Brake Repair

Brakes are the simplest and most important safety feature of any vehicle. You rely on them to stop and slow your vehicle safely whenever you get behind the wheel. Without reliable brakes, you could put yourself, your passengers, and other road users at risk. Driving with worn brakes can damage your tires and the brake system, so it’s important to pay attention to the warning signs. Letting a brake repair shop check and fix your brakes the moment they show signs of failing minimizes damage and ensures these components won’t let you down when you need them.

Common Signs That You Might Need Brake Repair

The thought of brakes failing can be scary, but it’s unlikely to happen without warning. A healthy brake system is quiet, smooth, and responsive. Paying attention to unusual sounds and movements can help you recognize when your brakes need repairs. Below are some common signs that it’s time to book a brake repair service.

Your Vehicle Is Slow To Respond

Your brakes should allow you to stop suddenly to avoid accidents. If your vehicle’s brakes seem sluggish, they may need repairing. A leak in the brake system or insufficient friction between the brake pads and rotors could be the cause.

Your Brakes Are Very Sensitive or Insensitive

Your car should slow down when you firmly press on the brakes. If your brakes react to the slightest touch, your rotors may have worn unevenly. This issue can also occur if your vehicle needs more brake fluid. While brakes shouldn’t be too sensitive, braking should be fairly easy. If you need to press your foot right to the floor to engage the brake, that’s also an issue and can be a sign of low brake fluid. Worn brake pads and air in the brake fluid can also cause this problem, so it’s best to visit your local service center for an accurate diagnosis and car brake repair.

You Hear a Screeching Sound

When brake pads become worn, you’ll hear a screeching sound when you hit the brake pedal. If your brake pads are new, you might also hear screeching if the brake rotors become glazed. An experienced mechanic can assess your brakes and determine what’s causing the screeching and how to fix it.

You Hear a Grinding Sound

A badly worn brake pad will emit a metallic growling or grinding sound resulting from the brake pad’s metal plate rubbing against the brake system’s rotor. If you don’t address this problem, your rotor could melt, and the brakes could stick. A brake and rotor repair appointment is vital to resolving this problem.

Your Car Is Leaking Fluid

A healthy vehicle doesn’t leak fluid. If you notice puddles of liquid under your car, get a mechanic to check it out. A puddle of brake fluid may be yellow or brown, like fresh motor oil, depending on the fluid’s age. However, it will be slippery, rather than slimy like car oil.

Your Car Is Vibrating

Worn brake pads and damaged rotors can cause your vehicle to vibrate. You might notice your steering wheel or even the whole vehicle shaking when you apply the brakes. If these vibrations only occur during braking, the brakes are probably to blame.

Your Car Pulls to One Side

A reliable car features accurate steering that helps you stay in your lane and avoid accidents. If you feel your car pulling to one side when you brake, your brake lining may have worn unevenly. There may also be some foreign matter in your vehicle’s brake fluid.

Your Brake Pads Show Visible Signs of Wear

You don’t have to be a trained mechanic to inspect your vehicle for signs of excessive wear and tear. Keep an eye on your vehicle’s brake pads, which you’ll find between the spokes of the wheels. These pads will wear away over time, but they must be more than a quarter-inch thick to stop effectively. If your pads are thinner, they’ll need replacing.

What Kinds of Brake Repair Does Hi-Line Autohaus Perform?

Our experienced service technicians perform all kinds of brake repair jobs, including:

• Brake pad replacement.
• Brake shoe replacement.
• Rotor service.
• Brake fluid checks.
• Master cylinder replacement.

Bring your vehicle to us, and we’ll use advanced equipment to determine what’s causing the issue. We’ll share our accurate diagnosis, advise you on the right repair strategy, and provide a cost estimate. With your approval, we’ll then set about efficiently repairing your brakes so you can safely return to the road.

How Much Does Brake Repair Cost?

The cost of a brake repair service depends on the issue, your vehicle, and the extent of the damage. Replacing a vehicle’s brake pads is a routine repair job that typically costs between $100 and $300 per axle, according to AAA. However, this brake pad repair job could be much pricier if you own a luxury or performance vehicle with large, expensive brakes. If you let the brake pads wear down far enough to damage the rotors, they will also need replacing. In that case, you could expect to pay between $250 and $500 per axle.

Replacing a brake system’s master cylinder is more time-consuming and requires draining your vehicle’s brake fluid and disconnecting the brake fluid sensor and brake fluid lines before installing the new cylinder. A mechanic then has to add more brake fluid and bleed the brake lines to ensure there aren’t any air bubbles. J.D. Power estimates this auto brake repair job should cost between $300 and $800, with labor costs for this time-consuming process making up the bulk of the bill. Our technicians can provide a more accurate estimate once they assess your vehicle.

Let Hi-Line Autohaus Repair Your Breaks

When you notice the first signs of brake failure, book a service at Hi-Line Autohaus, the best brake repair shop in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our experienced mechanics can inspect your vehicle, diagnose the issue, and repair your brakes so you can get back on the road quickly and safely. Give us a call at 704-595-3030 or schedule your appointment online.