Hitting The Brakes In Poway

Hello Poway, let’s talk about brakes. Braking, as all California motorists know, is slowing or stopping your vehicle. As you can imagine, brakes are engineered to work well on a particular vehicle application. For example, you would expect more powerful brakes on a heavy-duty pickup that routinely hauls big loads and pulls trailers, than you would on a compact car. And a Corvette that can go over 180 miles per hour would have much different braking needs than the family mini-van you drive around between Poway, Poway and Poway.

But the mechanical aspects of the brakes themselves are just one issue. There’s also the power brake pump and brake fluid. And then there are the tires, which are critical to the effectiveness of the brakes.

Let’s step back. A new Vehicle or truck rolls off a local Poway showroom floor. It has brand new brakes with brand new brake pads. The brake lines and pump are filled with fresh fluid and are completely clean inside. And the tires are brand new, with full tread. It is ready to go.

Naturally, braking power is at its peak performance. Now the miles start to add up on the Vehicle . Poway auto owners tend to focus on the brake pads. In the automotive business, the pads, and shoes on drum brakes, are called the friction material. That’s because they provide the friction used to stop the vehicle. The pads are designed to be effective throughout their useful life – it’s not until they are worn so thin as to be out of manufacturers’ specs that they lose their ability to stop.

The mechanical parts of the brakes have pistons and springs that get quite a workout while breaking. Over many miles around California, these wear and get gummed up. They start to lose effectiveness gradually and could even fail – a scary possibility That’s why a regular brake inspection at Poway Auto Repair is important for your Vehicle and your family’s safety. At Poway Auto Repair we can test the operation of the brakes and see if any parts need cleaning or replacing.

That leads us to brake fluid service at Poway Auto Repair . Some of the critical additives in the fluid that lubricate and clean the Vehicle fluid system are depleted over time. That and moisture building up in the system reduce the performance of the brake fluid. A brake service at Poway Auto Repair cleans out deposits, water and dirt. Then the system is filled up with fresh fluid.

The tires are what connect the Vehicle to the road. Stopping force all comes down to traction. The better the tires grip the road, the quicker you’ll stop.

This is especially important on wet Poway area highways and surface streets. Studies have shown that wet stopping distance increases significantly as tires wear down. California car owners need to understand that they can have brakes that are operating at peak efficiency and yet still be in danger because their tires are worn out.

Hitting The Brakes In Poway

Safety should always be a key element of your car care. So even if you don’t care about how your car looks, you should practice preventive maintenance to protect yourself — and other Poway motorists — on the road. And good safety starts with good brakes.

Brakes need a regular inspection. There are important parts that wear out or wear down, and it’s best to replace them before you have issues.

Of course, if you are having trouble with your brakes, NOW is the time to fix them. If your brake warning light is on, that’s a good sign that you need your brakes checked. Poway auto owners can also tell something is wrong with their brakes by the feel of the pedal or unusual sounds while braking. If the brake pedal is low, feels spongy when you press it or is hard to push, that indicates a problem with your brakes. If you hear squealing, grinding or clunking noises when you brake, that can also indicate troubles. If vibrations accompany braking, then it is essential to get your brakes checked.

Brakes come in two basic types. With disk brakes, a rotor is attached to the axle of the vehicle. Padded calipers straddle the rotor, which close when the brakes are applied. The resulting friction causes the rotor — and the axle — to stop turning. With drum brakes, brake pads (also called shoes) press against the inside of a drum to create friction and stop the drum, and hence the Vehicle ’s wheels, from turning.

When Poway Auto Repair services your brake system, your Friendly service specialist checks all of the brake pads for wear. If they are too thin, they need to be replaced. This is an inexpensive repair at Poway Auto Repair compared to what procrastination will cost you. If pads wear away completely, then the rotors and drums can be damaged. They will have to be either resurfaced or replaced, and that can be pricey. But if your Vehicle brake pads are worn out, then your brakes are compromised and your stopping power is greatly reduced. You could easily wind up in an accident.

