Brakes are crucial to keeping you and your loved ones safe on the road. If you have ever had problems with your brakes, you can attest to the fact that it can be a terrible experience. By having your brakes inspected twice a year, you can protect yourself and your passengers, and you can save money by catching any problems before they become too costly.
Inspecting your brakes twice a year for wear and damage can protect you and your passengers. Additionally, it will help you save money by catching any damage before it becomes too costly.
What do we check during our inspection of your brakes?
The master cylinder is the heart of your vehicle’s braking system, and it holds the brake fluid when it is not being delivered to the brakes through the brake lines. If brake fluid leaks because the master cylinder is worn or brake lines are plugged or broken, the fluid cannot be delivered, and the brake pads will become ruined. When Leonard Automotive LLC inspects your brakes, we will make sure the master cylinder is in good condition.
The brake fluid itself can become dirty or contaminated as it draws rust-causing moisture and picks up other debris, or it can break down from excess heat. Clean brake fluid is either clear or slightly yellow while dirty brake fluid may be brown or even black. Old and dirty brake fluid can damage brake systems internally. During your brake inspection at Leonard Automotive LLC, we will check your brake fluid to make sure it is clean.
The brake lines connect to the master cylinder through a combination valve, which combines metering and proportioning valves. It regulates the pressure on the front and rear wheels to make sure both sets of brakes are applied simultaneously. A malfunctioning combination valve can cause the wheels to lock up. To ensure your safety, the experts at Leonard Automotive LLC will make sure your vehicle’s combination valve is working properly.
Brake pads and shoes can be made of ceramic, metal or organic materials while the disk rotors and drums they press against are made of metal. Because pads and shoes create friction to stop the car, they gradually wear down over time and may wear away completely, letting the metal of the calipers and cylinders to which they are attached grind against the rotors and drums and damage them. Some pads have a metal strip attached to them that sounds a warning whistle when the pad becomes too worn, but this strip sounds only when the car is in motion and the brakes are not applied. When we inspect your brakes, we will make sure your brake pads are in good condition.