Your brakes use hydraulics and friction material to stop the car. Because they affect how well you can stop, any soft pedal or unusual noise is worth having inspected.
Common reasons to call
- Squealing or squeaking when you brake
- A grinding sound or a metal-on-metal feel
- A soft pedal, or a pedal that sinks toward the floor
- The steering wheel or pedal shakes when you brake
- The car pulls to one side when stopping
- A brake or ABS warning light on the dash
What we do
- Inspecting brake pads or shoes, and rotors or drums, for wear
- Checking brake fluid, lines, hoses and other hydraulic parts for leaks
- Brake repair based on what the inspection finds
Specific jobs, such as ABS repair or caliper and master cylinder replacement, are not listed individually on this site. Describe the problem when you call and ask.
Inspection first, repair second
A brake inspection looks at the pads or shoes, the rotors or drums, and the fluid, lines and hoses. It tells you what condition each part is in.
Repair is a separate step. It depends on what the inspection finds, and you decide on it after we explain what needs work. A noise alone does not tell us which part is worn, which is why we ask you to describe it first.
What to tell us when you call
You do not need to know what is wrong. Whatever you can share from this list helps us understand what to look at.
- Year, make and model of the vehicle
- What you hear: a squeal, a grind or a clunk, and whether it happens on light or hard braking
- How the pedal feels: soft, sinking toward the floor, or firm but different than it used to be
- Whether the car pulls to one side, or the pedal or steering wheel shakes
- Any brake or ABS warning light on the dash
- If the pedal feels soft or sinks, say so before you drive the car in
How a visit works
- Call (325) 646-6206 and describe what is happening. There is no online booking or form.
- We will set a time to inspect the brakes. If the pedal feels soft or sinks, say so on the phone before you drive in.
- After the inspection, we will explain what we found and which parts need work.
- Prices and completion times are not listed online. Ask about both when you call, before you decide on any work.
Hydraulic parts
- Master cylinder: turns pedal pressure into hydraulic pressure that pushes brake fluid to the wheels.
- Brake lines and hoses: steel lines and high-pressure rubber hoses carry the brake fluid.
- Calipers and wheel cylinders: apply pressure to the friction material to slow the car.
Disc brakes, drum brakes and the parking brake
- Disc brakes: a rotor turns with the wheel, and a caliper squeezes brake pads against it.
- Drum brakes: shoes press outward against the inside of a drum that turns with the wheel.
- Parking brake: uses cables to apply the brakes, usually the rear ones, to keep the car from rolling.
Keeping an eye on your brakes
Brakes wear gradually, so changes are easy to miss. A new noise, a pedal that feels different than it did last month, or a car that now pulls when you stop are all worth mentioning.
Your owner’s manual may list brake fluid and inspection intervals for your vehicle. There is no single schedule that fits every car or every driver.
Brake Repair questions
What do squealing and grinding brakes mean?
A high squeal is often the wear indicator on a brake pad telling you the pad is getting thin. Grinding usually means the pad material is gone and metal is rubbing on the rotor, which can damage the rotor. Either sound is a good reason to have the brakes inspected.
My brake pedal feels soft. Can I keep driving?
A soft or sinking pedal can point to a fluid leak, air in the lines or a problem in the master cylinder. Because that affects how well the car stops, do not rely on it. Call before you drive it in and describe what the pedal is doing.
Why does the steering wheel shake when I brake?
Shaking when you brake is often caused by rotors that have worn unevenly, though worn suspension parts can also be involved. An inspection shows which one it is.
What does the ABS light mean?
It means the anti-lock system found a fault and may have switched itself off. Your regular brakes usually still work, but the anti-lock function may not. Describe the light when you call. ABS repair is not listed on this site, so ask what the shop can do.