Services
Brakes
Squeal, grind, a soft pedal or a pull when you stop. Bring it in, tell us what you hear and feel, and we take a look. You see the worn parts and approve the work before anything starts.
Warning signs, sorted
Stop driving and call
- Grinding when you brake.
- The pedal feels soft or sinks toward the floor.
- The brake warning light is on and the pedal feels soft, or you smell burning.
- The car pulls hard to one side when you brake.
Get it checked soon
- A squeal or squeak when you stop.
- Vibration or pulsing in the pedal or the steering wheel when you brake.
- A slight pull to one side when you brake.
- Clicking or rattling from a wheel.
If the pedal goes to the floor, do not drive the car. Call us, or call for a tow. Brakes do not get better on their own, and a squeal that is ignored usually turns into a grind.
What the noises and feelings mean
- Squeal: many pads have a small metal tab that touches the rotor when the pad gets thin. The noise is there to get your attention.
- Grinding: the pad is worn through and metal is rubbing the rotor. Rotors wear fast like that.
- Pulsing pedal or shaking wheel when braking: rotors worn uneven, often called warped.
- Pull when braking: one side is gripping harder than the other, from uneven pad contact or a part that is sticking.
- Clicking or rattling: pads or the hardware that holds them are loose or worn.
Not every noise is trouble. Dust and moisture can make brakes squeak on the first few stops of a damp morning, and that usually fades. A noise that stays, gets louder, or changes from a squeal to a grind is the one to bring in. Note when it happens, because that helps us find it.
What a brake inspection looks at
We offer brake inspections. With the wheels off, we look at:
- Pads: how much is left, and whether they are wearing evenly.
- Rotors: thickness, grooves, cracks and uneven wear.
- Calipers: whether they move freely or stick, and any leaks.
- Hardware: the clips and pins that hold the pads in place.
- Brake fluid: the level and its condition.
- Hoses and lines: cracks, swelling and leaks.
Pads only, or pads and rotors
Pads are the part that wears by design. Rotors are the metal discs the pads squeeze. We replace brake pads and rotors, and new pads do not always mean new rotors.
A rotor that is smooth and still thick enough can stay, or be resurfaced: a thin layer is machined off so the face is flat again. A rotor gets replaced when it is worn below the carmaker's minimum thickness, deeply grooved, cracked, or too warped to make flat. We measure and show you which yours are.
Brake fluid ages
Brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air over time, and fluid with water in it does not work as well. Your owner's manual says how often to change it. We check the level and the condition during an inspection and tell you if it is due.
What happens when you come in
- Walk in any day we are open. No appointment.
- Tell us what you hear and feel, and when: the first stop of the morning, every stop, or only at speed.
- We take the wheels off and look at the brakes.
- We show you the worn parts and what we measured.
- We tell you what it needs and the price before any work starts. No surprise fees.
- You approve the work before it starts, and we do only what you approved.
If something can wait, we tell you that too.
Related services and tires
Wheel alignment, with a before and after printout
Questions we get
Can you check my brakes?
Yes. Walk in and ask for a brake inspection. We look at the pads, rotors, calipers, hardware, fluid and hoses, and tell you what we see.
Why are my brakes squealing? Is it safe to drive?
Often it is the wear tab telling you the pads are getting thin. It is usually safe to drive to the shop, but get it checked soon, before it turns into a grind.
What does grinding mean?
Usually the pad is worn through and metal is touching the rotor. Stop driving on it if you can and call us. It damages the rotors quickly.
Do I need new rotors with new pads?
Not always. If the rotors are smooth and thick enough, they can stay or be resurfaced. We measure them and show you before you decide.
Why does my steering wheel shake when I brake?
Usually rotors worn uneven. A shake that also happens without braking may be balance or a wheel problem instead.
How long do brake pads last?
It depends on the car and how it is driven. Stop and go traffic wears them faster than highway miles. An inspection tells you how much is left.
My brake pedal feels soft or goes to the floor. What do I do?
Do not drive the car. Call us, or call for a tow.
Do I need an appointment?
No. Walk in any day. We are open seven days a week.
Related
- Services
Wheel alignment
So the car tracks straight and the tread wears even. - Services
Oil change
Get it done on the same visit. - Tires
New tires
The major brands, quoted to your size. - Guide
Hydroplaning and flooded roads
Rain, tread depth, and what to check after high water. - Guide
Tire rotation, balance and vibration
Why rotate, what balance fixes, and what a shake means.
Walk in any day, or text us first.
6302 Westheimer Rd at Winrock. No appointment. You get the price before we start.