We continue with our discussion of brake terminology, which will help you better understand how your vehicle’s braking system works:
Drums
Function: A friction surface for the brake shoes to stop the vehicle; dissipates heat build up with its thickness.
Signs of Wear: Measured thickness, out of round, cracked, hard spots or groves.
Can Cause: Noise, pulsating, vibration and low brake pedal.
Drum Hardware
Function: Holds brake shoes in position and prevents shoes from dragging on brake drums after braking.
Signs of Wear: Dirty, rusty, broken, distorted or corroded.
Can Cause: Noise, excessive brake shoe and drum wear, pulling and grabbing.
Grease Seals
Function: Keeps grease on the wheel bearings.
Signs of Wear: Leaks, seals torn or damaged.
Can Cause: Noise, spindle and rotor damage.
Master Cylinder
Function: Holds and transfers brake fluid to the front and rear brakes.
Signs of Wear: Leaks, brake warning light.
Can Cause: Low brake pedal, unreliable stopping or fading brake pedal.
Rotors
Function: A friction surface for the brake pads to stop the vehicle; dissipates heat build up with its thickness.
Signs of Wear: Measured thickness, cracks, warped, grooves or hard spots.
Can Cause: Noise, heat build up, pulsating and vibration.
Wheel Bearings
Function: Allows wheels to rotate smoothly.
Signs of Wear: Noise, cracks, pits or blurring.
Can Cause: Vibration, noise, spindle and rotor damage.
Wheel Cylinders
Function: Pushes the brake shoes on the drum.
Signs of Wear: Leaks, corroded pistons or brake warning light.
Can Cause: Noise, grabbing, pulling to the side, premature brake shoe wear and brake drum damage.
Showing posts with label brake repair. Show all posts
Showing posts with label brake repair. Show all posts
Brakes 101–Part 2 Brake Terms
At each Budget Brakes store, we display common brake terms and explain what they mean so that our customers have a better understanding of each part’s function, as well as the signs of wear and symptoms that indicate when a part may need to be repaired or replaced.
We’ve broken our list of terms into two posts. Here’s the first one:
Anti-lock Brake Module
Function: Electronically assists stopping vehicle in shortest distance.
Signs of Wear: ABS warning light on or noise.
Can Cause: Longer stopping distance and brake pedal vibration.
Brake Hoses
Function: A flexible link between the vehicle’s frame and the front wheels.
Signs of Wear: Cracking, ballooning, leaking or restriction of brake fluid flow.
Can Cause: Pulling to the side, premature brake pad wear, and caliper and brake rotor damage.
Brake Pads
Function: Material that wears against brake rotors and stops the vehicle.
Signs of Wear: Thickness, cracks, separation from backing plate.
Can Cause: Noise, brake rotor and caliper damage.
Brake Shoes
Function: Material that wears against brake drums and stops the vehicle.
Signs of Wear: Thickness, cracks, separation from backing plate.
Can Cause: Noise, brake drum and wheel cylinder damage.
Calipers
Function: Push and retract brake pads from the rotor.
Signs of Wear: Leaks, torn dust boot or uneven brake pad wear.
Can Cause: Noise, grabbing, pulling to the side, premature brake pad wear and brake rotor damage.
Discharge Hardware
Function: Holds brake pads in position and prevents pads from dragging on brake rotors after braking.
Signs of Wear: Dirty, rusty, broken, distorted or corroded.
Can Cause: Noise, excessive brake pad and rotor wear, pulling and grabbing.
We’ve broken our list of terms into two posts. Here’s the first one:
Anti-lock Brake Module
Function: Electronically assists stopping vehicle in shortest distance.
Signs of Wear: ABS warning light on or noise.
Can Cause: Longer stopping distance and brake pedal vibration.
Brake Hoses
Function: A flexible link between the vehicle’s frame and the front wheels.
Signs of Wear: Cracking, ballooning, leaking or restriction of brake fluid flow.
Can Cause: Pulling to the side, premature brake pad wear, and caliper and brake rotor damage.
Brake Pads
Function: Material that wears against brake rotors and stops the vehicle.
Signs of Wear: Thickness, cracks, separation from backing plate.
Can Cause: Noise, brake rotor and caliper damage.
Brake Shoes
Function: Material that wears against brake drums and stops the vehicle.
Signs of Wear: Thickness, cracks, separation from backing plate.
