What to Expect With a Brake Service
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.
Did You Know: It takes up to three football fields to safely brake in the rain?
Understanding Brake Issues in Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi’s driving conditions can be tough on your vehicle’s braking system. The humid coastal climate and frequent travel on local roads can affect your brakes' efficiency.
It's essential to be aware of common signs that indicate brake problems, such as:
- Squealing Noises: Often a sign that your brake pads are worn and need replacement.
- Grinding Sounds: This could indicate metal-to-metal contact, meaning excessive wear of brake pads.
- Soft Brake Pedal: May suggest air in the brake lines or a possible brake fluid leak.
Brake fluid plays a crucial role in maintaining your vehicle's braking performance. Over time, brake fluid can absorb moisture from the air, reducing its boiling point and potentially leading to brake failure. Regularly checking and replacing your brake fluid as part of our comprehensive maintenance service can prevent this issue. Furthermore, if you frequently drive through Corpus Christi’s bustling traffic, it's vital to consider more frequent brake pad inspections to account for the stop-and-go nature of urban driving.
Corpus Christi’s Local Driving Conditions & Their Impact on Brakes
In Corpus Christi, the local driving environment presents unique challenges and influences how often your brakes need service.
Considerations for local drivers:
- Heavy Traffic: Frequent stopping leads to faster brake wear.
- Humidity's Effect: Coastal humidity can cause corrosion on brake components.
- Seasonal Weather: Sudden rains can lead to slick roads, requiring optimal brake performance.
Coastal corrosion is a significant factor impacting vehicle components, including brakes. The salty air can accelerate rusting and deterioration of brake parts, making regular maintenance more necessary than in inland areas. Our technicians are specially trained to handle these challenges, using anti-corrosion treatments and high-quality components designed to withstand the unique coastal conditions found in Corpus Christi.
Why Choose Us?
By choosing us, you benefit from:
- Unmatched Customer Service: We take the time to explain the condition of your brakes and the services required in clear, straightforward language.
- Quality Assurance: Our industry-leading warranty reflects our confidence in the quality of our workmanship.
- Convenience & Comfort: With our welcoming atmosphere and complimentary shuttle service, your auto service experience is stress-free.
For professional brake checks, repair, maintenance, and replacement services in Corpus Christi, contact us at (361) 314-1828 or online today!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Often Should I Have My Brakes Checked?
Brake inspections are vital for maintaining vehicle safety. We recommend having your brakes checked at least every 10,000 to 12,000 miles or annually. Driving style, road conditions, and weather can affect brake wear, necessitating more frequent inspections. At Christian Brothers Automotive Corpus Christi, we provide thorough brake inspections to ensure your system's components, including pads, rotors, and drums, are in good condition, reducing the risk of accidents.
What Are the Signs I Need New Brakes?
Recognizing the signs of worn brakes can prevent serious safety issues. Common indicators include squealing or grinding noises, a pulsating brake pedal, and a longer stopping distance. Additionally, if your vehicle pulls to one side when braking, it could point to uneven brake pad wear or fluid issues. If you encounter any of these signs, contact Christian Brothers Automotive Corpus Christi to schedule a professional brake evaluation.
Can Humidity Affect My Brakes?
Yes, the high humidity in Corpus Christi can impact your brakes by causing corrosion on the metallic components like rotors and pads, leading to reduced braking efficiency. Regular maintenance is crucial to prevent rust and prolong the life of your brakes. At Christian Brothers Automotive Corpus Christi, we use quality materials that withstand local climate effects, ensuring your brakes perform optimally year-round.
Why Does My Brake Pedal Feel Soft?
A soft brake pedal typically indicates air in the brake lines or low brake fluid due to a leak. This can compromise your vehicle's braking ability, making it urgent to address the issue. At Christian Brothers Automotive Corpus Christi, our technicians are skilled at diagnosing and fixing brake fluid issues, ensuring your pedal feels firm and responsive as it should.
What Should I Do if My Brakes Start Squealing?
Squealing brakes are a common sign that your brake pads need to be replaced. Ignoring this can lead to further damage, turning a simple pad replacement into a more costly rotor repair. Our team at Christian Brothers Automotive Corpus Christi advises scheduling an inspection as soon as any unusual noise occurs, so we can assess your brake system and recommend the best course of action.
Your Local Christian Brothers Amenities
FAQs
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
-
"I liked the customer service and going above and beyond to make sure I was comfortable while waiting in the store for my vehicle work to be done, specifically being offered a nice hot coffee with creamer."
- J.L.