Brake Repair and Brake Pad Replacement Services at Your Dallas Area Driver’s Edge
The ASE-Certified Mechanics in Our Brake Shop Will Keep Your Car Safe on the Road
There are some auto repairs and maintenance appointments that can wait until a more convenient time. However, issues with your car’s brakes can’t wait. The safety of you and your family, as well as all the other cars on the road with you, is too important for delay.
Such things as new and unusual noises, the car pulling to one side, strange “metal on metal” sounds, new vibrations, a spongy brake pedal, or the warning light on your dash suddenly appearing may be alerting you to brake problems. Set an appointment right away to have the problems diagnosed. This will save you time and money by catching small problems before they become large, expensive brake repairs.
Driver’s Edge Routine Brake Inspection
We recommend having your vehicle’s brakes checked every six months or 6,000 miles, whichever comes first. Simply add a brake inspection to your list of other maintenance appointments. This will help prevent emergencies on the road, which always seem to happen at inconvenient times. It’s simple to add this free brake check to other routine services, such as an oil change or AC check.
A Driver’s Edge brake inspection includes checking the following:
- Brake pads (and/or brake shoes)
- Brake calipers
- Brake rotors (and/or brake drums)
- Wheel cylinders
- Hardware (springs and adjusters)
- Hoses
- Parking brake cables
- Brake fluid condition
- Wheel bearings and grease seals
- Master cylinder fluid exchange
- ABS module
- Brake lines
After this thorough brake inspection service is completed, our brake mechanics will test-drive your vehicle to make sure everything is working properly. If any repairs are indicated, you will be given a written quote so you can ask questions and make a decision on how to proceed.
Schedule Your Brake Shop Appointment
Brake Pads 101
Brake pads are an important part of your car’s braking system. They are flat pieces of steel with friction material on one side and play a key role in bringing your car to a stop when you step on the brake pedal. The pads come into contact with the brake discs and the friction causes the wheels to stop.
As you can imagine, this causes tremendous stress on the pads. Eventually they wear down due to this friction, especially if you:
- drive in heavy traffic, with frequent stopping.
- keep one foot on the brake all the time.
- frequently brake at the last minute.
- drive more than average.
Older vehicles may have brake drums rather than pads. However, the stopping process is much the same.
Driver’s Edge can help with any brake pad replacement needs!
Different types of brake pads
Drivers generally have a choice of three types of brake pads: ceramic, semi-metallic, or organic.
- Ceramic: Ideal for most normal driving applications, they create very little dust or noise and are long-lasting. Many foreign and domestic vehicles are equipped with ceramic brake pads from the factory. Ceramic brake pads are excellent for daily driving because they are quiet, comfortable, and durable.
- Semi-metallic: These pads include steel, iron, copper, and other metals in order to increase their stopping power. Semi-metallic brake pads are also the most durable and more heat-resistant than other pads, so they perform well over the widest range of temperatures. For these reasons, they are often chosen for performance driving.
- Non-metallic/Organic: Organic brake pads are made of a mixture of common materials like rubber, carbon, glass/fiberglass, and others, bonded together by resin. They are suitable for everyday driving and don’t produce much heat when stopping.
Red Flags for Brake Problems
Your brakes need attention when you experience one or more of these red flags:
- Squealing, thumping, or grinding sounds
- Yellow puddles of brake fluid
- Less resistance in the pedal when braking
- More distance needed to come to a complete stop
- Pulling to one side when braking
- Vibration in the pedal when braking
Brake parts wear out. Come to your Dallas Driver’s Edge as soon as you experience any of these issues. The experts at our Dallas auto repair shop understand how your braking system works and will have you back on the road safely in no time!
Don’t forget to check our latest coupons and brake specials!
Concierge Service
We understand the stress of car problems. To help out, we offer our free concierge service. We pick up your car from your location (within three miles of Driver’s Edge) and return it after services have been completed.
Dallas Brake Shop FAQs
What Are Signs of Worn Brake Pads?
If your brake pads have gotten worn down, the rest of your brake system is at risk of being damaged every time you apply the brakes. To avoid costly damage that’ll keep your car off the road for a while, it’s highly recommended that you replace your worn brake pads immediately. There are several signs that your brake pads are worn and need immediate attention.
If, for instance, you hear a buzzing, scraping, or squealing sound as you’re driving, it’s likely that your brake pads are no longer providing sufficient padding. When you put your foot on the brake, does the squealing noise go away? If so, the noise is a result of the “wear indicators” that are placed on most brake pads. The purpose of these devices is to emit that sound. Additional signs that indicate your brake pads are worn include:
- You hear a clicking sound
- Your car takes longer than usual to come to a stop
- The front of your car pulls to one side as you brake
- Your brake pedal vibrates when you press down on it
All of these signs indicate that your brake pads should be replaced sooner rather than later. You can get a brake pad replacement at our auto repair shop and be on your way in no time.
Is It OK to Replace Just Brake Pads and Not Brake Rotors?
Depending on the condition of your rotors, the answer to this question is yes. If your brake rotors aren’t thinned or damaged, you’ll be able to replace your worn brake pads without additional costly and time-consuming repair work. All rotors have a minimum thickness listed by the vehicle or rotor manufacturer. If the thickness of your car’s rotors reaches a certain level, they need to be replaced.
Before you make any decision, keep in mind that brake pads and rotors work together. The rotor determines how the brake pads will perform and the rate at which they’ll get worn down. If you don’t change your rotors, it’s possible that your new brake pads won’t match the wear patterns that developed with the previous ones. Because of this issue, you may notice brake vibration and noise. There could also be uneven wear with the new brake pads.
Should You Replace All Four Brake Pads at Once?
When it’s time to replace brake pads, you should always replace both rear or both front brake pads at the same time. However, you don’t need to replace all four of your brake pads at once. You can also mitigate this issue by having your brakes inspected. In most cases, the front brake pads will get worn down a couple times before the rear ones do.
What Normally Indicates a Problem with Brakes?
The warning light in your car should tell you when your brakes are beginning to malfunction. Additional signs of brake failure include but are not limited to:
- A grinding noise when the brake pedal is pressed down, indicating that the brake discs are worn
- Your car pulling to the side when you brake
- A faint burning smell
- Needing to place more pressure on the pedal to stop the car
- A puddle on the ground near your brakes, indicating a brake fluid leak
Brake shops like ours can repair or replace your brakes if needed. Before requesting our services, ask if there are any brake specials available.
How Do I Know If My Brake Fluid Is Low?
Brake fluid is needed to provide you with the necessary pressure to decelerate your vehicle. When your foot is placed on the pedal, pressure is generated from the brake fluid to apply force to the brake pads, which keeps your wheels from turning.
If your brake fluid leaks or air has gotten into the fluid, the hydraulic power of your brakes will decrease, which makes it more difficult to stop your vehicle. Signs of low brake fluid include:
- Brake fluid looks discolored, dirty, or low
- Brake warning light is on
- Car takes longer to stop
- Brake pedal is mushy or spongy when pressed down
Consider requesting our brake services immediately after you notice one or more of these signs. Driving with any of these warning signs increases the potential for an accident or getting stranded on the side of the road. Once we complete the brake repairs, you’ll be back on the road in no time.
