Get Fast Brake Repair Services in Martinsburg, WV

Did you know that many shops overcharge for brake repair services?

Because there are many components to an automotive brake system, many things can indeed go wrong causing brake repairs to sometimes be expensive. However, usually not everything goes wrong at once! Sometimes, especially if you catch brake problems early the damage may be limited. Remember brake pad wear is normal, sometimes rotors need to be replaced too, but caliper replacement should be rare! Unfortunately there are many shops that take advantage of car owners who don’t understand the various elements of brake repair services by telling their customers that they need more repairs than are really necessary. Many chain brake stores and auto repair shops have regional sales managers who set quotas for their service writers. Service writers are the people who greet you and take your information at a shop. They are usually not mechanics, but they are trained in selling brake services. A visit from a sales manager typically goes like something like this: “Hey Sam, I see you sold x number of brake pads replacements last month. Every one of those jobs should have included rotors, but many didn’t. You need to up your sales of rotors by next month when I come round to check on you again.” Or the sales manager might say, “We try to sell calipers on 20% of all brake jobs, but your totals are only at 11%, so I need you to sell more brake caliper replacements. If you don’t you know how to convince a customer they need calipers, maybe you need to go back over the training.” This kind of pressure to sell more expensive brake repair services is unfortunately all too frequent in the industry. Customers at these kinds of brake shops are often presented a massive brake repair estimate, and left wondering “Do I really need all this expensive brake work done? Or are they just selling me unnecessary services?” At Hoffman Automotive, we don’t have sales managers, nor do we have sales quotas. Instead, we only tell our customers what really needs to be replaced! We won’t recommend larger services if they aren’t needed, and if we do recommend them we will explain why and what options are available for cutting costs. In the end you will decide. Honesty really is our policy. Consequently, our customers regularly save significant amounts of money on what would otherwise be expensive brake repair services at other shops.

Many garages avoid doing brake repairs that are less profitable for them. For example many garages refuse to change brake pads only, insisting that they must change both the pads and rotors. Now there are legitimate reasons to change both the pads and rotors, and it really is the best practice from a technical standpoint, because you start afresh with two completely flat surfaces thus achieving maximum friction and stopping power. However not everyone always wants the best technical solution. Some people prefer have financial considerations to consider when purchasing brake services. Some simply can’t afford new pads and rotors, so if the rotors are not bad they don’t want to incur the added cost, even if it is a better technical solution. Others act on the principle of avoiding a “throw away” mentality and want to make parts last longer. Each customer is different. Often often brake repair shops will simply refuse to do lower cost brake repairs, because they are not interested in the customers concerns. They are simply interested in the profitability of the brake repair services they offer. More expensive brake repairs are more profitable!

Similarly some brake repair services will not inform their customers of the fact that there are choices that could offer trade-offs between price and durability or quality of parts. Some of those garages will not even install lower cost brake pads even if requested by the customer. At Hoffman Automotive we explain the differences in pad choices in terms of economy parts vs high performance or more durable parts that cost more. And again we let our customers decide.

Finally many garages have young, inexperienced, and lower paid mechanics who are only able to do the simplest, most common and most profitable brake services like changing pads and rotors. Some will refuse to do harder less profitable brake repair services like replacing the hard metal brake lines under the car when they are rusted. Such jobs are harder to perform, more time consuming, and less profitable for the garage. They prefer doing only the quick, highly profitable brake repair services. At Hoffman Automotive, we do not limit ourselves to only what’s most profitable for us. If a customer has a car with rusted brake lines that pose a danger to the driver and their passages, we will recommend replacing them even if it is low margin work for us. The customers’ needs come first! Jim Hoffman and team have both the knowledge and experience needed to deal with the hardest types of brake repair services, and stand ready to meet your brake service needs whatever they are.

Types of Brake Repair Services

A car’s braking system is designed to bring a fast moving vehicle (that weighs a ton or more) with lots of momentum to a stop safely and in a timely fashion. The brake system is comprised of a number of component parts. Often performing brake repair services boils down to determining which brake parts are worn out, damaged, or otherwise not functioning properly, then replacing them. At Hoffman Automotive your brake service technician will first listen to your description the problem you are experiencing. You know your car and you know how it normally feels driving it. When you begin to hear strange noises, or feel a difference in its braking, what you have noticed really matters. After listening to you, the brake service technician may take the car for a test drive to observe the problem himself. He may raise your car up on a lift and/or remove the wheels to allow for a visual inspection of both the mechanical and the hydraulic brake components. He may also scan the car’s computer for codes indicating malfunctions in the the braking system. These measures help to pinpoint what type of brake repair service is needed. Most brake repairs stem from the normal wear that occurs between the frictional parts, particularly the pads and rotors or the shoes and drums. But brake problems involve the aging or wear of hydraulic parts like the master brake cylinder, booster, brake lines, flexible brake hoses, or calipers. And some involve the anti-lock braking system. Because of the high heat that is generated by the frictional parts, it is not uncommon for one problem to have a chain reaction causing another problem. That is why when you experience strange brake noises or experience a change in the effectiveness or responsiveness of your brakes, it is important that you get your brakes inspected as soon as possible.

