Brake Repair Long Beach CA 90805
Need brake repair? Squealing brakes? Squeaking noises coming from your brakes? ABS Brakes – Complete brake service at Free Lance Motors in Long Beach CA- Serving car owners in Long Beach, Lakewood, Bellflower, Cerritos, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach CA Since 1967
How often should I have my brakes checked?
Remember, your brakes are being worn every time you drive your car! For that reason, we recommend that you should have your brakes checked every 6 months or 6,000 miles (3,600kms) or as soon as you suspect any problems at all.
A good idea is to have your brakes checked at every oil change service. That way, our technicians could spot small problems before they become big ones!
With a simple inspection we’ll be able to tell you how much life is left in your brake pads, inspect the brake rotors for excess wear and double check that brake cylinders aren’t leaking and brake fluid.
We also check your brake fluid levels and the condition of the fluid itself. That’s because brake fluid is very hygroscopic. That means it absorbs moisture. When that happens, the brake fluid discolors.
As a quick rule of thumb, clean brake fluid should be about the color of apple juice. When it’s darker than that – it’s contaminated.
Everyone’s driving habits vary – and that means everyone brakes will wear differently depending on the way you drive and the driving conditions. As an example, you could expecta longer life from your brakes if you do a lot of highway driving.
On the other hand, stop and go city driving will mean that you will wear your brake pads and rotors quicker.
If you’re not sure or you’ve got questions, don’t hesitate to stop in at Free Lance Motors in Long Beach, CA – We’re your trusted brake repair specialist!
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Book Your AppointmentCouponsFind Us Fast Ask A MechanicOur Auto ServicesCustomer ReviewsYour Car’s Brake System Explained
Your car could be equipped with either disc or drum brakes – or a combination. Typically, car manufacturers use disc brakes on the front. The read brakes could be either disc or drum – and all of that depends on the car manufacturer.
The entire brake system on your car also includes the parking brake, power brake booster and master cylinder (located under the hood) and on more current vehicle, the anti-lock system and valves.
When you step on the brake pedal, you are actually pushing against a plunger in the master cylinder, which forces hydraulic oil (brake fluid) through a series of tubes and hoses or brake lines. That fluid is pushed to the brake cylinder attached to every wheel.
The brake fluid may be directed through many twists and turns on its way to the wheel cylinder, but it never loses its pressure.
It is very important that the fluid is pure liquid and that there is no air bubbles in it. Air can compress which causes sponginess in the pedal and severely reduced braking efficiency. If air is suspected, then the system must be bled to remove the air. There are “bleeder screws” at each wheel cylinder and caliper for this purpose.
Scraping or Grinding Noise From Your Brakes?
Scraping noise from brakes? Different Brake Noise? Scraping or Grinding Noise Coming From Your Brakes?
If you’re hearing brake squealing, grinding or scraping sounds or noise coming from your brakes, here’s some of the most common things you should check or watch for:
- Test of Brake fluid indicates a copper content of 200 ppm or greater indicating the need for a fluid replacement
- Brake pedal feels soft or spongy when the brakes pedal is depressed
- Vehicle pulls to one side when the brakes are applied
- Brake fluid level in master cylinder low
- Brake system Warning Lamp stays illuminated
How long does it take to stop your car?
Your brakes are probably one of the most important systems on your car. But have you ever stopped to consider how far it really does take you to stop? The chart below shows you typical stopping distances for the average vehicle under normal driving conditions.
That means you’ve got to add to the ‘Braking Distance’ in poor conditions or during rain or snow. The chart below show typical ‘braking distances’ (plus the reaction time of the driver) for six common speeds you probably drive on a regular basis.
| MPH | Reaction Time (ft) | Braking Distance (ft) | Total (ft) |
| 15 | 16 | 12 | 28 |
| 25 | 27 | 32 | 59 |
| 30 | 33 | 47 | 80 |
| 45 | 50 | 104 | 154 |
| 55 | 61 | 155 | 216 |
| 70 | 77 | 252 | 329 |
Disc Brakes Drum Brakes – What’s the Difference? – Brake Service
Brake Repair for Disc Brakes
Disc Brakes are comprised of a disc or rotor, a caliper assembly, disc brake pads and the wheel bearings and hardware necessary to mount the components on the vehicle. The caliper is connected to the master cylinder through tubes, hoses and valves that conduct brake fluid through the system.
Disc or Drum Brakes? Although most late model vehicle use Disc Brakes (illustrated on the left above), there are some applications that use Drum brakes too! (illustrated above on the right)
Brake Service for Drum Brakes
Drum Brakes are comprised of a drum & backing plate, a hub or axle assembly, brake shoes , wheel cylinder, wheel bearings and hardware necessary to mount these components on the vehicle. The wheel cylinder is connected to the master cylinder through tubes, hoses and valves that conduct brake fluid through the system.
Brake Service and Your Car’s Brake Fluid:
Brake fluid is a type of hydraulic fluid used in brake applications for automobiles and light trucks. It is used to transfer force under pressure from where it is created through hydraulic lines to the braking mechanism near the wheels. Braking applications produce a lot of heat so brake fluid must have a high boiling point to remain effective and must not freeze under operating conditions. Brake fluid is also designed to protect against corrosion of the system materials it contacts, however those corrosion inhibitors deplete over time.
Excessive moisture is also an issue. MAP continues to seek additional information from brake fluid manufacturers and other technical experts to identify the point of vaporization that may seriously affect braking efficiency and safety.