situations. The hydraulic system often lasts the life of the car if the fluid is replaced at appropriate intervals.
Brake fluid becomes contaminated with moisture which lowers its boiling point, causing brake fade and corroding the hydraulic parts.
A few notes:
- Squeaking brakes are not necessarily unsafe. If your brakes start squeaking you should have them checked.
- A lot of brake pads have wear indicators. They make a very annoying noise (screech) that starts out intermittent and quickly becomes constant. Have us check the brakes.
- If the brake light comes on and the hand brake isn't on have the brakes checked.
- If the brake pedal fades to the floor or feels lower have the brakes checked.
- If you hear grinding have the brakes checked and plan on leaving it for a brake job.
In general a little common sense is good. If your car starts to sound or feel different, let us check it out.