Complete Brake Repair Service!
If your vehicle isn't stopping like it should, don't hesitate, bring it into Meineke today for a FREE* inspection of your car brakes!
Problems with your car brakes are serious and waiting to bring it when there is a problem may just make the problem worse. Bring your vehicle into your local Meineke dealer for a FREE* no-obligation brake inspection at the first hint of trouble. Our brake repair technicians will inspect your car brakes and tell you exactly what the problem is.
How do my vehicle's brakes work?
When you apply pressure to the brake pedal, a piston forces hydraulic fluid through brake lines and hoses. This fluid pressure moves the disk and drum brakes into action, creating friction which slows the automobile. When the pedal is released, springs return the brakes to their normal position.
What could go wrong with my brake system?
The most common problem facing your brake system is wear. Every time you apply your brakes, you're wearing them out ever-so-slightly. If you're a two-footed driver, meaning you drive with one foot on the gas and the other foot on the brake, your brakes will wear faster because you're braking with one foot while other foot is accelerating. Other problems that will affect your brake system are old and dirty brake fluid, leaks and clogs in the fluid lines and hoses, and problems with the drums, rotors and hydraulic components.
How will I recognize a problem with my brake system?
If you hear a grinding or squealing noise when you press on the brake pedal, your vehicle may have a brake problem. You could also have brake problems is you have to depress the pedal all the way to the floor to stop or slow down, your car skids, pulls to one side or takes longer to stop. Of course, if you have a brake warning light, that will alert you to a brake problem, but conscientious drivers will be able to discern a problem before that light comes on.
BRAKE PROBLEMS:
Pressing down on the brakes and not knowing how well they’ll perform can be an unnerving situation. Given that Americans spend 4.2 billion hours a year constantly using their brakes in traffic, it's obvious proactive brake maintenance is important. However, since brake replacement time frames vary anywhere between 30,000 and 60,000 miles, recognizing brake warning signs is imperative to avoid a complete brake failure.
• Hear loud or frequent squeaks or grinding – A sound mechanism built into the brakes alerts drivers when replacements are needed. If a metal scraping sound occurs, the brakes have worn down to the rotors and need to be fixed.
• Smell an acid, burning odor – Problems with calipers sticking or hanging up, as well as problems with the brake hose can produce the scent. Heavy braking also can cause an unpleasant odor. “As soon as the driver smells the odor, I recommend bringing the vehicle to a Meineke ASE-certified technician who can diagnose the source and fix the problem before it gets worse.
• Feel your brake pedal “squish” or become difficult to depress – Squishy brakes indicate air in the brake system caused by problemswith the master cylinder, possibly a leak. Difficult to depress brakes are also often caused by a malfunctioning power booster.
• Feel shuddering or a continuous vibration in the steering wheel – Brake rotors or brake drums can trigger the vehicle to shake.
• See rust or metal flakes peeling off your brakes – When the vehicle brake pads are worn and hit the rotors, rust or metal flakes appear.
• See the brake system warning light turn on – A vehicle’s brake light usually warns the driver about worn brake pads. “The brake light can also indicate low fluids levels in the master cylinder, possibly caused by a leak.
To extend the life of a vehicle’s brakes, Meineke recommends staying alert and anticipating braking by slowing down before stopping.
Meineke Car Care Centers offer a preventive maintenance program that includes a complete inspection and regular monitoring of vehicle systems. Additionally, all qualifying services and repairs are covered by a brake lining limited lifetime warranty, good at more than 900 Meineke Car Care Centers . Consumers can learn more about these programs by contacting their local Meineke Center or by visiting www.meineke.com or http://drivenbrands.blogspot.com/.
If your vehicle isn't stopping like it should, don't hesitate, bring it into Meineke today for a FREE* inspection of your car brakes!
Problems with your car brakes are serious and waiting to bring it when there is a problem may just make the problem worse. Bring your vehicle into your local Meineke dealer for a FREE* no-obligation brake inspection at the first hint of trouble. Our brake repair technicians will inspect your car brakes and tell you exactly what the problem is.
How do my vehicle's brakes work?
When you apply pressure to the brake pedal, a piston forces hydraulic fluid through brake lines and hoses. This fluid pressure moves the disk and drum brakes into action, creating friction which slows the automobile. When the pedal is released, springs return the brakes to their normal position.
What could go wrong with my brake system?
The most common problem facing your brake system is wear. Every time you apply your brakes, you're wearing them out ever-so-slightly. If you're a two-footed driver, meaning you drive with one foot on the gas and the other foot on the brake, your brakes will wear faster because you're braking with one foot while other foot is accelerating. Other problems that will affect your brake system are old and dirty brake fluid, leaks and clogs in the fluid lines and hoses, and problems with the drums, rotors and hydraulic components.
How will I recognize a problem with my brake system?
If you hear a grinding or squealing noise when you press on the brake pedal, your vehicle may have a brake problem. You could also have brake problems is you have to depress the pedal all the way to the floor to stop or slow down, your car skids, pulls to one side or takes longer to stop. Of course, if you have a brake warning light, that will alert you to a brake problem, but conscientious drivers will be able to discern a problem before that light comes on.
BRAKE PROBLEMS:
Pressing down on the brakes and not knowing how well they’ll perform can be an unnerving situation. Given that Americans spend 4.2 billion hours a year constantly using their brakes in traffic, it's obvious proactive brake maintenance is important. However, since brake replacement time frames vary anywhere between 30,000 and 60,000 miles, recognizing brake warning signs is imperative to avoid a complete brake failure.
• Hear loud or frequent squeaks or grinding – A sound mechanism built into the brakes alerts drivers when replacements are needed. If a metal scraping sound occurs, the brakes have worn down to the rotors and need to be fixed.
• Smell an acid, burning odor – Problems with calipers sticking or hanging up, as well as problems with the brake hose can produce the scent. Heavy braking also can cause an unpleasant odor. “As soon as the driver smells the odor, I recommend bringing the vehicle to a Meineke ASE-certified technician who can diagnose the source and fix the problem before it gets worse.
• Feel your brake pedal “squish” or become difficult to depress – Squishy brakes indicate air in the brake system caused by problemswith the master cylinder, possibly a leak. Difficult to depress brakes are also often caused by a malfunctioning power booster.
• Feel shuddering or a continuous vibration in the steering wheel – Brake rotors or brake drums can trigger the vehicle to shake.
• See rust or metal flakes peeling off your brakes – When the vehicle brake pads are worn and hit the rotors, rust or metal flakes appear.
• See the brake system warning light turn on – A vehicle’s brake light usually warns the driver about worn brake pads. “The brake light can also indicate low fluids levels in the master cylinder, possibly caused by a leak.
To extend the life of a vehicle’s brakes, Meineke recommends staying alert and anticipating braking by slowing down before stopping.
Meineke Car Care Centers offer a preventive maintenance program that includes a complete inspection and regular monitoring of vehicle systems. Additionally, all qualifying services and repairs are covered by a brake lining limited lifetime warranty, good at more than 900 Meineke Car Care Centers . Consumers can learn more about these programs by contacting their local Meineke Center or by visiting www.meineke.com or http://drivenbrands.blogspot.com/.
