BRAKE REPAIR & SERVICE:
A+ Japanese Auto Repair employs expertly trained Brake Repair & Service mechanics. If you have any brake questions please contact our staff or stop by today to speak with a brake repair & service professional. Our facility offers same-day brake repair & service.
- Industry-trained brake repair & service professionals.
- Free Courtesy Shuttle - To and From San Carlos facility (restrictions apply)
- Open / Transparent Process - including photos and a digital report, helping you understand any recommendations.
- Peace of mind - 24-month / 24,000-mile warranty.
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HAVE A QUESTION?
CALL OUR EXPERTS AT 650-946-1856
A+ Japanese Auto Repair specializes on brake repair & service in San Carlos.
Below are answers to commonly asked brake repair or service questions that we get from our brake repair clients. If you'd like to book an appointment for a brake inspection, need any other questions answered about brake repair or service that are not listed in the text below, please feel free to call us at 650-946-1856.
Do you want to learn more about brakes?
How often do I need to change my brakes?
On average, you will need to change your brakes between 25,000 miles and 80,000 miles. How do I know if I need new brakes? This is a general guideline but we also have written an article to further explain the specifics about how often I need to change my brakes. If you want to change your brakes less often, take a look at these helpful tips below:
What causes premature brake wear?:
- Aggressive driving
- The inability to identify the need to stop from a distance away causing abrupt stopping.
- The use of your brakes on long downhill grades.
- if you do a majority of stop-and-go city driving vs. freeway driving.
- mechanical components sticking in brake calipers due to lack of lubrication or neglect of maintenance.
What will help my brakes last longer?:
- Freeway driving typically requires less braking.
- Engine braking through downshifting will help with prolonging the brake life. This is typically easier to accomplish in a manual transmission.
- drive a hybrid vehicle because the drivetrain will help slow your vehicle by using regenerative braking. Which is a very similar concept to engine braking/downshifting.
- drive a big vehicle like a truck but don’t often have it loaded with weight (the bigger vehicle’s brakes are made to handle a lot of weight)
What are the symptoms of worn brakes?
The symptoms of worn brakes are shaking upon braking, brake squealing, and brake grinding. Each braking symptom indicates a different issue with the braking system but all symptoms require immediate attention by a certified mechanic. Some further information on why these symptoms occur can be ascertained in figure A. In Figure A. you can see a set of used brake pads with multiple issues due to wear. The glazed or glassy-looking surface is an issue that occurs as brake pads wear and have been overheated. Overheating of brakes can be due to hard braking downhill, riding the brakes, panic stops, etc. Brakes can also overheat due to the brake pads or rotors being low on material and not being able to dissipate heat properly.
The reference to heat cracks and pitting shows that there was a braking instance that caused a pad surface failure due to the brakes heating up so much the material cracked. Lastly, the item referred to as the metal wear indicator is a tab of sheet metal that protrudes in the direction of the friction surface off of the brake pad backing. The purpose of the wear indicator is to alert the driver with an audible warning when the pads get low. When the friction surface on the brake pads in Figure A. wears down there will be a point where this sheet metal tab touches the rotor and makes an audible warning that sounds like screeching to alert drivers that the pads are low and in need of replacement. Figure B. shows a set of new brake pads that has none of the issues discovered on the brake pads in Figure A.
How much does a brake job cost?
On average, a “brake job” would consist of the replacement of brake pads and brake rotors on either the front or the rear, which will cost between $400 - $600.
There are many other factors to determine how much a brake job will cost beyond the normal range noted above. We recommend starting with a brake inspection to determine which brake components need to be changed. After inspection, we then determine what type of quality brake components you’d like installed on the vehicle. These factors will also change the cost of a brake job.
What should be checked during a brake inspection?
During a brake inspection, we recommend having your mechanic inspect the following brake system components:
- brake pads
- brake shoes (if equipped)
- brake fluid
- brake calipers
- brake retaining hardware
- brake lines and hoses
- parking brake cables
- brake lights
- the thickness of the brake rotors
- the thickness of the brake drums (if equipped)
We put together a list to help you understand if you need new brakes.
- The brake warning light stays on the dash while driving.
- Squealing is heard from the brakes while reversing the vehicle.
- The steering wheel shakes while applying the brake pedal.
- You can hear grinding or squealing when applying the brake pedal.
- Always check to see if you need a brake fluid flush when you change your new brakes!
Read more on how to determine if you need new brakes...
Where do I get my brakes repaired near San Carlos?
A+ Japanese Auto Repair is the best brake repair shop in the San Carlos, Redwood City, & Belmont area. A+ Japanese Auto Repair is the brake repair expert. We offer the peace of mind that you and your family will be safe when using your brakes. We use the highest quality brake pads, brake rotors, brake master cylinders, wheel cylinders, and other brake-related auto repair components. Our ASE brake certified mechanics and years of experience working with all kinds of brakes allow us to offer clients of A+ Japanese Auto Repair in San Carlos our 24 months / 24,000 miles warranty on all brake service & brake repair.
What type of vehicle brakes do you work on?
A+ Japanese Auto Repair in San Carlos specialize in and have been trained on brake repair for Honda, Acura, Toyota, Lexus, Nissan, Infiniti, Mazda, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Scion, Isuzu, Kia, Hyundai, and Hybrid Vehicles. If you have any further brake questions or would like some help with brake repair or service, please feel free to call us at 650-946-1856, text us at 650-750-8233, or make an appointment.
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Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational purposes only. It is not intended as advice for your particular vehicle, and should not be relied upon for that purpose. Please consult a qualified automotive maintenance professional to determine the maintenance and repair needs for your vehicle.