Brake Repair Services Involving the Frictional Components

The frictional components of a brake system are typically the brake pads and brake rotors, but instead of pads and rotors some vehicles have shoes and drums. Rotors are steel discs that spin at a high speed. Drums are steel cylinders that rotate at a high speed. Your car’s wheels are bolted to either a rotor or a drum. So to stop the wheels from turning the car must have a mechanism to stop the spinning steel rotor or drum. This is accomplished by pressing another surface against the spinning surface. The stopping surface that is pressed against has to have frictional (grabbing) qualities but must be hard enough so as to not wear out quickly. Brake pads serve as the flat frictional surface applied to rotors, and brake shoes serve as the curved frictional surface applied to drums. In either case the principle is that the rotating motion of a steel component (rotors or drums) is stopped from rotating by the friction resulting when another surface (pads or shoes) is pressed against the rotating surface. The friction generates heat and causes tiny bits of both surfaces to wear away as the rotating surface is brought to a halt. The material that pads and shoes are made of typically wears down faster than the steel that rotors and drums are made of. So in general pads and shoes wear out faster than rotors and drums (but not always, more on that later). And when they do brake repair services are needed.

This may sound complicated but its really not. If you want to understand it well, just look at a bicycle with “handle bar” activated brakes. You will see that when you squeeze the lever on the handle bars, a caliper (scissor-like device) around the wheel squeezes a set of pads down onto both sides of the rim of the tire, causing it to stop rotating. Most car brakes work basically the same way, a frictional pad applied to a rotating steel surface. It is normal for the frictional surfaces to wear down and eventually have to be replaced. When that happens you need brake repair services to replace the worn frictional parts. Below is a list of the most common brake repair services offered by Hoffman Automotive that involve the frictional brake parts.

Brake Repair Services Involving the Hydraulic Components

In the previous bicycle brakes example you pull a lever which pulls a wire which squeezes the caliper, so the brakes are activated mechanically. In a car the emergency brake works the same way, but the normal brakes are activated a bit differently. A car’s brakes are typically activated hydraulically (by fluid pressure). When you press the brake pedal, you are moving one end of a lever that in turn moves a piston in a cylinder filled with fluid. The piston forces fluid out of cylinder (like a syringe), through tubes down to the caliper that has another piston. The fluid then pushes that piston, actuating a caliper that squeezes the pads onto the spinning rotors. The hydraulic brake system is actually a bit more complicated as it employs a couple of “power brakes” components to augment the power you apply with your foot. But the essential thing to understand is that the pressure applied to the frictional components stems from the pressure you apply with you foot and is transmitted hydraulically down to the calipers. Brake repair services involving the hydraulic components typically involve worn or damaged hydraulic pistons or problems with the tubes and hoses through which the fluid moves. What is very important to understand is that while sometimes these components wear out slowly giving you warning, they can also fail suddenly so no pressure gets applied to your brakes and you have no stopping power! That is why hydraulic brake components should be visually inspected periodically and preventative measures taken if signs of deterioration are seen. You don’t want to wait until a rusted steel brake line breaks or a dried out flexible brake line bursts. Brake repair services regarding the hydraulic components sometimes comes when gradual leaks and loss of fluid level is noticed, but other times they are entirely preventative.

Occasionally brake repair services involve both frictional components and hydraulic components. For example, if brake pads wear down until they are completely gone, the metal backing plate that holds the pads begins to press on the rotor instead of the pad. This is a condition often referred to as metal-on-metal. It typically occurs when the driver has ignored earlier warning signs of worn pads. When brakes are metal-on-metal, there is a lot of grinding and scraping brake noise and excessive heat is generated. Not only do the rotors get ruined by grooves being dug into them by the backing plates, but the excessive heat causes damage to the calipers (a hydraulic component) often necessitating their replacement. Sometimes the problem goes the other way. When the caliper fails it causes brake pads to wear very rapidly and the rotors get damaged as well. In both cases, both frictional and hydraulic components are damaged causing multiple brake repair services to be needed at the same time.

