Trusted in West Seattle for 55 years
Services: Brake Replacement & Repair
Brakes aren’t something you want to fail. Learn what brake service looks like at Tom’s Automotive in Seattle and how often you need it.
Full Service Auto Repair in West Seattle Since 1971
Brake Service and Replacement
This is one core component you want to work consistently in your Electric Vehicle (EV) & Tesla, truck, SUV, or hybrid. Without fail. Because a brake failure is downright scary and dangerous.
That’s why we check your brakes every time you get a tire rotation. Regularly inspecting the brakes is the best way to catch signs of damage before they get bad enough to compromise your safety. With regular inspections, we can usually catch brake pad wear long before it becomes a problem, and you can rest easy.
You need routine brake service, but what exactly that means varies. Sometimes it’s just an inspection, sometimes it’s a fluid change, and sometimes it’s a full replacement. So let’s talk about what brake service might include, then learn more about how your brakes work and how often you’ll need to replace them.
What Does a Brake Service Include?
For starters, we need to inspect the brakes regularly to monitor their condition. These components experience extreme friction and wear, so they inevitably wear out. We’ll visually inspect your brakes at each tire rotation.
During your vehicle’s “bigger” maintenance services (the 30k, 60k, 90k mile appointments), the brake fluid usually gets flushed. Brake fluid is essential to your braking system, just like oil is to your engine. We’ll always check this fluid at your regular maintenance appointments and add more if needed. Since it gets dirty over time, brake fluid should be flushed periodically.
Then, there’s the big brake service: replacement. You might get told you need a full brake replacement. But realistically, the different brake components rarely wear out at the same rate, and there’s no sense replacing all of them if some of them are still in good shape. We’ll advise replacing brake parts as needed.
How Your Brake System Works
Modern vehicles use hydraulic braking systems, most often disc brakes. This is the type of brake system that has brake pads, rotors, and calipers. To stop the car, brake fluid pushes on the calipers to press the brake pads against the spinning rotors, slowing the wheel’s rotation.
The other type of brakes, drum brakes, work similarly, but their components have different names. These brakes have drums and shoes instead of brakes and rotors. Whether you have disc brakes or drum brakes, the system will have a master cylinder, brake lines, brake fluid, and possibly a brake booster.
Brake Components
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Signs it’s Time for Brake Replacement
While you can get general recommendations for how often to replace brake components, the fact is it depends on a lot of factors. It’s common for brake pads to last 40,000 miles or more. But for someone who uses the brakes a lot, due to their driving habits, traffic, or hills, they might only last a few thousand miles. That makes regular brake inspections even more important to catch signs of wear and tear.
It’s also worth knowing the warning signs that your brake pads or rotors are wearing down.
- Squeaking: Screeching or squeaking brakes are the number one sign it’s time for brake pad replacement. The pads typically have a metal tab embedded in them so that when it’s exposed after excessive wear, it grinds against the rotors and screeches.
- Vibrating: You might also feel vibrating or pulsating in the brake pedal when you press down. That could be due to worn or warped rotors.
- Changes to braking behavior: If you have to push the pedal down harder or longer to stop, or the pedal feels spongy or less responsive, it’s time to request an appointment as soon as possible for brake service.
- Visible damage: If you want to remove the tires and check the brakes yourself, look for grooving or scoring on the rotors or a blue tint.
What to Know About Brake Replacement
We recommend having your brakes checked every 6,000 miles during a tire rotation. But if you know your brakes are experiencing extra wear, which is common for people commuting in Seattle traffic up and down hills, we might need to check them more frequently. Our technicians can work with you to find the right brake service schedule for your vehicle.
After having brake replacement, you’ll need to treat your brakes a little gently for the first 500 miles. While the new components are “settling in,” try to avoid harsh or extended braking; otherwise you risk overheating the brake pads. If your new brakes are still squeaking, it’s likely because the pads got overheated.
Keep in mind that brakes on a hybrid or electric vehicle are a little different thanks to their regenerative braking system. But they still need maintenance, and we can take care of that, too!
Request Brake Service Today
At Tom’s Automotive, we believe in the importance of every routine maintenance task for your car’s longevity and performance. But brakes are especially crucial to keep in good shape. If it’s been a while since your brakes were inspected, or you’ve noticed signs of wear, like squeaking brakes, don’t wait to request an appointment. We’ll make sure your car stops on time every time!
