Earlier this month, we received the following e-mail from a customer named Lea:
“I was referred to Budget Brakes by a co-worker. Saturday I went
to the nearest one to my home (Charlotte Ave in Nashville) to have my
brakes looked at. Unfortunately the night before my boyfriend's mom was
rushed to the ICU and was hanging on for dear life. I was going to drop
off my car and take a taxi to the hospital to be with the family. Not
only did Brian (the Manager) take care of my car, but he was kind enough
to drive me to the hospital to take the burden off of me and my
boyfriend. The experience was absolutely amazing, they did not rush me
at all to pick up the car and offered payment options if that would be
helpful to us. I can't say enough good things about the Charlotte Ave.
branch. They are a top notch team and I will send everyone I know their
way.”
Thanks, Brian, for your extraordinary efforts to meet Lea’s needs! This is the type of exceptional customer service to which our company is committed, and it’s great to see a real-life example of this commitment in action.
Our policy has always been to provide superior service, and we pledge to continue going the extra mile to serve our customers at each Budget Brakes store throughout 2010.
May this New Year be a joyful one for you and those you love.
Budget Brakes Opens First Store in Florida
Steven and I are pleased to announce that Budget Brakes has opened a store in Pensacola. It is our 15th store and the first one in Florida.
We chose Pensacola after about a year of evaluating the market there. The Pensacola area is similar to Mobil, Alabama, where we have a very successful store. It’s an ideal location for us, and we are glad to be part of the community.
Despite a challenging economy, Budget Brakes is in an expansion mode and we plan to add two more locations in 2010.
The Pensacola Budget Brakes has four employees, all of which have experience in the automotive industry. Manager Cory Beall has six years experience and has opened several Budget Brakes stores. Two of the certified mechanics are from Pensacola, and the third one is from Nashville.
The Pensacola Budget Brakes store is located as 4709 Mobile Highway. In addition to brake inspection and repairs, it provides bearing and seal repair; steering and suspension parts; shock absorber repair; tire rotation; and wheel balancing.
We have been very blessed this year and are grateful for our continued growth. We hope that 2009 has been a good year for you, too.
On behalf of the entire Budget Brakes team, I wish you and your loved ones a joyful Christmas.
We chose Pensacola after about a year of evaluating the market there. The Pensacola area is similar to Mobil, Alabama, where we have a very successful store. It’s an ideal location for us, and we are glad to be part of the community.
Despite a challenging economy, Budget Brakes is in an expansion mode and we plan to add two more locations in 2010.
The Pensacola Budget Brakes has four employees, all of which have experience in the automotive industry. Manager Cory Beall has six years experience and has opened several Budget Brakes stores. Two of the certified mechanics are from Pensacola, and the third one is from Nashville.
The Pensacola Budget Brakes store is located as 4709 Mobile Highway. In addition to brake inspection and repairs, it provides bearing and seal repair; steering and suspension parts; shock absorber repair; tire rotation; and wheel balancing.
We have been very blessed this year and are grateful for our continued growth. We hope that 2009 has been a good year for you, too.
On behalf of the entire Budget Brakes team, I wish you and your loved ones a joyful Christmas.
How To Make Your Brakes Last Longer-Part 3
This is the third in a three-part series of driving tips from race driver Mac Demere. They are designed to help extend the life of your brakes.
Lose Some Weight. Don't carry unnecessary stuff. Math majors will point out that this won't make a big difference unless you're hauling those barbells you keep forgetting to drop off at Goodwill. Consider vehicle weight before your next purchase. A heavier vehicle is harder on brakes. And tires. And gas.
Flush It. Brake fluid needs to be periodically changed. In mechanic-speak it's called bleeding and flushing. Renew your brake fluid, especially if you have an older vehicle or one you purchased used. You gain nothing if you save brake material but the insides of the system rot away. Flushing the brake fluid will make the internal components last longer and the brakes work better. Brake fluid naturally attracts water.
In an emergency stop or after repeated brake applications, this moisture boils and severely reduces braking effectiveness. Moisture also promotes internal corrosion, which ruins critical rubber seals. Some vehicle manufacturers recommend renewing brake fluid every couple of years. While there are mechanics that challenge its cost-effectiveness, brake bleeding is an inexpensive, easy task for a do-it-yourselfer.
Be Frugal, Not Foolish. Trying to extend brake life too long will cost big money. If metal touches metal, frugality becomes foolish. A good time to inspect brake material thickness is when you have your tires rotated. Novice do-it-yourselfers: With a wheel removed, it's easy to check disc brake pad thickness, as they're open for viewing. It's more difficult with drum brakes because the drum has to be removed.
