If you need brake maintenance or repair, Affordable Auto and Truck Repair can take care of your needs quickly and affordably. Call us at 727-329-8728 or visit us in Clearwater and we'll inspect your vehicle, provide cost-effective recommendations and get your vehicle up and running smoothly. Your brakes are a vital safety feature, so if you're unsure of their integrity, please get in touch with us right away!
Anti-Lock Brake System
Anti-lock Brake Systems (ABS) ensure that the wheels don't stop rotating during braking, preventing the car from skidding and offering greater control. If your ABS light comes on, visit Affordable Auto and Truck Repair where we will be happy to diagnose and fix the problem.
Brake Fluid Flushes
Brake fluid will absorb water from the air over time, causing the brake system to become less effective and the fluid to become corrosive, possibly damaging the system. It is important to perform a brake fluid flush regularly to ensure that your vehicle is using fresh fluid. Talk to our technicians at Affordable Auto and Truck Repair about when it's time for a brake fluid flush.
Brake Hoses
A brake hose is a tube carrying pressurized brake fluid from the master cylinder to the brakes. A crushed hose can cause a lagged or slow brake, and a leak in the hose can cause the brake, or the entire brake system, to fail. These don't need to be replaced often, but should be replaced at the first sign of cracking or wear.
Brake Pad & Shoe Replacement
Brake pad problems can usually be identified by squealing brakes. If your brake pads deteriorate completely, you'll hear a grinding metal-on-metal sound when braking, meaning that it's too late and you're ruining your rotors or drums! Those with knowledge of auto repair may be able to fix this at home, but you should always see an auto repair professional immediately if you have brake problems.
Caliper Replacement
The brake caliper houses your brake pads and fits around the rotor like a clamp, pressing the pads against the rotor when you brake. A brake caliper problem could cause uneven braking, making your car slide forward when you brake. Uneven braking can also cause your vehicle to slide out of control in bad weather conditions, so contact Affordable Auto and Truck Repair as soon as possible.
Resurface Rotors
In a disc brake system, rotors are attached to your vehicle's wheels. When the brake pads grip the rotor, they bring both the rotor and wheels to a stop. However, the friction causes grooves and cracks to appear over time. Resurfacing brings the rotor back to a "like-new" condition, reducing squealing and wobbling. Affordable Auto and Truck Repair will give your rotors a thorough inspection and recommend your best course of action.
Brakes Questions and Answers
Q: Why are my brakes making a grinding noise?
A: Grinding noises usually indicate that your car's brake system is overdue for maintenance. The grinding sound is usually caused by the brake pad being completely worn away or the brake shoe scraping on metal contact points.Q: Why are my brakes squeaking?
A: Noises coming from your brakes do not usually indicate a high-cost auto repair. It could be a foreign object such as a small stone or road debris. It could also be a signal that your brake-pads are wearing out and need replacing. As brake pads wear bits of metal in your brake pad come in contact with the rotor to create a squeaking noise when you apply the brakes.Q: Why are my brakes making a burning smell?
A: Overheated brakes cause a noticeable burning chemical smell. Pull over to a safe place and allow the brakes to cool. Ensure you did not accidentally leave the parking brake on. If there's any smoke coming from a wheel, it may be that the brake caliper is malfunctioning and locked in place. In this case, it may be unsafe to continue driving.Q: Why are my brakes vibrating?
A: If your car shakes or vibrates or wobbles when you apply the brakes, it indicates that the thickness of your rotor is uneven. Brake rotors are large, perfectly round, smooth metal discs that sit inside of the wheels. When the disc has become misshapen or unevenly worn it will vibrate or wobble when you hit the brakes. Left uneven, the material will continue to build on the uneven spots, making the problem worse over time. Come to Affordable Auto and Truck Repair to get the face of your car's brake rotors resurfaced to fix the problem.Q: How do I know if my car is leaking brake fluid?
