Your Brake Questions Answered

Think fast. Stop faster.

All The Braking Basics

Here you’ll learn brake basics and find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about brakes.

How do brakes work?

A lot happens when you press down on the brake pedal, bringing your vehicle to a safe and precise stop.

Simply put, when you "hit the brakes," that tells the cylinders to supply brake fluid to your calipers so they can power your brake pads. Pressure from your brake pads is then applied to your rotors, providing the right amount of friction necessary to bring your vehicle to a safe and precise stop.

What’s a Brake Inspection?

Behind every wheel is an intricate brake system – which needs to function properly in order for you to stop your vehicle safely. Our comprehensive brake inspection covers all the intricacies of your particular make and model’s brake system.

After we’ve completed the inspection, we’ll provide you with a complete report regarding the condition of your current brake parts. Should any of them need replacement or repair, we’ve got all the parts necessary to bring your brakes back to manufacturer standards.

As part of every Brake Inspection, we check these brake parts:

  • pads (and/or shoes)
  • calipers
  • rotors (and/or drums)
  • wheel cylinders
  • hardware (springs and adjusters)
  • hoses
  • parking brake cables
  • fluid condition
  • wheel bearings and grease seals
  • master cylinder fluid exchange

Schedule an appointment at Tires Plus for a Brake Inspection today.

How often should I have my brakes inspected?

Having effective stopping power is an ongoing need. And early detection is the key to maintaining your brakes’ performance. With that in mind, we recommend that you have your brakes inspected on a yearly basis (at the very least), and certainly at the first signs of a brake problem.

With the know–how and experience of a Tires Plus expert brake technician, a brake check up gives you the best chance to spot the more routine repairs that can help protect you from dealing with more costly repairs. Noticing any warning symptoms of brake wear? If so, you may need a more immediate inspection. Don’t delay.

Inside your vehicle’s owner’s manual, they usually list specific brake inspection intervals. Always check there first to gauge your vehicle’s brake needs.

Schedule an appointment at Tires Plus for a Brake Inspection today.

What are brake pads?

Brake pads press against your rotors, creating the friction necessary to bring your car to a precise stop.

What’s a rotor?

At the heart of every braking system are the rotors. In order for your vehicle to stop properly, all four rotors have to stop. The brake pads that are attached to each rotor create the friction needed to bring those spinning rotors, and your vehicle, to a halt.

What’s a caliper?

Calipers create the pressure needed to activate your brake pads, so they can stop your rotors from spinning. Calipers only function properly with brake fluid.

What exactly is brake fluid?

Brake fluid is the key to a properly functioning brake system. By pressing on the brake pedal, pressure is created in your brake lines sending brake fluid traveling to each caliper. This then activates your brake pads, which create the friction needed to bring your car to a stop.

Please note: Brake fluid leaks are hard to detect. They could lead to your vehicle needing more time to stop or even not stopping at all. Without brake fluid, brakes can’t even function.

Need a brake fluid inspection? Schedule an appointment today.

What’s a brake hose?

After pressing down on the brake pedal, brake fluid makes its way to your calipers through your brake hose. When the fluid reaches each caliper, your brake pads are then activated.

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