Proper car maintenance, including regular brake service, is critical to safe driving. The brake system is probably the most important system in your vehicle. Most modern cars have disc brakes on the front wheels and drums on the back, while older or smaller vehicles often have all drum systems, and some expensive or high-performance cars have discs on all four wheels. All brake systems wear out eventually, but wear over time depends on several factors like driving habits, environment, and materials.
Some vehicle manufacturers include brake service in their car maintenance schedule, but all brake systems should be inspected at regular time or mileage intervals, usually every 4-6 months or 5,000-7,000 miles. If rust or dirt buildup is causing brake noise, or if inspection turns up signs of seizing up or sticking, it is time for servicing. Brake service at Brookside “66” includes removing excess rust, cleaning, and lubricating of brake components to keep them functioning safely, and replacement when necessary. You never want your brakes to get to the “metal-to-metal” point, which usually means expensive rotor or drum replacement. If your vehicle exhibits dragging brakes, squealing brakes, a pulsating brake pedal (with ABS not functioning), grinding brakes, a low brake pedal or pulling when braking, you should schedule car maintenance with our qualified technicians as soon as possible.
For years many Asian vehicle manufacturers have recommended changing the brake fluid as part of your regular car maintenance. Since brake fluid is hygroscopic (it absorbs moisture from the air) and most of these vehicles have master cylinders vented to the atmosphere, they recommend changing the fluid because moisture causes expensive brake components to corrode, and it also lowers the boiling point of the fluid. If brake fluid boils on a hard stop, the pedal will simply drop to the floor. Brookside “66” recommends brake fluid flushes on most vehicles every 30,000 miles or 2 years. A brake fluid flush includes removing the existing fluid and moisture out of the system and replacing it with new, clean, fluid, ensuring proper brake system performance and increasing the lifespan of your brake system components.
As a Napa Auto Care Center our warranty for parts and labor are guaranteed for 24 months or 24,000 miles nationwide, whichever comes first. (Some manufacturer’s parts may extend beyond 24 months or 24,000 miles.)
For more information about car maintenance and brake service, call Brookside “66”. To schedule an appointment, click here.