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How Often Should You Check Your Brakes

How Often Should You Check Your Brakes
admin 2019-02-20

Lafayette Car Repair is a full-service auto repair shop. Our knowledgeable mechanics will help you with any of your vehicle’s needs. Including how often should you check Your brakes

Find out how often should you check your brakes and if you don’t regularly check your brakes and get them replaced.

Every driver knows that brakes play a very important role in safe driving. But you may not know how often brakes should be inspected. Having unsafe breaks is a major safety hazard, and something to be avoided through proper brake maintenance. So how often should you have your brakes checked? Every six months to a year, mostly. This can fit in with your tire rotations. Or, if you’re an aggressive driver, you should have your brakes looked at with every oil change (which is more often). But there are still more factors that can change that.

Driving Conditions Matter

Crowded areas are harder on brakes than areas with less traffic. Busy roads can require a lot of veering, slowing, stopping, and starting, which increases wear on your brakes. A city driver may need to repair their brakes sooner than a town driver. Paying attention to your brakes between routine inspections is very important.

Warning Signs

If you notice any of the following signs, then you should get a brake system check immediately:

1. Worn Pads

Worn brake pads are less effective in stopping your vehicle so they can be very dangerous. Brake pads wear thin over time. If you don’t remember the last time your brake pads were replaced, then you should bring your vehicle into your local auto repair shop and have certified technicians examine their condition.

2. Odd Sounds

Every vehicle has a small indicator located in the braking system. When the brake pads are worn, the indicator senses it. The indicator releases a high-pitched sound to signify that the brake pads of the vehicle need replacing. Apart from the squealing sound of the sensor, you might notice a grinding sound. Keep in mind that the longer you wait the more expensive the repairs will be. So, have the brakes inspected and repaired as quickly as possible.

3. Pulling

If your vehicle pulls off to one side while decelerating on a straight road, it could either be an alignment issue or a problem with a brake system. Worn pads apply different amounts of pressure especially if they are worn unevenly. Whether it is the alignment or the brakes, it is highly recommended that you call your local auto repair shop and ask the technicians to perform diagnostic check and recommend the correct repair or service.

Stay Safe with Regular Brake Check Inspections

Properly maintained brake rotors and pads will help your vehicle last a long time. If there are any signs of a compromised brake system, call your local auto repair shop for a brake inspection. Also be sure include tire rotations as part of the routine service of your vehicle. Tire rotations extend tread life, maximize traction, and also help improve vehicle handling and driver safety.

Why you should get a brake check regularly.

The brakes are one of the most important safety features on your car. When you stop, the brake pads clamp down on the brake disc to slow down and stop the vehicle. They do this by creating friction between two surfaces, which creates heat and wears down the pads over time. That’s why it’s important to have your brakes checked by a professional, so there won’t be any surprises when driving or braking suddenly.

How often should you check your brake fluid

Checking your brake fluid is a simple and inexpensive way to ensure your brakes will work when you need them most. Don’t be caught unprepared, with Lafayette Car Repair’s expert technicians we can make sure your vehicle is ready for the road.

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Your Car’s Year in Retrospect: Did You Do Your Annual Maintenance?

Walnut Creek Car Repair
admin 2019-01-21

 

Now that we’re in the beginning of 2019, you’re probably trying to plan ahead for the entire year. Did you actually do your car’s annual maintenance in 2018? Maybe you did oil changes and replaced dim headlights or did small maintenance here and there. But did you do everything required for optimal function?

Scheduled Car Maintenance is Key

It’s important that you schedule yearly maintenance. Like, by actually putting it on your schedule. Make a plan and put aside time. These checkups and predictable services for your vehicle prolong its running life and prevent more expensive problems down the road. Following a basic car maintenance schedule includes yearly flushes of your vehicle’s transmission fluids and radiator belt and hose inspections. These things aren’t done at oil changes or tire rotation appointments.

Keep Good Records

For 2019, set your goal to stay on a regular maintenance schedule for your car. Keep track of all work done by creating a maintenance log. You can use a smartphone app or a notebook tucked inside the glove box. Being able to look back on your maintenance records will give you a better picture of your car’s overall health.

What Does My Car Need?

To know what your car needs, as opposed to what the average car needs, you’ll need to check your owners manual. Owner’s manuals are usually obtainable online or from the manufacturer even for old models. For most cars the fuel filter, exhaust, engine oil and filter, belts, battery and cables, automatic transmission fluid, hoses, lights, power steering fluid, windshield washer fluid and tire pressure, tread and general condition should all be checked every 3 months or 3,000 miles. Then once a year, include maintenance to check coolant, cabin air filter, brakes, steering and suspension and power steering fluid.

These are just guidelines for scheduled car maintenance. You’ll also want to consider how you drive since aggressive driving can wear things out much faster that expected. Also city driving is harder on your vehicle than highway driving, which tends to make things wear out faster, too.

If you do regular maintenance on a schedule that matches your car’s needs and your driving style, you’ll get the most out of your vehicle. For professional advice about scheduled car maintenance, feel free to call or stop into Lafayette German Car Repair. We’re here to help you.

 

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Taking Care of Your Automatic Transmission

BMW Repair
admin 2018-12-24

 

 

Automatic transmissions are famously complex, and mysterious to many. For simple to understand parts of your car, you may feel more at ease with how to care for them, because you know how they work. Admittedly, auto transmission repair for automatic cars is definitely something for the experts to handle. But caring for your automatic transmission and preventing predictable damage is completely within reach of any car owner.

Do these simple things to keep your automatic transmission running smoothly:

 

Check Your Transmission Fluid

On many vehicles checking the transmission fluid is easy, and can be done during the same stop as you check your oil. Unlike oil, you’ll want to leave you engine idling while you check this. Pull out the transmission fluid dipstick, wipe it off, and put it back. Wait a few beats before pulling it out and taking a reading. There will be markings on the dipstick for max and minimum levels. If it’s low, you may have a leak.

Your transmission fluid be bright red, clear, and have a sweet smell. If it smells fishy, is murky, or is a dark color, take it to an auto transmission repair specialist.

 

Use The Recommended Transmission Fluid

Automatic Transmission Fluid is sometimes referred to as “ATF”. You can find what ATF is recommended in the user’s manual for your vehicle. If you’re having trouble finding the original recommendation or believe there’s a reason it may be inaccurate (like your transmission has been replaced), ask your auto transmission repair specialist. Be consistent, and stick with the recommended type.

 

Keep Your Cooling System in Good Shape

Your cooling system is responsible for keeping your engine cool, but also your transmission fluid, which is pumped through your gear box. Long before your engine overheats, you can have scalding transmission fluid damaging your transmission. So take care of your cooling system so it’s in optimal shape, not just working acceptably to avoid an overheating engine.

 

Have Your Transmission Fluid Flushed Annually

Put having your transmission fluid flushed on the list of things you do once a year. A flush is not the same as having your fluid changed, and should be done by a professional. The more driving you do, the more important this is. If your vehicle has as transmission filter, have it changed at every flush.

 

Never Move Between Forward and Reverse While Moving

It can feel cool and slick to put it in reverse while you’re still rolling forward, huh? Like you smoothly skipped a step and saved time? Or you coaxed your car into doing something difficult? Well all you’re really doing is hurting yourself in the long run. This is puts a serious strain on your transmision and can set you up for big trouble.

Let Your Car Warm Up

This is especially relevant during cold weather, but still something worth minding year round. Turn on your car and wait a minute or two before driving. Your transmission will thank you for it.

If you have any concerns about your car’s health or think you may need auto transmission repair, contact Lafayette German Car Repair today. We can inspect and remedy any problems your car may have.