Can Cause: Noise, brake drum and wheel cylinder damage.
Calipers
Function: Push and retract brake pads from the rotor.
Signs of Wear: Leaks, torn dust boot or uneven brake pad wear.
Can Cause: Noise, grabbing, pulling to the side, premature brake pad wear and brake rotor damage.
Discharge Hardware
Function: Holds brake pads in position and prevents pads from dragging on brake rotors after braking.
Signs of Wear: Dirty, rusty, broken, distorted or corroded.
Can Cause: Noise, excessive brake pad and rotor wear, pulling and grabbing.
Brakes 101–Part 1
Knowing when your brakes need to be repaired can be confusing, which is why each Budget Brakes store has posters with brake warning signs and explanations of what brake terms mean.
We believe that the better educated our customers are about brake repair and maintenance, the better they will understand our recommendations and the more they will want to be Budget Brakes customers!
Budget Brakes has a brake-inspection process that is much more thorough and detailed than most of our competitors. We also follow industry specifications for parts replacement, which not all places do.
Here are the brake warning signs you will find displayed at our stores. In the next post, I’ll list common brake terms and explain what they mean.
Brake Warning Signs:
PULL: Vehicle pulls to one side when brakes are applied.
GRAB: “Touchy” brakes that grab with the least amount of pressure.
DRAG: Sticking brakes, hot wheels or engine which seems to have lost power.
SQUEAL: Some brake noise is normal; however, constant groaning, grinding or squealing is not.
LOW PEDAL: Pedal nearly touches the floorboard before brakes function.
HARD PEDAL: Requires an extreme amount of pressure to make brakes function.
VIBRATION: Brake pedal, steering wheel or entire vehicle shakes, vibrates or pulses when brake is applied.
MILAGE: Brakes are “out of sight, out of mind.” Remember yours at least once a year, even if none of the above symptoms are present.
BRAKE WARNING LIGHT: Emergency brake is on, low brake fluid or a drop in Hydraulic pressure.
We believe that the better educated our customers are about brake repair and maintenance, the better they will understand our recommendations and the more they will want to be Budget Brakes customers!
Budget Brakes has a brake-inspection process that is much more thorough and detailed than most of our competitors. We also follow industry specifications for parts replacement, which not all places do.
Here are the brake warning signs you will find displayed at our stores. In the next post, I’ll list common brake terms and explain what they mean.
Brake Warning Signs:
PULL: Vehicle pulls to one side when brakes are applied.
GRAB: “Touchy” brakes that grab with the least amount of pressure.
DRAG: Sticking brakes, hot wheels or engine which seems to have lost power.
SQUEAL: Some brake noise is normal; however, constant groaning, grinding or squealing is not.
LOW PEDAL: Pedal nearly touches the floorboard before brakes function.
HARD PEDAL: Requires an extreme amount of pressure to make brakes function.
VIBRATION: Brake pedal, steering wheel or entire vehicle shakes, vibrates or pulses when brake is applied.
MILAGE: Brakes are “out of sight, out of mind.” Remember yours at least once a year, even if none of the above symptoms are present.
BRAKE WARNING LIGHT: Emergency brake is on, low brake fluid or a drop in Hydraulic pressure.
Budget Brakes Manager Goes the Extra Mile to Help a Customer
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.
“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.
How To Make Your Brakes Last Longer – Part 1
Brakes eventually wear out and need to be replaced, which is why Budget Brakes is in business. However, as a driver there are some strategic things you can do to increase the life of your brakes.
Mac Demere, a writer, vehicle tester and race driver, wrote for Edmunds.com about the Top 10 Ways To Make Your Brakes Last Longer. Today I’ll pull out a few gems from his list, then I’ll present the rest of his tips in my next two posts.
Speed Kills. Stops from high speed are the mortal enemy of brakes. And a little more speed hurts more than you can imagine. Stopping from 65 mph rather than 55 forces the brakes to dissipate about a third more energy.
No Lefties. Use only your right foot on the brake pedal. I often see cars cruising at a constant speed — or accelerating away from me — with brake lights either constantly illuminated or glowing like lonely lightning bugs. By braking with only your right foot, you'll avoid simultaneously pushing both pedals.