In summary, brake repair services typically involve either the frictional components or the hydraulic components, but sometimes can extend to both. Below is a list of the main brake repair services offered by Hoffman Automotive:

Brake Repair Services: Brake Pads

The first sign of worn brake pads is usually a high pitched squeaking sound when braking. This sound is actually a built-in warning sign designed to let you know when you need brake repair services. A small pin is incorporated into the pad design. When the brake pads wear down enough that the pin touches the spinning rotor it vibrates rapidly and makes a squealing, squeaking, or chirping sound in a similar way that scraping finger nails on a chalk board makes a high pitched sound. This “noise maker” is designed to forewarn you that your brake pads need to be replaced. Some cars, but not most, may also have an electronic sensor that will cause a brake waring light to light up on your dash. If you keep driving for a significant time after hearing this sound, or ignoring the brake repair service warning, the pads will continue to wear until they wear completely away causing the metal-to-metal condition described above to occur, and will result in damage to rotors and possibly calipers. So when you hear this sound bring, your car to Hoffman Automotive for a brake inspection.

It may be that you will only need brake pad replacement, and will save yourself money. However, there are reasons why in many cases it is best to replace both brake pads and rotors. Let me explain. First a bit of a history lesson. In the old days brake pads and shoes were made of asbestos, a much softer material than the steel rotors and drums. So brake pads would wear away fairly frequently and need to be replaced and while rotors would wear very little and usually not need to be replaced. The need for brake repair service was more frequent, but less expensive. However, modern brake pads are very different.

Brake repair services are needed much less frequently today, because brake pads are made of much harder materials and are much more durable. They last much longer, which is good. But the corollary to longer lasting brake pads, is that due both to their hardness and the added length of time, often by the time they need to be replaced so do the rotors. You can read more about why rotors need to be replaced in the section below.

Brake pads are no longer made of asbestos, and haven’t been for years. Instead they are typically made of one of three basic types of materials. 1) Ceramic brake pads are the hardest. There are some particular advantages and disadvantages of using brake pads made of ceramic. Ceramic brake pads are the hardest and thus the longest lasting brake pads. They generate less heat so they cause less heat related damage to rotors and calipers. However, some people find them to be less responsive, meaning they feel like they have to press harder to achieve the same braking effect as with brake pads of other materials. Sports car and luxury car drivers often like ceramic brakes because when as they wear away they don’t leave the dirty black “brake dust” on the wheels that other pads do. Typically ceramic brake pads are more expensive than the alternatives. 2) Semi-metallic brake pads are also very hard, but some people feel that they are more responsive. The downside is that they generate more heat and can cause more heat related damage to rotors over time. 3) Composite brake pads are made of a composite material which, though much harder and longer lasting than the old asbestos pads, is still much softer than either ceramic or semi-metallic pads. Some people find composite brake pads to be the most responsive brake pads, but they wear faster and leave more dirty black brake dust than they other materials. Composite brake pads are usually the least expensive of the three.

In the end, the choice of brake pad materials is entirely up to the car owner and driver and often is determined by personal preference. Some car owners don’t have a preference, so when they get brake repair service they just leave it up to the mechanic to decide, or say something like ” Just put on the same thing that was on there before.” because they are used to a certain braking responsiveness and want the same. At Hoffman Automotive, we will install what our customers want. If they don’t know the difference, we will explain it to them and let them make the choice.

There are other factors to consider when choosing brake pads. For example, most manufacturers offer three levels of “noise proof” features. These features include design aspects such as chamfers, pads split into sections, backing plate shims, etc. all designed to reduce vibration and chatter. The quieter the brakes the more expensive. Although even basic brake pads come with some quieting features. Most car owners just go for middle range brake pads in terms of price. Discerning drivers have their preferences.

At Hoffman Automotive, we provide the needed information to help our customers choose the best and most affordable brake repair services that will restore their car’s braking system to a safe and effective state.

Brake Repair Services: Brake Rotors

Brake repair services often require the replacement of brake rotors. Partly because of the hardness of modern brake pads, as described above. But also because brake pads last a long time. Steel is hard, but even as hard as it is when hard brake pads are pressed against steel rotors again and again, the rotors wear and get damaged by heat. Brake rotor wear usually involves normal wear from the pads that can either be uniform or uneven with high and low points. Grooves or scratches can be caused by debris like a pebble, or an outer lip that forms as the pad wears in to the rotor can also be a problem. If you put new pads on rotors with groove or ridges, the new flat surface will make contact only at the highest points. Thus with less contact surface area there is less braking power. Even very tiny grooves can make a difference. The best solution is always to replace both rotors and pads at the same time. That way you start fresh with two flat surfaces in full contact with one another and maximum braking power. Also unlike in the old days when softer asbestos pads would “wear-in” to the grooves and ridges of a slightly worn rotor, the hard modern brake pads take much longer to wear in, which results in reduced braking power for a time when replacing only brake pads. It is for this reason that most mechanics will only replace both the pads and rotors. However many car owners are aware of the reduced braking power incurred when replacing pads only, but still find that the braking power is sufficient, and do not want to incur the cost of new rotors.

