What to Expect During Brake Service
Brake service follows a clear sequence from scheduling through your approval of the recommended work.
Schedule Your Appointment
Contact us to arrange brake service for your vehicle. Tell us about any noises, pedal changes, or other symptoms you have noticed. If you’re requesting a free visual brake inspection, our staff can confirm whether your vehicle qualifies when you schedule.
Review the Inspection Findings
Our technicians perform diagnostics and inspect the system to determine whether the concern involves friction materials, hydraulic components, hardware, or another component. You receive a photo-documented Digital Vehicle Inspection showing what our technicians found. We explain the findings and answer your questions in clear language.
Approve the Work
You can review the findings and ask questions before deciding what work to authorize. We don’t begin any repair without your explicit approval. Once approved, the necessary repairs are performed or scheduled.
1. Schedule Your Appointment
Whether scheduling online or over the phone be sure and let us know what you're experiencing so we can provide fast and accurate service advice.
2. Diagnostics and Inspections
Drop off your vehicle and the shop will get to work with inspections and diagnostics using the same equipment as the manufacturers to determine issues and next steps.
3. Digital Vehicle Inspection Report and Estimate
Following the diagnosis we will text you a digital vehicle inspection report, containing pictures and videos of our findings and recommendations.
4. Review and Approval
A service advisor will reach out to walk you through the findings and recommendations to determine how you would like to proceed, or you can approve work directly in your DVI.
5. Work Performed or Scheduled
Most work can be completed immediately, or scheduled based on parts and customer availability.
Extended Warranty Coordination
We work with all major extended warranty providers for eligible brake repairs. Coverage depends on the terms of your individual plan and the repair being considered, so confirm your extended warranty information with our staff when scheduling service.
The Nice Difference® Warranty on Brake Service
Qualifying brake repairs are covered by the Nice Difference® Warranty. Coverage lasts 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs last, so ours stays active until you’ve cleared both limits.
Coverage includes parts and labor, defects in new parts, and improper installation. The warranty is honored at Christian Brothers Automotive Arlington locations nationwide, so qualifying work remains covered while you travel.
Brake Pad & Brake Fluid Maintenance
Brake fluid flushes are generally recommended every 30,000 miles or two years. The appropriate interval depends on the vehicle and fluid condition, which we evaluate separately from brake pad wear.
Brake pads can last up to 70,000 miles, but some need replacement as early as 25,000 miles. Vehicle type and driving style both affect wear, so brake pad replacement in Arlington should be based on an inspection rather than mileage alone.
Brake Systems & Vehicles We Service
Our ASE-certified technicians inspect and repair drum and disc brake systems. Because configurations vary by model and axle, we evaluate the system installed on your vehicle.
We provide brake service for foreign and domestic makes, including gas and diesel vehicles. That includes four-wheel disc configurations and models that combine front discs with rear drums.
Brake Warning Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore
Arrange an inspection if you notice any of these symptoms:
- Squealing when you brake typically means worn pads have reached their metal wear indicator
- Grinding during braking means pad material is gone and metal is contacting the rotor
- Vibration or pulsation through the pedal or steering wheel often points to warped rotors
- A soft or spongy pedal can indicate air in the hydraulic system or a brake fluid leak
- Pulling to one side when braking may signal a stuck caliper, uneven pad wear, or a compromised brake hose
- An illuminated brake warning light warrants prompt inspection
- Increased stopping distance or noticeably more pedal effort indicates degraded braking performance
Schedule brake repair in Arlington, with a free visual brake inspection available for most vehicles, by calling (817) 623-5662 or using our contact form.
How Your Brake System Works
Many vehicles use front disc systems and rear drums, while newer models often use discs on all four wheels. In a disc brake system, a caliper clamps pads against a spinning rotor to create the friction that slows the wheel. Drum systems work differently: curved shoes press outward against the inside of a drum. Both designs rely on hydraulic pressure to convert pedal force into stopping power.
Each component has a wear life. Pad thickness is the primary indicator for disc systems, and most pads include a metal wear tab that squeals when they reach minimum thickness. Rotors can be resurfaced when grooves remain within manufacturer tolerances, but those below the minimum thickness specification need replacement.
Catching wear early can keep a pad replacement from turning into a rotor replacement, and it can help keep your anti-lock brake system (ABS) and the rest of the hydraulic brake system functioning as designed.
Information about inspection eligibility and available service times is available by calling (817) 623-5662 or through our contact form.
Your Local Christian Brothers Amenities
FAQs
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Q. "Why is my ABS light on?"There are several reasons your vehicles anti-lock brake system light might be on. The four common reasons that typically cause this light to turn on include a malfunctioning ABS module, low levels in the fluid reservoir, broken wheel speed sensors, or the system is turned off. Learn more here.
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Q. "How long will my brake pads last?"There is no perfect answer to this. Brake pads can last up to 70,000 miles while others will need to be replaced as early as 25,000 miles. The type of vehicle you drive, how you use your vehicle and your driving style are all factors to consider. If you are interested in learning more about brake pad wear and how to extend its lifespan click here.
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Q. "When do I need to change my brake fluid?"Along with the type of brake fluid, your car’s owner manual will indicate how often you need your brake fluid flushed and replaced. In general, brake fluids flushes are recommended every 30,000 miles or two years. Click here to learn more.
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Q. "Do you offer a warranty?"As part of our Nice difference.® commitment to providing our customers the best auto service experience possible, we also offer a3-year/36,000-mile warranty on all the work that we do. We offer this warranty at every Christian Brothers Automotive nationwide, and it will be honored at any location, regardless of which branch did the initial work.
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Q. "What is a Digital Vehicle Inspection?"With a complimentary Digital Vehicle Inspection (DVI) on every visit, you’ll see firsthand photos of your vehicle from under the hood. We’ll let you know if everything is functioning properly or if there are any areas of concern. You can even approve or deny our service recommendations, all straight from your smartphone, or you can, of course, give us a call and we’ll explain our findings in further detail.
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Q. "Can you provide service under my extended warranty?"Yes. At Christian Brothers Automotive, we work with all major extended warranty providers to make needed repairs for our customers. If you have an extended warranty, you can discuss your carrier with our team when scheduling an appointment and confirm that the work will be covered. You can find a partial list of the extended warranty companies we work with here.
Have more Questions?
Our friendly auto service experts have the answers.
Call your local Christian Brothers Automotive car shop today
Hear What Our Customers Had to Say About Us
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"Great service ,very courteous and caring family. Norman, Le Ann it was great meeting you and I'm looking forward to working with you again. Let's not forget Jason very understanding when I went to the wrong garage. They all made me feel like family. Thank "
- James Beaucham