Be a Coaster. Coasting is a surprisingly easy way to get rid of a lot of brake-killing speed. If you know you'll have to stop at the end of a freeway off-ramp, coasting from 70 down to 50 before you brake will significantly reduce brake wear. Time lost will be little or, if cars are queued ahead, none.
So, the choice is yours. If you want your brakes to last longer, don’t habitually brake at high speeds, keep your left foot off the brake pedal, and learn how to coast.
Mac Demere, a writer, vehicle tester and race driver, wrote for Edmunds.com about the Top 10 Ways To Make Your Brakes Last Longer. Today I’ll pull out a few gems from his list, then I’ll present the rest of his tips in my next two posts.
Speed Kills. Stops from high speed are the mortal enemy of brakes. And a little more speed hurts more than you can imagine. Stopping from 65 mph rather than 55 forces the brakes to dissipate about a third more energy.
No Lefties. Use only your right foot on the brake pedal. I often see cars cruising at a constant speed — or accelerating away from me — with brake lights either constantly illuminated or glowing like lonely lightning bugs. By braking with only your right foot, you'll avoid simultaneously pushing both pedals.
Be a Coaster. Coasting is a surprisingly easy way to get rid of a lot of brake-killing speed. If you know you'll have to stop at the end of a freeway off-ramp, coasting from 70 down to 50 before you brake will significantly reduce brake wear. Time lost will be little or, if cars are queued ahead, none.
So, the choice is yours. If you want your brakes to last longer, don’t habitually brake at high speeds, keep your left foot off the brake pedal, and learn how to coast.
Welcome to Braking the Mold
We're Michael Palazzolo and Steven Ryan, co-owners of Budget Brakes.
Each week we'll bring you relevant news about and insights into our business, along with helpful tips about brake work, maintenance, alignments and anything else we think you'll find of interest related to the auto industry.
We'll talk about our stores, what we do and who you'll see when you walk in the doors of the Budget Brakes store in your community.
We'll also brag a bit about the communities and people we serve, and don't be surprised to see updates now and then as to how the local baseball, football and soccer teams we sponsor did in their most recent games.
Our commitment at each Budget Brakes store is to provide the best possible service and "go the extra mile" for our customers. From time to time, we'll give you a behind-the-scenes look at what we do both in our stores and in our communities, and we'll also share humorous real-life stores that have actually taken place on our property.
We'll also discuss some of our challenges as business owners, what we've learned about the industry over the years and how we live out our values day in and day out.
If you have questions, please send them to us! We'll answer as many of them as we can right here. Whether you are a Do-It-Yourselfer with a technical question or a novice who'd like an expert opinion on something related to your brakes, we want to hear from you.
We'd also like to hear what you want to learn about, whether it's how to know when your car needs new brakes, ways you can extend the life of your brakes, how to tell when your brake pads are shot -- or something elsel.
Beyond brakes, we'll blog about some of the other things we really care about -- things like running, biking, flying (we're both licensed pilots), adventure sports and interesting people who are involved in these activities.
We'll share more about ourselves in our next two posts. Thanks for stopping by.
Each week we'll bring you relevant news about and insights into our business, along with helpful tips about brake work, maintenance, alignments and anything else we think you'll find of interest related to the auto industry.
We'll talk about our stores, what we do and who you'll see when you walk in the doors of the Budget Brakes store in your community.
We'll also brag a bit about the communities and people we serve, and don't be surprised to see updates now and then as to how the local baseball, football and soccer teams we sponsor did in their most recent games.
Our commitment at each Budget Brakes store is to provide the best possible service and "go the extra mile" for our customers. From time to time, we'll give you a behind-the-scenes look at what we do both in our stores and in our communities, and we'll also share humorous real-life stores that have actually taken place on our property.
We'll also discuss some of our challenges as business owners, what we've learned about the industry over the years and how we live out our values day in and day out.
If you have questions, please send them to us! We'll answer as many of them as we can right here. Whether you are a Do-It-Yourselfer with a technical question or a novice who'd like an expert opinion on something related to your brakes, we want to hear from you.
We'd also like to hear what you want to learn about, whether it's how to know when your car needs new brakes, ways you can extend the life of your brakes, how to tell when your brake pads are shot -- or something elsel.
Beyond brakes, we'll blog about some of the other things we really care about -- things like running, biking, flying (we're both licensed pilots), adventure sports and interesting people who are involved in these activities.
We'll share more about ourselves in our next two posts. Thanks for stopping by.
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