Brake Repair & Service in Frederick, MD

At Carriage House Automotive, we want our clients who come to us for brake repair in Frederick, MD to feel comfortable with how the brakes on their car work. Leave the brake repairs and brake services to our professionals. Give us a call and we will be happy to talk to you about the brakes on your car. Below is some information on brake repairs, typical brake problems, and common brake services we perform at Carriage House Automotive. 

When it comes to staying safe while driving having properly functioning brakes is vital. You use your car’s brakes every time you drive! You should have the confidence of knowing that when you press your foot on the brake, your car is going to stop. Your cars brakes need to be inspected at least once a year or every 15,000 miles. This means bringing your car into a Frederick, MD brake service and repair center for regular checks.

Are you looking for brake repair in Frederick, MD? Carriage House Automotive offers Superior brake repairs giving you the quality others don’t, and the options the dealer won’t. We understand how important it is for you and your family, or business, to have a dependable mode of transportation. Having properly working brakes on your vehicle isn’t an option, it is a must! We work hard to provide quick and reliable brake repair service to keep your car on the road.

WHAT ARE SOME SIGNS YOU NEED TO HAVE YOUR BRAKES CHECKED?

You should have your brakes checked at Carriage House Automotive in Frederick, MD if you notice any of the following:

1. A high-pitched squeak that goes away when you apply the brakes.
2. The “Brake” light on your dash is on.
3. Your car pulls to the side when braking.
4. You hear grinding noises when braking or driving. This could be a sign of a safety problem and must be inspected immediately.
5. Shaking or vibrating felt when applying the brakes and stopping.
6. The brake pedal feels soft or spongy.
7. You need to push harder on the pedal to get the car to stop normally.

NEED YOUR BRAKES CHECKED?

What we do:

1. Inspect brake pads for thickness and rotors for wear.
2. Check brake calipers for proper function.
3. Check brake fluid for condition.
4. Check brake hoses, lines, and cylinders for condition and leakage.
5. Inspect brake shoes and drums.
6. Provide you with options for repair that are designed to fit your needs.

Brake Pads and Brake Pad Replacement 

Squealing or grinding brakes are a sign of brake pad problems. When brake pads wear out completely you often end up with a harsh metal on metal grinding noise whenever you hit the brakes. Sometimes the brakes will even grind while just driving down the road. Grinding brakes is a common complaint when the metal friction material that holds the brake pads has made contact with the brake rotors. When brakes begin to grind the brake rotors are damaged and will need to be replaced along with the brake pad replacement. Although experienced person may attempt to perform brake pad repair themselves, if you have brake concerns, it's best to give us a call at Carriage House Automotive so we can evaluate, and then perform any brake repair your car might need. 

Brake Rotors and Brake Rotor Replacement 

In a disc brake system, brake rotors are mounted in right behind you car or trucks wheels. Brake rotors are the round metal discs you see behind the rims. The brake pads squeeze the brake rotors to drag your vehicle to a stop. The friction and heat, created by the brake pads, will create grooves, cracks, and an uneven surface on the brake rotors over time. While it is true you can ‘resurface’ brake rotors, the process of doing so usually takes them below there minimum thickness. The best practice when working with a brake rotor is to replace it. It helps avoid not only brake squealing noises, but also future brake vibrations that come from warped rotors that were too thin after resurfacing. This way the brakes on your car have a like new feeling after the repairs are done. 

Brake Caliper Replacement 

Brake calipers hold the brake pads around the brake rotor and clamp them into place when you hit the brakes. When you hit the brakes the brake calipers make the brake pads apply pressure to the brake rotors causing the vehicle to stop. Brake caliper problems can cause premature brake pad and rotor wear. This happens when the brake caliper seizes up and does not release the brake pads from the rotor when you let off the brakes. Brake caliper problems can cause uneven braking, bad vibration when braking, or even skidding while braking and loss of control during bad weather. Contact Carriage House Automotive for all of your brake repair, brake rotor repair, brake pads replacement, brake caliper repair, or any other auto repair needs here in Frederick, MD. 

Metal Brake Lines 

Underneath of your vehicle are a series of metal brake lines/ tubes that direct high pressure brake fluid from the brake master cylinder to the ABS module, and then out to the brake calipers. These metal brake lines can rust and corrode over time causing the brake fluid to leak out. When this happens the brake pedal will go to the floor and your cars brakes may not stop the car safely. Get them checked from time to time and repaired if needed to avoid unsafe braking and possible accidents! 

Brake Hoses 

A brake hose carries brake fluid, under high pressure, from a master cylinder to a brake caliper. Over time rubber brake hoses dry rot and crack, or receive other damage. A damaged brae hose can lead to delayed and weak braking, or even burst causing a major brake fluid leak and brake failure. There is no scheduled replacement for brake hoses to service them but they do need to be inspected on a regular bases to check for damage and wear. Any signs of cracking or wear on a brake hose is cause for immediate replacement. 

Brake Fluid Flushes 

Brake fluid absorbs moisture over time. Brake fluid absorbs moisture even if you are not using the car often. Moisture in the brake fluid will cause it to become corrosive and damage sensitive brake system components leading to diminished brake effectiveness and potentially more expensive repairs. Regular brake fluid flushes are an important part of the preventative maintenance on your vehicles brake system. Most manufactures recommend flushing your vehicles brake fluid every two years. Give us a call at Carriage House Automotive about the right time to flush the brake fluid on your car or light truck. 