A: If your car does not stop as quickly as you expect you may be leaking brake fluid. This is a serious problem. An important part of the braking process involves brake fluid, which is used to create hydraulic pressure against the brake caliper. If your vehicle is leaking brake fluid, you won't be able to stop safely. We recommend taking your vehicle to an auto repair shop as quickly as possible if it is leaking brake fluid.Q: Why is my dashboard brake light on?
A: If the brake light indicator appears on your dashboard, it's either time for regular brake maintenance or an alert to a potential problem. Stop by Affordable Auto and Truck Repair and let us help you diagnose this issue quickly.Q: What are the 3 signs that brake pads are worn?
A: The three most common sounds that indicate you need to replace your brake pads are squeaking, grinding or the dashboard brake indicator light coming on.Q: What percent of brake pad life is 3mm?
A: When you purchase a new brake pad, it has a standard thickness of around 8 to 12 mm or about a half inch. Over time, your car's brake pad will wear away. A brake pad at 3 mm or around one tenth of an inch will take around 40,000 miles of driving to completely wear out. Don't wait until then to replace your brake pads. Once your brake pads reach 3 mm it is recommended that you schedule an appointment to get them replaced soon.Q: What are the 3 types of brake pads?
A: There are three main types of brake pads in use today: non-asbestos organic, ceramic and semi-metallic. Come by Affordable Auto and Truck Repair or consult your car's owner's manual to determine which type is best for your vehicle.Q: Why is my car pulling to one side when I am braking?
A: If your car is pulling to one side when braking it may be a bad brake hose or a caliper issue causing one brake to engage while the other is not. This causes a pull on the side where the brake is working properly.To learn more about our Brake services, call us at 727-329-8728 or request a quote by clicking below:
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I recently had a serious emergency with my Toyota tundra and the dealership really lied to me and try to take me for a ride almost $5000 until I found Affordable Auto they checked everything out so many things were over embellished from the dealership and or just a straight lie. They saved me $3000 plus I got brakes out of it as well as the things that needed to be fixed so I'm pretty happy and they've been very very responsive and have checked on me after service to make sure I'm happy with everything really means a lot that they follow up definitely will recommend this place to anybody.
Daniel Charles Harris
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what our customers say
We had driven down for several weeks from our home in NC in our Ford F-150 truck. Around noon on the Friday before labor day we got in the truck to run some errands and discovered the front passenger door would not latch when closed, the door just swung freely. We called every local Ford dealer only to be told that we could drop off the truck and they "might" be able to diagnose the problem by Tuesday or Wednesday - one said it would be 3 weeks before they could see us despite this obviously being a significant safety issue. We then called Affordable Auto Care - Troy was honest and said if we dropped it off, he would try to get it in that afternoon but couldn't promise as they were very busy. He committed that it would be looked at by Monday (Labor Day) and if possible fixed that day, but that would depend on what parts might be needed and if he could get them on Labor Day. Long story short, a part that he could only get from Ford was needed and they were closed on Monday. Troy got the part first thing Tuesday morning and had our door fixed by noon and all a very reasonable price. Throughout, Troy was calling to keep us updated on the issue, on the need to wait for the Ford to open to get the part. He even had someone waiting at Ford before they opened to get the part as fast as possible. All in all, excellent communication, superior service, and we had our truck fixed before any of the Ford dealers would have even seen it. We highly recommend bringing all of your auto/truck repair needs to Affordable Auto Care!
I brought in my newly purchased Nissan Leaf with an ABS light on. Not only did they diagnose the issue for FREE, but Sunny (sp) also spent time explaining the issues and provided helpful recommendations to get the necessary work completed. Honest, knowledgeable and they really do go the extra mile to make sure you get the best outcome, even if it's not at their shop. Thank you to the team for your help!
I first went to this shop when I had a check engine light on. Since then I have gone back numerous occasions when other things that I needed done on my car. It's so wonderful to find a shop that isn't out there to just take your money, but try to find a solution without digging a huge hole in your wallet! They don't just fix the problem but they listen to you and pay attention to what you have to say. Which is huge for me! They are fast, but efficient, friendly, knowledgeable, and definitely reasonable with Prices. I highly recommend this shop to anyone who is looking! Thanks for everything!