Are Your Car Brakes in Good Condition?

Have you ever had to pay for expensive car repair? If you have, then you probably learned your lesson already. If you haven’t, then it’s time to pay attention to your car to avoid paying the expensive repair services.

One of the common problems with cars is the brakes. Not only is it expensive to replace or repair it, it is very dangerous to you and your passenger. It is very important to keep it in top condition. But, how do you do that? With a little knowledge and information, you can spare yourself from the expensive car repair. So, here it goes:

·         Keep the brake fluid reservoir lid sealed properly at all times. If it is already cracked, the dirt and moisture will easily enter the reservoir and it will immediately damage the rubber seals and moving parts.

·         Only use brake fluids with high quality and rating.

·         Replace the brake fluid every two years or so. This should extend the life of the rubber seals and moving parts.

·         Every 6,000 miles, check the calipers, disc pads and front discs. Check if the pistons are sticky and wearing out. Also, check if the fluid is leaking and if the calipers are floating.

·         Is the brake movement smooth and easy? If not, you’re the wheel bearings of the brakes should be adjusted.

·         Check the master cylinder cover if there is fluid leaking. If there is, an overhaul will be needed.

·         You can check if there’s a leak in the master cylinder or inner pistons rubber seals by simply applying on the foot brake for 60 seconds.

·         A leak will make the brakes lose resistance, which means that it will lose its grip as well.

·         Are the brakes pulsating when you hit it? Skimming of the front discs will be needed and it should be done without removing the discs.

All of these instructions may sound very technical. Well, it is. It just goes to show that if you don’t really know that much about cars, it is better to go to an auto repair shop and get your car checked. Getting your car serviced regularly should prevent any problems from getting worse and will prevent you to be in emergency situations. Nonetheless, knowing what is needed to be done and how to check for problems should do you good.

Only go to a car repair company that is reputable or is a trusted name in your locale. Make sure they only employ professional car repair professionals to service the cars.

Atlantic Automotive Inc.

824 E. Fletcher Ave Tampa, FL 33612

(813) 936-1510

http://www.atlanticautomotive1.com

http://www.businesslocallistings.com

Maintain Your Brakes Before It’s Too Late

While it is a fact that the brakes are the cars’ most important safety feature, many drivers still do not understand it well. Statistics show that about 40% of the cases handled by ITV have had brake problems. Remember car owners: it is not enough to bring the car to the auto repair shop when something goes wrong, or worse when an accident has already happened. Care and maintenance must be done before any of these untoward incidents happen.

Here are some maintenance tips when it comes to brakes:

1. Use a brake meter to verify the braking power of each of your four wheels. Also, remember to check the effectiveness of the circuit.
2. Follow the prescribed level of brake fluid and have it replaced every two years or 50,000 miles.
3. Check the state of your brake pads. They may become blunted due to excessive use.
4. Change the brake shoe or brake block when you have changed your brake pads for the fourth time.
5. Never attempt to modify your car’s original brake system.

Other maintenance tips that work best with brakes include keeping the car in perfect condition, especially during spring. The environment can be a little damp during spring time and a damping brake system is responsible for an increase of 10% in the distance necessary for restraining. In addition, it is important that you keep an eye on the state and the pressure of your tires because they determine the effectiveness of the brakes. After all, the tires are the instruments that convey the power and braking. Make sure to stop and rest every two hours if you are driving in a very long journey to protect your tires and brakes.

Last but not the least, take into account the state of the road whenever you are driving. Asphalts grip better than others. Take note of weather conditions, too. The weather has huge effects on the efficiency and capacity of your brakes. Snow and ice, as well as the first drops of rain, mixed together with dust and dirt on the roads, make brake grip less.

Atlantic Automotive Inc,

824 East Fletcher Avenue Tampa, FL 33612

813-936-1510

http://www.atlanticautomotive1.com/

Identifying Brakes and Brake Pads Quality

Manufacturers are challenged with the goal of providing quality brakes for all distributing companies and assemblies. Brakes and brake pads are produced in a wide range of materials that come with advantages and disadvantages for your vehicle. To know how you can save your vehicle from being fooled by sweet talkers, keep in mind the things that make your brakes and brake pads work perfectly.

• The brakes and brake pads only create that specific grip that is sufficient for the force provided by the rotor. The smoothness of your brakes will depend on how sensitive your brake pedal is. The force you exert in stepping on your brakes should be directly proportional to that of the braking force.

• Sufficient heat recovery is a huge deal in keeping your brakes safe in cases where emergency brakes are needed. When the vehicle is moving fast, the brakes and brake pads should work immediately! Even if it is on the very last second that you stepped on the emergency brakes.

