5 Reasons Why Visiting a Brake Specialist in Austin Regularly is Important

It’s no secret that your car’s brakes are an absolute necessity for safe driving, in Austin and beyond. 

Whether you’re taking a short trip to work during a weekday, a fun trip to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center with family or friends on the weekend, or a longer road trip out to Texas Wine Country or Big Bend, your brakes are there to make sure that your vehicle stops when it’s supposed to. 

And when they don’t? Let’s just say that’s something better not experienced firsthand.

Needless to say, if you live around Austin, it’s essential that you routinely bring your vehicle to an ASE-certified brake repair specialist like us. That way, you can be 100% sure that every trip is a safe one.

There are other reasons to have brake services in Austin done, too. Here are five.

1. Safety

Brakes stop cars. You need to be able to stop your car in order to drive safely, not to mention remain in compliance with state and federal road safety laws and regulations. But how do you know your brakes need to be replaced? JD Power offers up the following signs your brakes need replacing:

  • Reduced brake responsiveness (“brake fade”)
  • Pulling
  • Grinding or Growling
  • Vibration

Every driver is different, so there’s no set lifetime for brake pads or rotors. Rather, how you drive greatly affects your estimated brake life. 

While brakes can last upwards of 50,000 miles, they could wear out sooner if you have a “lead foot” and drive aggressively. That’s why AutoZone recommends bringing your vehicle to a brake repair specialist to inspect your car’s brake system and flag any potential brake problems every 20,000-30,000 miles.

2. Ride Quality, Handling, & Road Noise

Using brake pads or rotors that require replacing can make driving unpleasant at best and unsafe at worst. When your brakes start to get worn, you may notice that it takes a lot longer to stop. 

You may also notice growling, grinding, or vibration. All of this can negatively affect the ride quality and handling you experience when on the road. Getting brakes checked and replaced if necessary can solve all these problems.

3. Resale

Looking to trade in your car sometime soon? Unloading it to the next buyer with brakes that need replacement could hurt your resale value – especially if you sell to a dealer. (Did you know that car dealers make more profit from their service centers than from new car sales?) 

Meanwhile, the cost to a dealership to replace wearable items like tires and brakes is often very low. So, they have a vested interest in lowering their offer price and increasing their profit margin on a trade-in. 

If your brakes are getting towards the end of their useful life, it may be a good idea to ask a trustworthy and honest independent service center point of contact, like the team at Edgestone Automotive, whether you’d be better off replacing your brakes or if there’s enough life left that the dealer likely won’t bother replacing them.

4. Energy Efficiency & Cost Savings

Brakes that are starting to wear out are inefficient and waste energy. This can actually have a direct effect on your car’s gas mileage, causing it to decrease significantly. Then, there’s the other issue of brake pads wearing down rotors. If you replace brake pads often enough, this will help ensure your rotors last longer and save you money in the long run.

5. Inspection Compliance

Many states require an annual car inspection, including Texas. 

Furthermore, per the Texas Department of Safety, if either of these things happens during your vehicle inspection, it will fail:

  • Brake warning lamp or signal is on or comes on during test
  • Brakes do not meet requirements for stopping distances

Schedule Your Next Brake Service Appointment Now!

Ready to get your brakes looked at and repaired by someone you can trust? 

Our family-owned and operated auto service center in Austin with 50 years of combined experience is here for you. Schedule service at Edgestone Automotive now.