Other foolishness: downshifting to save brakes. Transmissions (and clutches) cost a lot more than brakes. Race drivers downshift to be in the proper gear to accelerate out of the next turn. If experienced racers are downshifting to reduce speed, their brakes are failing. With brake failures in racecars, I have found it easier to coast. (A mistake on a downshift can cause a rear-drive car to spin out.)
Many of these tips also will save gas and make you a safer, smoother driver.
Mac’s advice will help make your brakes last as long as possible. But eventually, when you need new brake pads or a complete brake job, I hope you'll consider stopping by your local Budget Brakes store. For the location nearest you go to: HYPERLINK "http://www.budgetbrakes.com/locations.php" http://www.budgetbrakes.com/locations.php
Lose Some Weight. Don't carry unnecessary stuff. Math majors will point out that this won't make a big difference unless you're hauling those barbells you keep forgetting to drop off at Goodwill. Consider vehicle weight before your next purchase. A heavier vehicle is harder on brakes. And tires. And gas.
Flush It. Brake fluid needs to be periodically changed. In mechanic-speak it's called bleeding and flushing. Renew your brake fluid, especially if you have an older vehicle or one you purchased used. You gain nothing if you save brake material but the insides of the system rot away. Flushing the brake fluid will make the internal components last longer and the brakes work better. Brake fluid naturally attracts water.
In an emergency stop or after repeated brake applications, this moisture boils and severely reduces braking effectiveness. Moisture also promotes internal corrosion, which ruins critical rubber seals. Some vehicle manufacturers recommend renewing brake fluid every couple of years. While there are mechanics that challenge its cost-effectiveness, brake bleeding is an inexpensive, easy task for a do-it-yourselfer.
Be Frugal, Not Foolish. Trying to extend brake life too long will cost big money. If metal touches metal, frugality becomes foolish. A good time to inspect brake material thickness is when you have your tires rotated. Novice do-it-yourselfers: With a wheel removed, it's easy to check disc brake pad thickness, as they're open for viewing. It's more difficult with drum brakes because the drum has to be removed.
Other foolishness: downshifting to save brakes. Transmissions (and clutches) cost a lot more than brakes. Race drivers downshift to be in the proper gear to accelerate out of the next turn. If experienced racers are downshifting to reduce speed, their brakes are failing. With brake failures in racecars, I have found it easier to coast. (A mistake on a downshift can cause a rear-drive car to spin out.)
Many of these tips also will save gas and make you a safer, smoother driver.
Mac’s advice will help make your brakes last as long as possible. But eventually, when you need new brake pads or a complete brake job, I hope you'll consider stopping by your local Budget Brakes store. For the location nearest you go to: HYPERLINK "http://www.budgetbrakes.com/locations.php" http://www.budgetbrakes.com/locations.php
How To Make Your Brakes Last Longer-Part 2
Today’s tips are about how you handle your vehicle on the road. Again, thanks to race car driver Mac Demere for the great advice.
Memory Factor. Memorize places where other drivers inappropriately slow down. Examples include hills and gentle freeway bends that many mistake for hairpin turns. Often, you'll have to coast down to their pace. Plan ahead and you might be able to change lanes around them. They'll re-pass you on the next downhill or straightaway, but you will have used less brakes and gas.
Look Up and Save. Look far enough ahead and you'll be able to correctly time stoplights, notice traffic backing up or see cars slowing on an incline that's just become visible. Look beyond the next traffic signal and check out the one after that.
Don't Join In. Many drivers brake just because the guy in front did, and sometimes the first driver touched his brake for no good reason. It'll take a bit of practice to learn to coast when others brake inappropriately, especially if you weren't looking far enough ahead.
None of this advice is difficult to follow; it just requires that you pay attention and practice these habits until they become second nature to you. If it's easier, you can take one tip, practice for a couple of weeks and then add the next brake-saving strategy. In just a few weeks, you'll be driving like a pro while saving wear-and-tear on your brakes.
Memory Factor. Memorize places where other drivers inappropriately slow down. Examples include hills and gentle freeway bends that many mistake for hairpin turns. Often, you'll have to coast down to their pace. Plan ahead and you might be able to change lanes around them. They'll re-pass you on the next downhill or straightaway, but you will have used less brakes and gas.
Look Up and Save. Look far enough ahead and you'll be able to correctly time stoplights, notice traffic backing up or see cars slowing on an incline that's just become visible. Look beyond the next traffic signal and check out the one after that.
Don't Join In. Many drivers brake just because the guy in front did, and sometimes the first driver touched his brake for no good reason. It'll take a bit of practice to learn to coast when others brake inappropriately, especially if you weren't looking far enough ahead.
None of this advice is difficult to follow; it just requires that you pay attention and practice these habits until they become second nature to you. If it's easier, you can take one tip, practice for a couple of weeks and then add the next brake-saving strategy. In just a few weeks, you'll be driving like a pro while saving wear-and-tear on your brakes.
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