What to Expect from Your Brake Service with NAPA Auto Care
What to Expect from Your Brake Service with NAPA Auto Care
There are more than 285 million vehicles registered in the United States today. The average vehicle on the road is 12 years old. And, it is estimated that more than 51 million commuter vehicles are in need of brake service and repair. This is a concerning number considering antilock brakes are the most important safety system in a car, truck, van or SUV. That’s why the experts at NAPA recommend having your brakes inspected as often as twice a year for wear and damage. If a small issue is caught early, this routine maintenance can save you from a much more intense, costly repair.
Depending on your make and model, the quality of your OEM parts, the climate in which you live and your driving habits, your brake pads should last between 20,000 and 80,000 miles. Additionally, you should have your brake fluid flushed and replaced every two to five years. Because these ranges are vast, NAPA recommends a routine brake inspection every 10,000 to 12,000 miles as part of your yearly vehicle maintenance.
A leak in your brake system, often caused by contamination and corrosion, could dampen or even prevent your stopping power. The right amount of brake fluid is essential for the proper function of anti-lock brakes, traction control and stability control systems. Replacement brake parts include the master cylinder and valves, which determine the pressure applied to both the front and rear brakes, brake pads that protect your expensive disc rotors and brake lines that carry critical fluid.
More than 17,000 NAPA Auto Care centers nationwide are committed to diagnosing a wide range of automotive problems and fixing them right the first time. NAPA Auto Care centers are known for reliable service performed by ASE-certified technicians and specialist mechanics. This NAPA standard for trusted car and truck repair has grown for more than 80 years across these local, independently owned auto shops and collision centers. Our promise to NAPA customers is to perform high-quality diagnostic and repair services by installing superior NAPA branded parts and components. Check out NAPA’s free nationwide Two-Year/24,000 Mile Peace-of-Mind Warranty, which covers parts and labor on qualifying repairs and services across The NAPA Network.
If You’ve Reached The Breaking Point, Head to NAPA
There are many reasons why you need brake service. Powerful friction wears out even the best brake pads and intense heat can warp brake rotors. Air getting into a brake line is a common issue. Your local NAPA Auto Care center will measure the vehicle’s brake fluid level during a full-service oil change. But what if you are experiencing a noticeable problem, such as a squealing noise or a change in brake responsiveness?
A standard brake inspection at a NAPA Auto Care center could include:
- Brake pad or brake shoe replacement
- Brake rotor resurfacing or brake drum turning
- Brake rotor or drum replacement
- Brake fluid flushing
- Brake line leak repair
- Brake light diagnosis
Keep in mind, brake services are duplicated on both wheels of the same axle. Multiple systems in your vehicle are designed for the parts on both sides of your vehicle to operate in matching condition.
After any inspection, the NAPA technician should thoroughly explain your vehicle’s condition. This includes documenting what problems are urgent and what repairs you can delay. If the damaged part no longer performs as designed, the repair is considered necessary. For instance, a cracked rotor requires replacement, so a less expensive ‘fix’ like a new brake pad is an unsafe repair in this case.
A NAPA Auto Care service technician can also make recommendations that are not critical. This includes proactively replacing parts likely to fail in less than a year. Your trusted mechanic should also advise you on maintenance recommended by the vehicle’s manufacturer. And, an inspection might include improvements that you can make with an aftermarket part upgrade to enhance performance, such as installing NAPA’s Adaptive One Performance rotors.
With NAPA, you are always in good hands. Still, it is always best practice to do a little research before arriving at any auto body shop. Use the NAPA Auto Care Repair Estimator to instantly find out what your auto repair or service should cost at a NAPA Auto Care center. This competitive pricing tool provides quick and easy cost estimates for the most common repairs.
Image courtesy of Pixabay.
Categories
NAPA Auto Parts View All
More than 90 years ago, the National Automotive Parts Association ("NAPA") was created to meet America’s growing need for an effective auto parts distribution system. Today, 91% of do-it-yourself customers recognize the NAPA brand name. We have over 6,000 NAPA Auto Parts Stores nationwide serving all 50 states with a unique inventory control system that helps you find the exact part that you need.