The brakes are the most important safety feature on your vehicle. Regular brake component inspection is important to ensure your safety by catching worn components before they completely fail.

If your brakes have a low or spongy pedal or are squeaking, pulsating, or grinding, it’s time to let Master Muffler and Brake perform a complete brake system inspection. We can diagnose problems and concerns, repair or replace any worn components and return your vehicle’s brake system back to tip-top shape.

If there is any question about whether it is time to replace your brake pads or rotors, come into any one of the 16 Master Muffler locations for a free brake assessment. Whether your vehicle has drums or disc brakes, Master Muffler can repair any problem or, if required, replace any setup. Utah brake repair is one of our specialties. We know how important it is in our climate that your brakes work well on both icy roads and hot desert conditions. Let our automotive brake repair specialists take care of you.

A good way to see if your vehicle’s brakes need to be replaced is to look at the pads. If there is 1/8 of an inch or less remaining on your brake pad, it is time for a replacement.

Vehicles have hydraulic brakes that use brake fluid to transfer force from your foot pressing on the brake pedal to the brake pads pressing against the tires of your car. When you push on the brake pedal, the pedal pushes against the brake fluid which expands through the brake system, causing a piston to push the brake pad against the brake disc on the tire. This friction causes the wheels to stop turning and the car to stop.

This method is effective in causing the car to stop, but also causes wear and tear on your brake system. For this reason, it is important to have your brakes inspected regularly so you can find and fix any problems. If there is a leak in the brake fluid line, there will not be enough pressure to cause the brakes to stop. If the brake pads are worn down too much, they will not be able to press on the brake discs hard enough to stop the wheels.

Your brake system is ruled by three different components: leverage, hydraulic force, and friction. Leverage is the idea that power or force is gained through action. Leverage is an extremely important part of the brake system due to the size of your vehicle. It is not possible that the force applied by your leg alone would stop something the size and weight of a car or truck. Instead, when your foot presses down on the brake pedal, leverage is created.

Your brake pedal is connected to a power booster through a system of levers and rods. The power booster has either a hydraulic pump or an engine vacuum. This part of the booster is what takes the original force supplied by your foot, multiplies it, and then transfers the increased force to the master cylinder. The multiplication is what enables the original force supplied by your foot strong enough to stop the vehicle.

The master cylinder is the most important part of your brake system’s hydraulics. Once again using the principle of leverage, the cylinder forces your brake fluid through the rest of your system, creating a pressure that results in the final step of the braking process: friction.

Once the brake fluid has been pushed through your brake system, the pressure lands at your brake pads. The brake pads are fitted against the wheels of your vehicle, and the friction between your pads and your wheels is the final step in stopping your wheels. Due to the above process, and the multiplying of the original force, the harder you initially push on your brakes, the greater the force that will be applied to your wheels.

Because of the intricate nature of your brake system, it is important to make sure that each part is regularly inspected. This ensures that each part is working efficiently, resulting in an assurance that your overall system is always functioning at its top capacity.

Looking
You should make sure that your brakes and brake pads are routinely inspected. You can inspect them yourself or ask an auto repair professional to look at them. You can check your brake pads by looking through the space between the spokes of your wheels. Your brake pad is there, pressed against a metal rotor. You want to make sure that your brake pad is at least ¼ inch thick. If your brake pads are less than ¼ inch thick, it is time to have them replaced.

Listening
Listen to the sounds your brakes are making as well as the way that your car is responding. Some sounds that are indicative of failing brakes include high-pitched screeching, grinding, or growling. The screeching comes from the indicator, which is a small metal shim designed to be an audible warning that your brakes need to be replaced. Grinding and growling mean that your brakes have been completely worn down to the point that your discs and calipers are rubbing together. This can seriously damage your car, so it is important to have your car inspected by an auto repair professional as soon as possible.

Feeling
Pay attention to how your car reacts when you push on the brake. If the brake pedal is sinking to the floor, it is highly possible that you have an air or fluid leak. If your car is pulling to one side, your brake linings may be wearing at an uneven rate or that there is some sort of foreign substance in your brake fluid. If your brake pedal vibrates when you push it down, you may have warped rotors. These vibrations will be similar to what you feel when your anti-lock brakes are engaged.

Because brakes are essential for the safety of you and your car, it is important to keep them well-maintained. That’s where Master Muffler can help. Whether your brakes are worn and squealing or you just need them tuned up, bring your car in and let Master Muffler get your brakes working properly.