Today we’re gonna talk about another one of a car’s most important Components: its brakes. At Orozco’s Auto Service in Long Beach, we offer all kinds of brake services, including rotor and pad replacement and replacing brake fluid.

The common adage, “a car that cannot start is an inconvenience, but a car that cannot stop is downright dangerous”, really highlights just how critical a vehicle’s braking system is. Indeed, a car that does not start could cost you valuable time and lead to some heavy consequences, but if your vehicle’s brakes fail, it could easily cost you your life. Some brake problems are best handled by professionals, and basic diagnostics and tasks should be something that every vehicle owner knows, but regardless of your skill level, our trained technicians can work with you to keep your car performing well.
Here are a few simple tests to see if your brakes are in need of maintenance:

• Start your engine, but keep your car in park or neutral with the parking brake engaged. With the vehicle stopped, apply pressure to the brake pedal.
• If your brakes feel spongy, you probably have air in your brake lines.
• If your pedal sinks to the floor, your master cylinder may be defective, which could cause brake failure and should be fixed immediately.
• Release the parking brake and drive around the block, stopping occasionally and taking note of how the brakes feel.
• Notice how much effort is required to bring your vehicle to a stop.
• With power brakes, the vehicle should stop with the pedal more than an inch from the floor, and on older cars without power brakes, the pedal should be more than three inches from the floor.

• If your automobile has power brakes but seems to be taking excessive effort to stop, you may need to replace your power booster.
• If you feel that your brakes are low, pump the brake pedal a few times as you drive.
• If pumping the pedal makes the brakes more responsive, either a brake adjustment is needed or you are running low on brake fluid.
• If you know how to check your brake fluid and find that it is at normal operating levels, it may be a more serious problem. Here at Orozco’s, we can give your vehicle’s braking system a thorough inspection to find and remedy the problem.
• Most vehicles’ brakes self-adjust and should never need to be adjusted, but if any Components of the self-adjusting system get stuck or break, they will wear out faster and need adjustment.
• During normal driving, pay attention to how your brakes are performing.
• If your vehicle is taking a longer distance than usual to stop, it either needs brake adjusting or new brake linings.
• If your vehicle pulls to one side when you brake, you may have a stuck caliper and/or a brake fluid leak.
• If your brake pedal pulses during non-emergency stops, your brakes may be overheating from overuse.
• If your steering wheel shakes when you brake, your front brake rotors may be warped and need refinishing or replacement.
• If your brakes squeal when you stop, your brake pads or other Components may be worn or missing small parts.
• If your brakes make a grinding noise that can be felt in the pedal, they are probably severely worn and should be repaired immediately.
• Further driving could cause much more expensive damage to more major Components of your brake system.
• If your vehicle bounces up and down during a stop, your shock absorbers may be worn out.

Never procrastinate on brake work. If your vehicle is showing any of these symptoms, take care of the situation immediately, if possible before driving again. Brake failure can cost not only your own life, but the lives of others if you hit another person or vehicle.
If you are experiencing problems with your vehicle or have questions regarding Brake Repair contact Orozco’s Auto Service has three convenient locations throughout the Los Angeles area, Long Beach, and Bellflower!