• The brake rotor and brake pads have this certain effect on each other. Clients are given the option during brake replacement. Nonabrasive pads are highly recommended since they preserve rotor quality up to 4-6 pads replacements. This feature is a sure shot at helping you save up on repairs and replacements.

• When you hear and feel something different with your brakes, that’s the only time you get to ask for help. The noise you hear can be caused by other factors such as improper installation of brake pads and rotor. This negligence of your mechanic can lead to noise and also dusting due to friction. There are special lubricants recommended for your brakes and should be followed by you and your mechanic.

• Brakes are replaced more than twice a year to ensure your vehicle and family’s safety. The lifetime or wear and tear of your brakes should be highly considered since low quality brakes can cause damage to your rotor, which costs more than the regular replacements or repairs.

The brakes are just as essential as other parts of your vehicle. New brakes can be difficult to get used to as it takes around 500 kilometers drive as it warms up its service. Nothing’s too expensive or complicated when it comes to you and your loved ones safety. Visit your auto shop right now and have your brakes checked.

Atlantic Automative Inc.

824 E. Fletcher Ave. Tampa, Florida 33612

(813) 975-9916

http://www.atlanticautomotive1.com/index.html

How Do I make My Brakes Last Longer?

The choice as to whether you make your brakes last longer or you wear them out quickly is completely up to you. But since safety is your primary consideration as a driver, you surely would want to choose the first option.

Listed below are three sure ways to lengthen the lives of your brakes.

1)      Avoid stepping on the brakes at high speeds (except when it’s an emergency, of course).

Stops from high speeds are the mortal enemies of brakes as they are considered to be the number one cause of brake wear. Brakes sacrifice their lives by turning energy into heat. A little less speed means a lot less brake material that will be transformed into heat. So the next time you are on the road, try slowing down a bit before stepping on the brake pedal.

2)      Lose unnecessary weight.

The second tip to lengthen the lives of your brakes is to stop carrying unnecessary things in your car. Not only do these things consume space and make your car cramped, they also put on additional weight. This added weight can spell a huge difference not only in brake performance, but also on tire wear and gas consumption.

3)      Flush brake fluid regularly.

Like other fluids in your vehicle, your brake fluid needs to be regularly changed. In auto repair terms, this is referred to as bleeding and flushing. Why do you need to flush? Imagine this: brake fluid easily attracts water. Water becomes moisture. In an emergency stop or after repeated brake applications, this moisture boils and severely reduces braking effectiveness. Moisture also promotes internal corrosion, which ruins critical rubber seals. If you do not flush your brake fluid on the designated schedule, your vehicle will be rotting from the inside before you know it.

Some vehicle manufacturers recommend renewing brake fluid every couple of years. This auto repair service is necessarily done on older vehicle models as well as those that are bought second hand. Flushing the brake fluid regularly makes the brakes and other internal components of your vehicle last longer and work better.

These are three ways of making your brakes last longer; three ways which you can easily do as a responsible car owner. For more questions about brakes, brake maintenance, and brake repair, consult with your mechanic today.

Atlantic Automotive Inc.

824 East Fletcher Avenue Tampa, FL 33612

972-5056

http://www.atlanticautomotive1.com

How to Buy New Tires in Brandon?

When it comes to buying parts for your car, among the most important are new tires and brakes. Why? It’s because these are important for the safety of your car. While many car owners shop around for their car’s aesthetics, these things won’t do you any good if you experience a flat tire or even a vehicular accident. When driving in Brandon, you must always prioritize your safety and your family’s safety at all times.

You must first get your tires and brakes inspected to know if they need replacements. If the car technician says that these parts are worn out, you need to buy new tires immediately. You cannot risk driving around Brandon with these two worn out parts in your vehicle. It’s just too risky.

Aside from not putting your safety at risk, why is getting new tires necessary? For one, the consistent air pressure in your tires helps in the efficiency of your car’s gas mileage.  Hence, if your tires are in good condition, you can expect to save on your gas more.

You don’t really need to go to a Brandon auto repair shop just to get your cars checked. Tires usually have wear indicators and you’ll know if the tires are worn out already. On the other hand, an expert should check your brakes to determine if it just needs brake fluid, repairs or a complete replacement.

Going back to the tire indicators, these appear as hard rubber bars that will only be visible if the tires are 1/16 inch down. On the other hand, if your tires don’t have wear indicators, you can always use a penny to check. Simply place the penny between the tire treads. If the head of the penny is still visible, you need new tires.

