BRAKES
REPAIR

Bad brakes display warning signs for impending brake maintenance. For example, if your brakes squeal or grind when in use, then your brake pads may be worn and require replacements. If your vehicle pulls to one side when braking, then this may point to worn brakes, a malfunctioning caliper, or low brake fluid in the brake lines. If your brake pedal presses down too easily—also known as “spongy” brakes—then this may be an indication of too much air in the hydraulic brake lines. Sometimes, your vehicle’s electronic diagnostic system will alert you to a potential brake issue by a service indicator light on the dashboard. Worn pads and low brake fluid pressure can each cause a nerve-wracking delay in pedal response. Warped rotors cause vibrations when braking (not to be confused with the expected pulsing sensation of your ABS kicking in).


 

A fully functioning brake system is crucial to your safety, the safety of your passengers, and the safety of other drivers on the road. Your vehicle’s brake system involves highly engineered parts and precise movements that stop your vehicle by converting kinetic energy into thermal energy. When you press down on the brake pedal, the master cylinder pressurizes a system of hydraulic brake lines leading to each of the vehicle’s wheels, where brake pads or shoes press against a disc or drum and create the necessary friction needed to slow the vehicle to a complete stop.

Brakes use friction to bring a vehicle to a complete stop. This friction creates a substantial amount of heat that can degrade the brakes and brake components over time. As a result, inspecting these components and ensuring proper operation has become a critical part of overall vehicle maintenance. Although brake systems vary from vehicle to vehicle, the responsibility and importance of the components remains the same. Today, some common brake types include drum and disc brakes. Drum brakes contain brake shoes, drums, wheel cylinders, springs, and self-adjusters. Disc brakes contain brake pads, rotors, calipers, and hydraulic components. Depending on the design of the rear brake system, the parking brake assembly, which keeps the vehicle from rolling once stopped, can be housed in either a drum or rotor. All of these components, including the brake pedal and brake fluid, should be checked during a brake inspection service to help ensure that a vehicle is safe to operate.

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Brake inspections are crucial to ensuring safe driving conditions. Determining when to seek an inspection will depend on your driving conditions and preferences. The goal of our brake inspection is to find, diagnose, and discuss any issues while recommending brake repair procedures. During a brake inspection, we may discover that your brake system requires new brake pads or shoes, or the installation of new brake calipers or wheel cylinders. Alternatively, we may need to drain and replace your old brake fluid to rid the brake lines of air, dirt, and other contaminants. If your brake lines and hoses show cracks or heat damage, we may suggest replacements. To restore maximum braking ability, the rotors or drums of your disc or drum brake system might also need to be replaced. Our methods and items for repair will vary by inspection, so please contact us online or give us a call to learn more about brake maintenance.

Brake pads and rotors work together to stop your vehicle, and share similar wear patterns. As brake pads compress against the rotor to stop the vehicle, the friction required to slow your wheels creates a large amount of heat that, if not properly dissipated, can wear down your brake pads and rotors. A vibrating brake pedal is one indication that your rotors are damaged and need to be replaced. When a rotor is removed from the brake assembly, the rotor will be inspected for cracks and other damage incurred during routine operation. Periodic inspections of rotors will prolong rotor repairs and replacements while ensuring your brake system continues operating as expected. Seeking brake rotor replacements within the service intervals indicated by your owner’s manual, or as wear and tear dictates, is an important part of brake maintenance. If you are wondering if a rotor replacement is right for your vehicle, please consult with a member of our service staff today.

Because front brakes provide most of your vehicle’s stopping power, they tend to wear out more quickly than rear brakes. When deciding whether or not to schedule a front disc brake repair service, there are some symptoms to consider. Squealing noises from the front brakes point to worn brake pads, while grinding noises are a sure sign that your rotors need servicing. If your brake pedal shakes when engaged, this may also be a sign of bad rotors. A vehicle that pulls to one side when braking indicates a bad caliper or uneven brake pad wear, which can result from uneven distribution of pressure in the brake lines. Besides incurring additional repair costs, leaving symptoms of an impending front disc brake repair untreated can lead to serious, stressful situations for both yourself and other drivers on the road. Neue Auto LLC is the leading provider of brake repair services in Honolulu. Our experienced technicians offer professional and reliable repairs that restore your vehicle's braking system to its highest levels of performance.

A properly functioning parking brake is critical for your safety and the safety of your passengers. At some point in the life of your brake system, it may be necessary to adjust the parking brake for a few reasons. Parking brakes use cables to transmit lever movement, and these cables stretch through use and as they age. A proper cable tension is an important part of firmly engaging a parking brake. A parking brake that no longer grips as it once did or sticks is another reason to seek a parking brake adjustment. Solutions to some parking brake problems may be found in the replacement of parts or additional lubrication to moving components. Our staff will determine the correct parking brake repair or adjustment procedure upon inspecting your parking brake and accompanying components.

Braking naturally creates a substantial amount of heat and friction, so rear disc brakes will wear from natural use. Routine rear disc brake inspections can prevent excessive wear from damaging other brake components like calipers and rotors. Completely worn brake pads can cause calipers to squeeze metal on metal, which will damage the rotors. Some disc brake pads have a wear indicator strip that makes a whistling sound to notify you when brake pads need replacements. Sometimes the calipers can stick and keep from retracting all the way, which can cause quicker wear on brake pads. Squealing and grinding noises are the first sign of disc brake issues, but be sure to seek a rear brake repair service for your disc brakes at the first sign of any trouble. Properly working disc brakes are important for your safety and the safety of other drivers on the road.

During use, rear drum brakes create a serious amount of heat and friction that can degrade brake components over time. Grinding, screeching, or squealing noises signal worn brake shoes rubbing against the brake drum. Worn springs and an insufficiently lubricated self-adjuster can cause brake shoes to wear down quickly. Rapid and excessive wear may also point to problems with other components. Wheel cylinders that do not receive adequate brake fluid and worn springs that are unable to return brake shoes to their original position are both contributors to worn brake shoes and inevitable rear brake repairs. Because driving on worn rear drum brakes can endanger the life of yourself and other passengers, it is important to repair your brakes as needed. Our rear drum brake repair service can help. We cover rear drum brakes and accompanying components--like brake shoes, wheel cylinders, springs, and self-adjusters--to help ensure maximum drum brake performance.