Keeping your vehicle maintained can be a good investment. But you will want to avoid spending money on unnecessary and expensive repairs. One repair you may need to have done several times is the brakes. Most people who buy a new car will need three brake jobs done over the lifetime of the vehicle. Finding the right mechanic can be worth the time and effort to have them do brakes in Nashville and the surrounding area. You may want to get familiar with most of the parts of your braking system so you will be better able to talk to your mechanic.
Newer vehicles have disc brakes on all four wheels. The part that holds most of the braking mechanism together is called the caliper. It fits across the top of the large rotor that turns with the wheel. The caliper is what squeezes the brake pads against the rotor, causing friction that brings the vehicle to a stop. If the caliper is not aligned properly it can cause the brake pads to wear unevenly. This can cause your vehicle to steer to one side when you apply the brakes. A caliper can also leak hydraulic fluid or the piston inside of it will not retract. Many mechanics can rebuild a caliper when repairing brakes in Nashville.
Generally the brake pads are one of the more common parts that need to be replaced. Since they do create friction they take a lot of punishment. There are a variety of brand names of pads. You can buy inexpensive generic brands but often a lower price can mean lower quality. Ask your repair shop mechanics what brand they recommend. You can also do some basic online research to find the names of the major brands that have a nationwide reputation. A reputable shop generally uses the best products because the mechanics do not want to have to replace an inferior component at their expense.
If you do not have a regular mechanic you can call several of the local shops and ask them what they charge to repair brakes. You can tell them you want only the pads and the rotors replaced. The shops may not give you an exact quote but they can give you an estimate. Once you have contacted a handful of shops you will know what to expect when you take your vehicle in for repairs. You will also know enough about the basics of brakes that you will better understand what your mechanic is talking about.