Another form of rotor damage that requires rotor replacement to be included in brake repair services is heat related damage. There are two main types of heat related rotor damage. 1) Glazing occurs when excessive heat is generated. With glazing the rotors become extremely smooth like glass, this causes reduced braking strength. 2) Warped brake rotors also occurs due to excessive heating. Warped rotors cause the brake pads and calipers to move in and out as the rotor spins. This makes a whopping or thumping type noise, and can cause shuddering of the at high speeds especially when brakes are applied.

With modern brakes it is best to replace rotors whenever pads are replaced, but if costs are a concern, or the customer has other reasons to reuse rotors it is possible, just not advisable. In some cases where there is extensive rotor wear with resultant grooves, ridges, lips, or other unevenness, glazing, or warping rotors must be replaced at the same time as the pads to assure safety. At Hoffman Automotive we always discuss the condition of the brake rotors with the customer and explain the advantages of replacing them, but leave the decision to the customer.

Brake Repair Services: Brake Calipers & Flexible Brake Hoses

Brake calipers have both hydraulic and mechanical components. Hydraulic pressure is applied by a piston in the brake master cylinder when you press the brake pedal the pressure is transmitted down to the calipers through the brake fluid in the brake lines. This pushes out a piston or pistons in the caliper. The piston then pushes out the inner brake pad and actuates a sliding bracket that simultaneously pulls in the outer brake pad.

The piston and the cylinder that it is in are finely machined components which can begin to leak if any grit gets, or if corrosion takes place due to moisture in the brake fluid. Seals are designed to protect the pistons from grit, but the seals get old and eventually deteriorate. Also if the brakes get excessively hot for any reason the calipers can be damaged by the heat. Any of these types of damage can result in brake failure and require brake repair services.

The mechanical portion of the brake caliper is a sliding bracket. It is lubricated with packed grease and has a seal that protects it from grit. However, that seal is also subject to aging and deterioration, and the grease also can be damaged by heat, and the slide pin can become corroded. So that even if the hydraulic portion of the caliper is working well the mechanical portion may fail. When it does one pad may wear out quickly or the pads may slowly but unevenly wear out. If a pad gets stuck against the rotor the rotor, too, may suffer excessive heat damage or wear. When the bracket is not sliding freely it may have to be removed, cleaned, repacked with grease, and reconditioned with new seals and/or uncorroded slide pins.

Another problem that occurs less often but still requires brake repair services is that the rubber-like material forming the inner wall of the flexible brake hose that connects to the caliper may deteriorate, causing the formation of flap inside the brake hose. This flap then starts to act like a check valve, allowing fluid to flow only one way, usually preventing the caliper from retracting when the brake pedal is released. This can cause the brakes to stay applied, and result in excessive wear and heat damage to the other brake components. Sometimes if detected the hose can be replaced without damage to the other components, but usually the hose problem if found only after other brake problems have occurred.

Brake Repair Services: Master Brake Cylinder & Booster

Not all brake parts are down around the wheels. Of course, the brake system starts with the brake pedal which in turn pivots on a bushing. The brake pedal lever actuates the power brakes mechanism, which in turn moves a rod that connects to the piston in the brake master cylinder. So there are plenty of mechanical parts that can fail, keeping the master cylinder from working. However those parts fail very infrequently and rarely cause a need for brake repair services.

The brake master cylinder and the booster, however, are both hydraulic parts that under that are filled with brake fluid, are under high pressure, and are subject the same problems of worn seals, grit, and corrosion due to moisture in the brake fluid. Leaking can be either internal, external or both. When these parts fail to deliver the needed hydraulic pressure they call for brake repair services in the form of rebuilding or replacing. Replacement is usually the best solution if parts are readily available at affordable prices. The master brake cylinders on some cars can be very expensive or hard to come by. In such cases there are usually rebuild kits than enable the part to be refurbished.

Hoffman Automotive mechanics are able to perform the necessary brake repair services to fix brake fluid leaks, bleed the system of any air pockets, and restore proper brake pressure to return braking power to assure vehicle stopping power. If you have braking system problems or notice any changes in the braking power of you vehicle be sure to bring it by to be checked.

Brake Repair Services: Anti-Lock Braking System

Our brake repair services extend beyond normal brake repairs to include the anti-lock braking system. Because anti-lock braking is automatic, sometimes a problem may appear to be caused by another system (steering, etc) when it is actually an anti-locking brake system problem. For example, a circuit can cause a sensor or control mechanism to stop working. Troubleshooting anti-lock braking problems can be difficult at times, requiring careful step by step diagnostics. However, there are many brake repair services involving anti-lock braking components such as circuits, sensors, control unit, etc. that are we are able to diagnose and perform.

Hoffman Automotive mechanics can do all types brake repair services including both routine and non-routine brake repairs. Safety is the most important thing when considering the car’s braking system, but that doesn’t mean affordability has to go out the window. We always make sure customers are aware of the condition of their car’s braking system.