When buying tires, you must also decide which tires will best suit your vehicle. If you’re using a 4-wheel drives, you need to get specialty tires that are built to withstand the heavy terrain and harsh weather conditions. A good rule to follow is to replace your tires with the same size as the ones you took out.

In any case, finding the right tire for your car won’t be difficult with all the Brandon auto shops out there. But for your car’s brakes, it might take some time for the auto repair shop to look for the same parts for your car’s brand and model.

Clarke Automotive Systems – Brandon

131 Central Drive, Brandon, FL 33510, USA
(813)685-2939

http://www.clarkeauto.net/

How to Determine Car Repair Estimates?

One sunny day in Brandon, FL, you took a drive around the city to look for a new place to dine. While looking out your car window and slowly driving at the same time, you realize that the car ahead of you suddenly stopped. You step on the brakes but you still bumped into the car in front of you. That’s when you realize that your brakes did not respond properly and that led to the minor car accident. Even though your faulty brakes are to blame, you must take responsibility for your lack of car maintenance.

A car accident, whether minor or major, is always a stressful event. Any damage on your car calls for car repair. If you are insured, the insurance company will advise you to visit a Brandon, FL repair shop and get an estimate for the repairs. Now, it is important that you get the fairest estimates for the repairs. Do this by visiting different shops and comparing their rates.

In every repair process, getting the estimate is the first part. Many car owners think that car technicians just whip up an estimate after doing a car check up as most estimates are priced higher than one expects. However, there are plenty of factors that determine a car repair estimate for a damaged car. Here’s what you should know:

• The Brandon, FL car technician will determine the point of impact and intensity to assess the structural damage of the car.

• The technician will check the steel components to determine if there are replacements and welding needed. He will also check plastic components if there’s anything that needs replacing.

• The technician will check the mechanical system and suspension system. This is where he will determine what’s wrong with your car’s brakes that led to the accident.

• The technician will go on to check other car parts that may need repairs or replacement.

After the checkup, the technician will start checking the parts and assessing the tasks to be one. The technician will start checking parts availability. If the parts your car needs aren’t available, he will estimate the time of delivery of the parts. He will also check if there are any discounted parts available. Moreover, he will give you an estimate of the total labor hours to repair your car. Once the car repair estimate is done, he will provide you with a copy.

Why should you compare the car repair estimates? It’s because different Brandon, FL auto repair shops have varying prices for car parts and labor. And you’ll only discover the best price estimates if you compare each one. However, don’t always look at the prices. Do consider the quality of the service that the repair shop offers.

For instance, replacing your brakes is not enough, it should be replaced properly.

Clarke Automotive Systems – Brandon

131 Central Dr. Brandon, FL 33510
(813)685-2939

http://www.clarkeauto.net/

When Do You Need to Check Your Car Brakes?

  As much as possible, your car should be in tip-top shape. It will be extremely dangerous to drive a car that is not in excellent condition. One of the most important parts you must always check is the brakes. Needless to say, the brakes are what make the car stop and if it’s broken, this can put you at risk of car accidents.

You don’t need to be an auto repair expert just to be able to detect if there is something wrong with your car brakes. You just have to be aware of these signs that you need to get them checked already:

1. Look.

To see first-hand if the brakes are still good, you can check them through the spaces of your wheel’s spokes. The outside of the brake pad, around one-fourth inch, should be pressing against the metal rotor. If you see less of the pad, you need to bring your car to the auto repair shop.

2. Listen.

Do you notice a high screeching sound when you use the brakes? That screeching sound is brought to you by the indicator. It is a small metal shim that resonate sound to warn you about replacing your brake pads already. Listen to it without using the air conditioner and the radio. Pull the windows down to make sure you can listen to it clearly. When you frequently hear this sound, take your car to the auto repair shop for brake pad replacement.

3. Delayed Response

If you step on the car brake and there is a delayed response or if the brake pedal sinks, this is a sign of a braking system leak. There might be an air leak or a brake fluid leak which is a sign that you need to get your brake system checked already.

4. Pulls

When you hit on the brake and your car gradually pulls to the side, this can be an indication that your brake linings may already be wearing out. If this happens to you, take your car to the auto repair shop for a brake adjustment.

5. Vibration

Does your brake pedal vibrate? This might mean that you have warped rotors. You will observe this vibrating movement if you are using the brake pedal for long periods. During this time, the rotors experience too much friction causing them to heat up and warm.

Who said maintaining a car is easy work? It’s not but it is something you should do to prevent any car accidents in the future.

Atlantic Automotive Inc.
824 East Fletcher Ave., Tampa, FL 33612
(813)936-1510
http://www.atlanticautomotive1.com/