What Do Brake Noises Tell You?

Some brake noises are normal, while others indicate problems requiring service. This is what the noises could mean:

• Grinding When caused by rust building up on the rotors, it's of little concern. The buildup can usually be removed, or sometimes it disappears after a few stops. If grinding persists, the problem could be more serious and should be addressed immediately.
  
  
• Loud squeals Disc brakes with wear indicators may produce a squeal,
  indicating it's time to change the pads.
  
  
• Trace squeaks or squeals Semi-metallic brake linings can emit sound. Rain, humidity or cold brakes could be the source. If the problem persists, have the brakes checked.
  
  
• Clicking Sometimes accompanied by a slight pulsing in the brake pedal at low speeds, it's most likely the Anti-lock Braking System performing a harmless self-check.

The Brake System is Your Car's Most Important Safety System

When you think about your vehicle, what is the most important role your vehicle must play in your everyday life? Safety. When you are driving it is very important to be able to stop quickly and safely, yet many people put off replacing their brakes because it does not hamper them from driving in their mind. At 60 Minute Tune your safety is our number 1 priority.

Brakes are a normal wear item for any car. Eventually, they're going to need to be replaced for both performance and safety reasons. Planning can also save you money —your brakes won't get to the "metal-to-metal" point, which usually means accelerating expensive rotor or drum replacement.


In between replacements we recommend the BG Brake Service.

Problem:
Brake fluid becomes oxidized and contaminated over time and use. Heat and moisture cause corrosion on parts and brake fluid failure. This causes a spongy brake pedal and shows up in discolored brake fluid.

Solution:
The entire brake system is inspected for leaks, master cylinder corrosion, worn pneumatic parts, harmful varnish build-up, broken or rusted bleeder valves, worn rotors and drums and air in the brake lines. All old brake fluid is replaced with BG Heavy Duty DOT 3 or DOT 4 Brake Fluid. The result will be a longer lasting, more efficient and safer braking system.

Your Brake System:
The brake system is your car's most important safety system. Never put off routine brake inspections or any needed repair so that your car can continue to operate as designed. Brakes often have wear indicators that produce noise when it's time to change the pads. Brake noise may sound like high pitch squealing or a grinding noise. Or your brakes may feel different when you press on them. If you think there may be a problem with your vehicle's brakes, have them inspected at 60 Minute Tune in Granada Hills. Our automotive shop features quality ACDelco parts, with a safety rating you can depend on.

Potholes are the Pits

Potholes are serious business and can cause some very expensive repairs! We have all seen them in the road, and we try our best to avoid them but sometimes it's impossible. Potholes cause untimely damage to suspension, steering, tires and rims. Your shocks and struts take the biggest impact because they compress and expand using hydraulic oil to ease the effects of driving on uneven surfaces and make for a smoother ride.

Depending on the depth of a pothole, your shock and strut could actually bottom out. Braking while hitting a pothole can cause even more problems. We suggest braking before a pothole and after if necessary but not during.


Besides the suspension components, other parts such as control arms, ball joints and axle shafts are also prone to pothole damage. Your rims can bend or even crack causing poor tire inflation which can also lead to premature tire replacement.


Potholes are the number one cause for premature tire wear, alignment problems and poor vehicle drivability. Our advice is to avoid potholes whenever it is safe to do so. We want to help prevent this damage to your car, and keep you safe. The following resources came up when we searched for information regarding reporting potholes. Have your brakes and suspension checked to prevent premature replacement.

http://www.citysourced.com/neighborhood/2280/us/california/los-angeles-county
http://seeclickfix.com/granada-hills/report