Downey Auto Repair

Brakes & Brake Repair

Power Brakes

Overview

Did you know?

Hydraulic brake fluid replacement is not listed in some owner's manual service schedules. Ask your service advisor about when he would recommend a power brake fluid replacement. Fresh fluid has adequate levels of anti-corrosion additives that can help protect expensive brake components. At DOWNEY Car Care Center in we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at and let us help keep you safely and economically on the road.

Basically, the power brake system helps you provide braking power so that you don't have to do all the work with your brake pedal.

The brakes themselves are applied at the wheel using hydraulic pressure. When we step on the brake pedal, we create pressure in the power booster that's multiplied by vacuum from the engine. The resulting pressure pushes brake fluid through the master cylinder into tubes and hoses that run to the brake at each wheel.

When there's a problem, it's usually a fluid leak somewhere along the line. It could be at a fitting or a hose, or even an internal leak in the master cylinder. A leak gives the pressurized fluid somewhere to go other than to the brakes, so stopping power is hurt. Lose enough fluid and you can't stop at all. Of course that's extremely dangerous.

If you notice any decrease in stopping power or if your pedal seems mushy, you could have a problem. There are some preventive maintenance items for the power brake system that will help them last longer.

Obviously you'd want to make sure your brake fluid is filled to the recommended level. Low fluid in the master cylinder could indicate a leak or worn brake material. Master cylinder leaks are usually just because it's worn out but, leaks in the brake lines and connectors can be minimized by replacing the brake fluid from time to time. Brake fluid has additives that protect against corrosion that can damage brake components.

Brake fluid also attracts moisture which can lead to rust - not a good thing for expensive anti-lock brake components. Also, significant amounts of water in the brake fluid can affect stopping power because the water has a much lower boiling point than brake fluid. In the high temperature environment of the brake system, the water can vaporize -and steam doesn't do a very good job of providing hydraulic pressure.

A final word -make sure you use the recommended type of brake fluid. There are several kinds and using the wrong one can lead to total brake failure. Your service advisor at DOWNEY Car Care Center can help you.

Disc Brakes

Overview

Did you know

Racing legend Richard Petty once said, "If you've got good brakes you can stay out of a lot of trouble." If you're hearing unusual sounds when you brake or if your brake pedal is feeling squishy or too hard, have us do a disc brake inspection for you. We'll tell you if there's something wrong and what it'll take to get your brakes all fixed up. At DOWNEY Car Care Center in we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at and let us help keep you safely and economically on the road.

Your brakes are extremely important as you drive around . Having good brakes just keeps you out of trouble. You'll want to carefully maintain your brakes. With disc brakes, brake pads rub on a disc -or rotor -to slow the wheels.

The brake pads are attached to a caliper that squeezes the pads against the rotor. It's kind of like how squeezing the handbrake on a bicycle pushes the brake pads against the wheel of the bike.

Now pads just wear away with use -kind of like a pencil eraser wears out. The good news is that replacing brake pads is a straight-forward repair.

If you hear squealing or grinding when you use the brakes, have your service advisor check them out. He'll have a technician perform a thorough brake inspection to see what needs to be done. He'll check for signs of brake problems and go over other brake components to see that they're working properly.

He can tell you if it's time to replace the pads or if there are other issues with your brakes that should be addressed. Some people ignore the warning signs and keep driving long after the pads are completely worn out. When that happens, metal brake components will grind on the rotor, damaging it enough that it needs to be resurfaced or replaced.

Rotors can also warp or crack, in which case they'll need to be replaced. Brake calipers also wear out over time. They can develop leaks or the caliper pistons can freeze open or closed -either way it's not good. When this happens it's time to replace the calipers. A thorough brake inspection will reveal worn bearings or seals as well.

The new brake pads we put on your vehicle will restore your brakes to manufacturers' specifications. Or, we can install upgraded parts to increase your stopping power and reduce brake noise and brake dust. We have several options to meet your braking requirements and your budget.

Taking care of your brakes keeps them working safely -and you could prevent premature brake repairs down the road.

Details

Drum Brakes>

Overview

Did you know?

Some vehicles have disc brakes on the front and drum brakes on the rear. A thorough brake inspection will uncover any maintenance or repair issues that need to be addressed to keep you stopping safely. If you are hearing unusual sounds when you brake or if your pedal is too hard to push or has a mushy feel, bring it in for a brake inspection right away. At DOWNEY Car Care Center in , we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at and let us help keep you safely and economically on the road.

Brakes that work properly are essential to your safety as you drive and stop on our streets. You want to carefully maintain your brakes. In vehicles equipped with drum brakes, the brake components are housed inside a drum that rotates with the wheel. When you step on the brake pedal, brake shoes push out against the inside of the drum, slowing the wheel.

Now brake shoes just wear away with use from rubbing on the drum as you brake. When it's time to replace brake shoes, it's a straight-forward repair.

If you hear squealing or grinding when braking, have your service advisor check them out. He'll have a technician perform a thorough brake inspection to see what needs to be done. He'll check for signs of brake problems and go over other brake components to see that they're working properly.

He can tell you if it's time to replace the brake shoes or if there are other issues with your brakes that should be addressed. Some people in our community ignore the warning signs and keep driving long after the shoes are completely worn out. When that happens, metal brake components will grind against the drum, damaging it enough that it has to be resurfaced or replaced.

When you push on your brake pedal, the wheel cylinder is activated and it pushes the shoes against the drum to slow the vehicle. This cylinder, and various springs within the brake, can wear out affecting your ability to stop. The worn components can be easily replaced.

The new brake shoes we put on your vehicle will restore your brakes to manufacturers' specifications. Or, we can install upgraded parts to increase your stopping power and reduce brake noise and brake dust. We have several options to meet your braking requirements and your budget.

Taking care of your brakes keeps them working safely -and you could prevent premature brake repairs down the road.