Brake pads come in several different grades such as regular, metallic and ceramic. The higher grades are more costly in Poway, but they also work better. California car owners who want better and smoother braking, should consider upgrading. However, Poway drivers should NEVER use a brake pad that is lower than your auto manufacturer’s recommendation.

After you your brake pads are checked at Poway Auto Repair , it’s essential to have your brake fluid checked. This is a critical element in your brake system. When you press your brake pedal, you are compressing the brake fluid, creating pressure that activates the brake pads. If your fluid pressure is low, it will cut down your braking power. The pads just won’t be able to press hard enough against the rotor or drum to stop your Vehicle . Just as with worn pads, insufficient brake fluid can lead to a detrimental and expensive accident in Poway.

Water can build up in your brake fluid, which can cause dangerous corrosion in your braking system. Eventually this can cause your brake fluid to leak. So Poway drivers should also change their brake fluid periodically. Your Vehicle owner’s manual will have guidelines on how often it should be replaced or ask a Friendly service advisor at Poway Auto Repair . We have been servicing brake systems in Poway for 10 years. 

Remember, Poway folks, safety first. It’s vital auto advice for all Poway auto owners on the road. You’re not just protecting others; you’re protecting yourself.

Put On The Brakes: Brake Service At Poway Auto Repair

When it comes to preventive maintenance and car care, most Poway drivers know how critical it is to check their brakes. But brakes are more than just brake pads and shoes. There are a lot of components in the brake system, and they all need to be in good working order.

The pads and shoes are known as the friction materials in the brake system. They push together, providing friction, which stops the vehicle. It’s no wonder they have to be checked regularly for wear, and that brake pads and shoes need to be replaced periodically.

Brake pads/shoes gradually wear out, but that doesn’t mean your braking gradually becomes less effective. The pads are engineered so that they maintain good braking until they wear too thin to provide adequate friction. At this point, they need to be replaced.

But your braking system also has mechanical parts. These pistons and springs can also gradually wear out or get gummed up by oil, dirt and other road spatter. A brake inspection in Poway at Poway Auto Repair includes a check of these parts as well as the pads and shoes. Your Friendly Poway Auto Repair tech can then advise you of any parts that need cleaning or replacement.

The fluid component to the brake system needs a regular check-up at Poway Auto Repair as well. The brake fluid cools and protects your brake system. Protective additives are gradually depleted by the operation of the brake system, and moisture build-up inside the fluid can diminish its effectiveness. When you have your brakes serviced at Poway Auto Repair in Poway, the fluid should be checked and, if needed, replaced, which will clean out water, debris and dirt.

It is vital to remember that your brake system also includes your tires. No matter how well your brake system is performing, if your Vehicle tires are worn, you won’t get good stopping power. Traction is the gripping power of your tires to the roadway. Traction is always better on tires with a good tread. Good traction translates to good braking.

This is particularly essential on wet Poway roads. A good tire will give you good braking on either wet California roads or dry. But stopping distance increases dramatically when worn tires meet wet roads. Tread on a tire acts to channel away water as the Vehicle passes over the wet road, thus maintaining contact between the tire’s surface and the road, which maintains traction. But the thinner the tread, the less effective the water channels become, and water can get between the tire and the roadway, reducing friction. A loss of friction means a longer stopping distance and possibly the loss of control.

Braking depends on two things: the weight of your Vehicle and the speed of the vehicle. The heavier the vehicle or the faster the vehicle, the more braking power it requires. Thus, brake systems vary from vehicle to vehicle. For example, a pickup that is designed for heavy loads has a more powerful braking system than a compact car. Sports cars also have higher-grade braking systems than minivans.

Regardless of what kind of car you drive in Poway, it is always good auto advice to keep your brake system in good repair, and that means ALL of your brake system. Just one more way to keep your travels accident and worry-free.

