There is nothing more important on your car than its brakes. If you can’t stop you don’t dare drive! The front brakes are similar to front bicycle brakes. On a bike you work a hand lever which causes a caliper with two small pads to grip the front wheel.  On a car you step on a pedal which causes a caliper and pads to grip a flat steel disc called a rotor. This rotor is bolted to the front wheel.  Repairing worn front disc brakes has to be done right. This includes replacing pads, rotors and any worn hardware. Pins and slides are cleaned and lubed. All parts are reassembled, torqued to spec and the vehicle final road tested.

Rear drum brakes are similar to the old fashioned rear coaster brake on a bike. On both bike and car curved shoes expand to meet the inside of a drum creating the stopping force. The correct way to repair rear brakes includes replacing shoes, wheel cylinders and any worn hardware. Backing plates and adjusters and cleaned and lubed. Drums are surfaced or replaced, all parts torqued to spec and the vehicle final road tested.

Brake Fluid Service

Often overlooked but very important is brake fluid service. Brake fluid is hydroscopic (absorbs water). This corrodes the inside of expensive antilock and other brake systems creating huge repair bills.

It is strongly recommended to flush the old brake fluid and replace it with new every two years or 30,000 miles. 

Motor Works provides all brake services including specialty work like drum to disc brake conversions. Please call us with any questions.

A Motor Works Technician performs a brake fluid service (flush) on a Lexus