Anti-Lock Brake System 

The Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) helps keep the wheels on your vehicle from skidding, and slipping on the road when braking in harsh weather conditions. If the ABS light comes on and illuminates in your car give us a call at Carriage House Automotive to set up an appointment for a diagnosis and professional repair. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT BRAKES:

• At what thickness should I replace my brake pads or how thin are brake pads they need to be replaced?
  When your brake pads wear down to about 2/32 of an inch thickness, or about 3 mm, they should be replaced. When you purchase a new brake pad, it will have a thickness of around 10 to 12 mm. Your car's brake pads will wear away as a result of normal braking. Don't wait until your cars brakes go metal on metal before brake pad replacement. If you think your cars brakes are worn out give us a call at Carriage House Automotive for a free brake inspection, in Frederick, MD, today! 
  
  
• What are some signs that my brake pads are worn out? 
  The most common signs that indicate your car needs brake repair are: 1. An indicator that comes on in the dash warning you the pads are thin. 2. Grinding noises when you hit the brakes. 3. Squealing noises that either occur when you hit the brakes or go away when you hit the brakes. Have your brakes checked by a trained professional who is qualified to asses your brake repair needs. We can do that at Carriage House Automotive. Give us a call at 301-694-8030 
  
  
• What makes the brake warning indicator come on in my dash? 
  The brake light indicator comes in in your dash panel to alert you to a problem. It could be a brake fluid leak, worn out brake pads, an anti lock brake system problem, parking brake problems, or a score of other issues. Give us a call at Carriage House Automotive to diagnose and repair the problem for you.
  
  
• Why are my brakes vibrating when I apply the brake pedal? 
  If your car shakes and vibrates when you apply the brakes, it’s an indication that your cars brake rotors might be warped. Warped brake rotors result from them becoming to thin over time and going out of round, or from excessive heat caused by aggressive braking. (No one admits to that though). Vibration when braking can also be caused by uneven wear on brake rotors or even rust on the surface of the brake rotor. If your brake rotors are causing brake vibration the best way to repair the problem is to replace them. Do your cars brakes vibrate when you hit the brake pedal? Call us at Carriage House Automotive to schedule a brake repair today! 
  
  
• Why are my brakes squeaking/ squealing? 
  Brake squeal can be a sign that your brake pads are wearing thin and need to be replaced. On some types of brake pad there is a small metal strip that contacts the brake rotor when the brake pads wear thin. It’s designed to cause a brake squeal so you know the brake pads are wearing out. Noises coming from your brakes don’t indicate an expensive auto repair though. It could be a foreign object such as a small stone that got such between the brake caliper and the brake rotor. It’s always good to have a professional check your brakes if you thin there is a problem. We can do that for you at Carriage House Automotive! 
  
  
• Why do my brakes making a grinding noise when I apply them? 
  Grinding noises when you apply the brakes are usually caused by the brake pad completely wearing off and the metal backing plate that retains it contacting the metal brake rotor. We refer to this as the brakes going ‘metal on metal’. Grinding noises generally indicate that your vehicles brake system is overdue for service but can also result from brake calipers seizing up and not releasing the brake pads from the brake rotors. When that happens the brake pads wear off prematurely. Get grinding brakes looked at as soon as possible! 
  
  
• How do I know if my car has a brake fluid leak? 
  If you apply your brake pedal and it goes to the floor, or becomes very ‘spongy’ feeling and your car does not stop as quickly as you need it to. This is a very serious problem. The brake fluid in your cars brake system transfers hydraulic pressure from the brake pedal/ master cylinder out to the brake calipers that apply the brakes. If the brake fluid leaks out there is no hydraulic pressure to make the brakes apply and the car will not stop safely. Brake fluid leaks can be dangerous and need to be attended to right away. 
  
  
• Why does my car pull to one side when I apply the brakes? 
  If your car is pulls to the side when you apply the brakes it may be a restricted brake hose or a brake caliper issue making the vehicle brake unevenly. 
  
  
• Why are my brakes making a burning smell? 
  Overheated brakes will cause a burning type smell. It could be a brake caliper hanging up and not releasing the brake pads from the rotors, or it could be as simple as the parking brake being applied. If the parking brake is not applied you may need to pull over to a safe place and let the brakes cool off. Depending on the severity of the problem it may not be safe to drive a car with overheating brakes.
  
  

WE ARE A LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED FREDERICK BRAKE REPAIR SERVICE.

Carriage House Automotive is a locally owned and operated Frederick, MD brake repair service center. We live in the area and many of our clients are our friends and neighbors! The money you spend at Carriage House Automotive helps support a small local business and not a huge franchise that is headquartered somewhere else.

Remember the faster you check and resolve brake issues, the safer your car will be. Prolonging brake repairs can even cause other more costly problems. Contact Carriage House Automotive to arrange a brake examination, to book your brake repair, or for any other Frederick, MD auto repair or service. Carriage House Automotive is excited to have been voted as Frederick’s Best Auto Repair service for 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, and one of the best in 2010, 2011, and 2017. We really are ready to provide “Service for everything your car needs.”