Braking News and Brake Flushes

Well I thought it was a little funny to title this newsletter “Braking News” instead of “Breaking News”. (Ok so maybe it’s not that funny”)

Anyway most folks think that having the pads and rotors replaced on your vehicle is all you need to do to keep up with your brake’s maintenance. The reality is your brake system needs to be flushed periodically as part of your regular maintenance

In normal driving conditions brake fluid becomes contaminated over time. As brake fluid becomes overheated the moisture in the brake line vaporizes and braking efficiency is reduced. Over time this causes contamination that can lead to rust and corrosion that will lead to the breakdown of braking components.

If you ever looked at the brake fluid in your vehicle’s reservoir it should be clear with a yellowish hue. When brake fluid becomes older the color will change to a deeper amber color or perhaps a brownish almost black liquid. This is a red flag for your brake system and  a brake flush is needed soon otherwise you may severely damage your braking system.

Having a brake flush will help ensure proper brake system performance and increase the lifespan of your brake components. Flushing and replacing brake fluid is a small cost however replacing rusted brake lines and other components can run well into the hundreds of dollars. Clearly there is a value in having a brake flush when needed.

We recommend that your vehicle has a brake flush every 30,000 miles. Think of it being this simple, brake fluid is as vital to stopping a car as engine oil is to keeping it going. You wouldn't drive your car with dirty old oil would you ? So let's keep this in mind when having your car serviced

My Car Made it to 300,000 Miles, Will Yours ?

Nowaday cars are built with better technology, parts and materials so if they are taken care of properly they will go many more miles than cars of the past. The key is “taken care of properly.”

My Scion XB (build by Toyota) just went over the 300,000 mile mark. How could this happen ? Regular preventive maintenance over the years has paid off for me and it can for you to. My cars still runs fantastic.

Here are tips for getting those extra years out of your car and saving money in the long run.

1 - Change oil regularly, every 3000 - 5000 miles (longer if using synthetic, 7500)

2 - Have all fluid levels checked every few months when serviced (Transmission, brake, coolant and power steering)

3 -  Fluid flushes (Transmission, brake and power steering flushes.) These fluids breakdown contaminated by impurities, dirt, moisture and corrosive properties that cause these systems to have expensive problems if not flushed.

4 - Change air filter (Usually every 6 months, your car will run better )

5 - Check tire pressure and wheels (Properly inflated tires give you better gas millage, uneven wear from being out of balance or alignment causes vibration that can cause stress on the car's suspension).

6 -  Schedule twice a year safety inspection, more often if you do a lot of driving. (We perform a safety inspection with every oil change)

7 - Protect your car's exterior and interior. (Have your car waxed twice a year and keep the dirt and grime from the inside. This will increase your car’s value when it’s time to sell and it just feels better)

8 - Fix the small issues now (Small issues with your car often turn into expensive repairs if they are not taken care of in a timely manner. (coolant leaks, oil leaks...)

9 - Know your car (be sure to glance through your owner's manual to get an idea about your scheduled maintenance, as always we will be glad to help you with your scheduled maintenance)

The freedom of not having a car payment is awesome. Yes, my vehicle has repairs from time to time however it is much cheaper than a new car payment for the next 4 - 6 years. It used to be if your car had over 100,000 miles it was time to get a new one. That's just a start on today's vehicles.  We service many cars with 200,000 - 400,000 miles. Regular service and maintenance is the key.

Do You Drive with Dirty Oil in Your Car?

Probably Not ! During the life of your car we all have our oil changed regularly because we know a vehicle running on dirty oil does not run as well, gets less gas mileage and will break down more often with costly repairs. The same thought process follows with power steering, transmission and brake flushes. You wouldn’t drive your car with dirty oil so why would you drive your car with dirty power steering, transmission and brake fluid ? Dirty fluid is dirty fluid. Below is some helpful information on the benefits having your fluids flushed.

Power Steering Flush

• Power steering fluid flush should be done every 30,000 miles.
• Insures proper lubrication of your power steering unit and its parts
• Over time the fluid becomes burnt, discolored, oxidized and tiny metal flakes from wear runs throughout the system causing damage
• Dirty fluid is thicker than clean fluid causing the components to work harder causing premature failure of the power steering system. (hoses, seals, pump, steering rack)
• Flushing will allow for a longer life for the power steering components helping save your car from an expensive repair

Transmission Flush

• Transmission fluid flush should be performed every 30,000 miles.
• Keeping your transmission lubricated will help it to operate with more efficiency.
• Over time as the fluid deteriorates it becomes darker in color and will acquire a burnt odor. Another indication the fluid needs to be flushed is when you see dirt and debris in the fluid.
• A transmission flush requires 8 quarts, however we use an additional 8 quarts to make sure the dirt and debris are flushed out as much as possible.
• A transmission flush will help your transmission run smoother and add life to your transmission.  

Brake Flush

• Brake fluid flush should be done every 30,000 miles or 24 months
• A brake fluid flush ensures proper brake system performance and increases the lifespan of your brake system components.
• Keeping clean fresh fluid in your system will keep your brakes working better and slow the corrosion caused by moisture
• Brake fluid starts to absorb moisture from the moment it is put in the system.
• Regularly flushes to your brake system will help keep you from costly brake repairs caused by corrosion.

Basicly all fluids break down over time and need to be replaced. Replacing these fluids need to be part of your scheduled maintenance over the lifespan of your vehicle. This can add years of life to your car as it ages.

Call 770-457-9991 for an appointment

Question: Is Having Your Brakes Flushed Really Necessary ?

If you're like most drivers having your brakes flushed is one of the more frequently forgotten car maintenance services. Many of us don’t think about our vehicle’s brakes maintenance until they start squeaking or stop working. We usually think of a brake repair as replacing pads and rotors when in reality your brake system needs to be flushed periodically as part of your regular brake system maintenance.

Your vehicle’s brake system absorbs and retains moisture which turns the metal to rust and corrosion causing failure of internal brake system components. This leads to a compromised effectiveness and decreased stopping power.

If you look at the brake fluid in your car’s reservoir it should be clear with a yellowish hue. Brake fluid as it gets older will change to a deeper amber in color or perhaps brown and possibly blackish. This is absolutely when you need to have a brake fluid flush, before it leads to rust and corrosion problems within the braking system.

A good rule of thumb is to have your brakes flushed every 30,000 miles or every 2 years if you don’t drive a lot. Think of it this way, you wouldn’t skip changing your car’s engine oil, right ? Oil is the lifeblood of your engine as brake fluid is the lifeblood of your braking system.

With the potential of vehicle safety and brake system repairs that could cost many hundreds of dollars, the money spent on a brake flush is well worth the peace of mind.