Brakes

Drive Safer with Professional Brake Services

Keeping your vehicle’s brakes in top working condition is essential to ensuring the safety of yourself, your passengers, and others on the road. Keeping up with regular brake inspection and brake maintenance routines is the single best way to avoid accidents or extensive repairs.

If you’re noticing any problems with your brake performance, it’s important to have experts inspect the vehicle right away. Trust in our team at Hi-Tech Auto Specialists for professional and reliable brake service whenever issues arise.

The Basics of Automotive Brakes

It’s a good idea for drivers to have a basic grasp of how a braking system works. Understanding the fundamentals will make it easier to recognize when your brakes aren’t functioning correctly and need to be serviced. In short, there are three main types of braking systems found in vehicles today.

Drum Brakes

Although they’re not used in modern vehicles, drum brakes can still be found in many older models. These brakes rotate with the tires inside a drum, and when pressure is applied to the brake pedal, two brake shoes push against the drum to generate friction that brings the vehicle to a stop. Since these types of brakestend to overheat, most vehicle manufacturers stopped using them by the mid-1980s.

Disc Brakes

With disc brakes, the brake rotors rotate with the wheels while stationary brake calipers fitted with pads squeeze down on the rotors to stop the vehicle. When pressing the brake pedal, a brake booster activates a vacuum to magnify the force of the braking action. The brake pads themselves may be made from ceramic or semi-metallic material and both have their unique advantages.

ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System)

These brakes are engineered to give the driver greater control of the vehicle when the brakes are applied. With an anti-lock brake system, sensors detect when the brakes are in use and automate the brake pumping process to prevent the vehicle from skidding. Due to the enhanced safety ABS brakes provide, the federal government made it mandatory for all vehicles produced after 2011 to utilize this technology.

Red Flags That Your Brakes Need Service

Like any other components in your vehicle, your braking system will eventually wear down and need servicing. Recognizing some common warning signs of brake problems early on will help to minimize damage to your vehicle and ultimately avoid a more costly brake repair or replacement. If you ever experience a change in how your brakes function, visit us at Hi-Tech Auto Specialists for immediate assistance.

Brake Fade or Sinking Petal

If you’re having to apply more pressure than usual to the brake pedal or if it sinks all the way to the floor, it’s likely an indication of brake fade. This can happen for several reasons but is often caused by worn-out brake pads or excessively applying the brakes, which causes the brake fluids to overheat. When this happens, pockets of air may get trapped in the brake lines which can be quite dangerous. Our experts at Hi-Tech Auto Specialists will quickly determine the cause of your brake fade and perform brake bleeding or a complete brake fluid flush to restore normal function to your pedal.

Brake Pull

Another typical issue is brake pull or the sensation of the vehicle “pulling” to one side or the other when the brakes are applied. Brake pull may be caused by worn calipers, brake fluid contamination, or even insufficient tire pressure. To get to the root cause of your brake pull, rely on our team at Hi-Tech Auto Specialists to perform a thorough inspection.

Grinding, Rattling, or Squeaking

Hearing an unusual brake noise is another indication you may need brake replacement or repair. Sounds like grinding, clicking, and squeaking could mean your brake pads or rotors are worn out. When you begin to hear any unfamiliar noises from under the vehicle, visit our team at Hi-Tech Auto Specialists for a comprehensive inspection.

Brake Vibrations

Experiencing vibration during braking typically points to worn-out components within the braking system, but could also point to misalignment of the tires or low tire pressure. To be safe, it’s always best to have an experienced professional diagnose the problem. When you need help, rely on Hi-Tech Auto Specialists to get you back on the road with confidence.

Brake Warning Light

When the brake warning light appears on the dashboard, it’s important to take the vehicle to an expert immediately. This light may indicate that your brake fluid is low, but it could also point to more serious problems with the vehicle. If your brake warning light continues to stay on when driving, trust our team at Hi-Tech Auto Specialists to identify and fix the source of the problem.

Rely on Hi-Tech Auto Specialists to Get You Back on the Road Fast

Brake safety should always be a top priority for drivers as unexpected failures in the braking system can have catastrophic consequences. If you believe you need brake repair or replacement, bring your vehicle in at 9740 Southwest Hwy, Oak Lawn, IL 60453 or 10139 Roosevelt Rd., Westchester, IL 60154 for a top-to-bottom inspection. We’ll quickly get to the bottom of your brake problems so you can drive with peace of mind.