Have you ever stopped at a traffic light and heard a loud squeaking sound coming from your car? This squeaking sound is the brake pad making improper contact with the brake rotor or drums. It’s time for import car repair.

Brake Pads First things first, let’s take a look at the anatomy of a braking system. Brake pads are made of generally made of semi-metallic materials such as steel wool, copper or brass shavings. They are designed to withstand high temperature as well as tremendous wear and tear. The pads are often changed at the same time as the rotors or brake drums.

Rotors and Brake Drums Rotors are high speed steel discs that fit over the wheel shaft and tire bearing assembly. The brake pads make contact with the rotors when the brake pedal is depressed. Some manufacturers choose to use brake drums instead. Drums are made of high speed steel, much like the alternative. The difference, however, is that this component is enclosed and looks like a small drum. The brake pads are located inside the drum and stop the vehicle by pressing against its inside wall.

Brake Calipers These are the stationary components of the disc braking system, which hold the pads. The calipers create a source of friction as the rotors spin against the depressed pads. A broken caliper will result in a faulty braking system.

Now that some of the components of the braking system have been explained and defined, you can better assess whether or not your vehicle is in need of repair. High speed stops are a great indicator if the brakes need to be replaced. High speed stops put a lot of stress on the braking system components and if they are faulty this practice can signal what components are in need of maintenance. Please note that high speed braking should be done in a safe and traffic free area.

Front End Rattle when braking signals that the front brakes are in need of attention, the rotors are getting thin and warped, causing the front end to rattle and feel out of control.

Jagged Stopping The vehicle seems to be intermittently stopping. This is an indicator that the rear brakes are worn and need maintenance. The brake pedal is spongy and the vehicle is slow to respond to braking. This could be a variety of things, from low brake fluid levels, bad brake lines, faulty calipers, or brake pads and rotors being over worn. Regardless the issue, you should go to your mechanic right away. This is a dangerous condition for you and the other folks on the road. There are plenty of experts for Chevrolet, Audi or VW repair in Austin, Texas. Whatever make or model you drive, you’ll find someone equipped to fix your braking system.

If it is time to replace the pads, rotors, or some other braking component, then be sure to investigate the options available to you. Depending on your vehicle usage, there are a wide variety of brake options out there. If the vehicle is going to be used in town — with a lot of stopping and going — then it would be a good idea to purchase the brake pads and rotors designed for high wear conditions. However, those who are just traveling the highways or making occasional short trips, there are less expensive OEM brake parts that would be perfectly suitable.

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Car or Motorcycle not running? Just because you think you need car repair or motorcycle repair, not every visit to a mechanic means a total engine replacement. You don’t have to panic just because your car needs a little work. Some repairs are fairly straightforward procedures while others can be panic-worthy. Here are a couple of the more common reasons you may need to see a mechanic in Austin.

Clutch Repair

Most vehicles can go about five to seven years before they need a clutch repair but in a stop-and-start city like Austin, it may be less than average. IF the clutch starts to feel stiff or becomes difficult to push, you may need a repair. The engine may sound like it’s revving when you begin to move forwards or when you accelerate.

Before you let a mechanic replace the entire clutch, have him try an adjustment first. The symptoms are often the same. An adjustment will only take a few minutes and cost far less than a replacement so it’s worth a try. You should be able to feel about a half inch of slack (called “free play” in mechanic parlance) when you begin to press down on the clutch. If you have too little or too much, try an adjustment. You may still need further repairs but you may see improvement without a long and expensive replacement.

Brake Repair

If your brakes seem less responsive in Austin traffic lately then you may be in need of a brake repair. There are several things that the braking system may need. Some can be good DIY projects while other require the expertise of a professional.

Brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air. Once it collects a certain amount of this moisture it no longer functions properly. After about two years, it’s time to flush the fluids our and refill. Contaminated fluid will be dark in color. If you change your own oil, you may be a savvy enough do-it-yourselfer to take on this task as well. Just keep in mind that brake fluid will destroy paint so be extra careful not to smudge, smear or spill the new or used fluid on the car’s painted surfaces.

The breaking system may need further repairs if the fluid is not the issue. The pads will eventually need to be replaced as will the brake shoes. Sometimes a cylinder will crack or break and need replacement. There are a number of other things that can go wrong in this area. A mechanic’s attentions should be sought if the brakes do not seem to be working properly.

Transmission Repairs

This could be one of the more panic-inducing repair you could face at the mechanic’s shop. The transmission is the most costly system to repair. It is complex and takes a legitimately fair amount of hours in labor to fix. However, if you are careful in changing gears and avoid driving at high rpm’s you can help keep your transmission healthy.

Taking the car to the mechanic can be stressful. Take a deep breath and relax – it may not be as bad as you think.

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Leonard’s Garage & Service Center
4401 South 1st Street
Austin, TX 78745-1924
(512) 445-2892

Leonard’s Garage & Service Center
4401 South 1st Street
Austin, TX 78745-1924
(512) 445-2892

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