Brake Replacement

Brake Repair Poway, California: Poway Auto Repair

Many people put off brake pad replacement until they hear the ear piercing screech of metal on metal. Rather than risking damage to your rotors, or worse—putting your life in danger, it’s always best to give brakes the attention they need and check them on a regular basis and replacing brake pads when needed.
It’s easy to assume that your vehicle will stop quickly every time you step on the brake pedal. In driving it’s such a regular process that it’s second nature and easy not to give it much thought. However, ignoring early warning signs of a need for brake pad replacement could have your car parked or in the auto repair shop for much costlier repairs.

How Do You Know When it’s Time for Brake pad Replacement?

While driving often makes it easy for problems with brakes to sneak up without notice, driving often also provides the perfect opportunity to make notes of brake performance and set baselines.
Regularly “feel” the brakes. If the brake pedal goes down further than you expect or is hard it may mean you have a brake problem and need a brake pad replacement. You might also feel a pulsing, or the vehicle might pull to the right or left when braking. There are also noises that signal brake problems, such as clicking, screeching, or grinding.

Any of these problems signal a need to have the brakes checked as soon as possible:
• Vibration in the steering wheel
• Brake or Low-pad warning light on
• Changes in the feel of braking
• Noises when you apply the brakes

Why Have a Professional Check Your Braking System?

The brakes are one of the most important features of your car, so taking care of them is a very high priority. While replacing brakes might seem like an easy project, the technologies implemented in most systems today make the project increasingly technical. Auto shops have the tools, technology, and training to check the system thoroughly, replace brake pads (and in some cases, brake sensors as well), and make any other necessary repairs.
Depending on where you live and they type of driving you do; brake pads usually last between 30,000-35,000 miles. Take your vehicle in to the auto shop every 12-15 moths for a regular inspection of the brake pads and have them replaced as soon as you start to experience problems.

Poway Auto Repair is a star certified smog station.

Braking News: Keep Your Stopping Power

Richard Petty once told AutoNetTV, “You’ve gotta have good brakes. If you’ve got good brakes you can keep yourself out of a lotta trouble.”

That’s why a regular brake inspection is on every Poway driver’s maintenance schedule. An inspection at Poway Auto Repair will check your brake system and let you know if there are any problems.

Of course, if you’re having trouble with your brakes, get your car into Poway Auto Repair in Poway right away. Here are some key symptoms for Poway car owners to watch for:

• Low or spongy brake pedal
• Hard brake pedal
• A brake warning light that stays on
• Constantly squealing or grinding brakes
• Vibrations or clunking sounds when you apply your brakes

If you are experiencing any of these, it’s time to get your brakes checked. To to your Friendly Poway Auto Repair service specialist.

There are two types of brakes: disc and drum. Disc brakes have a rotor that’s attached to the axle. Calipers straddle the rotor, kind of like the brakes on a bicycle.

Drum brakes are most common on back wheels. Both types have pads or shoes that press against the brakes and slow the vehicle. Brake pads and shoes are made out of very tough material to withstand the heat and force generated when stopping your Vehicle  . Eventually, they wear out with use, and become too thin and need to be replaced at Poway Auto Repair .

If the brake pads wear away completely, you can damage the rotors. The calipers can grind grooves in the rotor. Then the rotor must either be resurfaced or replaced. That’s not only expensive, but also dangerous because your vehicle won’t stop as quickly. Sometimes rotors warp or crack and must be replaced.

Poway Auto Repair brake service will also include a check of your brake fluid. When the brakes are applied, the pressure in the fluid activates the brake pads or shoes. Not enough fluid means not enough pressure to brake properly. Also, water builds up in the brake fluid over time, which leads to corrosion, leaks and brake damage, and with hard use, the brakes could severely fade or even fail. Poway motorists should change the brake fluid when their automobile manufacturer recommends to avoid these problems.

There are different grades of brake pads sold in Poway; good, better and best. Higher grades cost more, but give better braking performance and smoother operation. It’s OK to upgrade your brake pads. But, never use a grade that’s lower than what the car maker recommends.

So, be sure to properly maintain your brakes, because it’s a lot less expensive than paying your Poway body shop after an accident.

Come in to Poway Auto Repair for an brake inspection before damage occurs. You can call ahead for an appointment by calling (858) 748-0561 .