Tag Archive for: brakes

November Delights: Extended Brake Promo and New Oil Specials at AAC!

AAC is proud to announce not one but two incredible promotions for the month of November, showcasing our commitment to the community and giving back in a big way.

Brake Maintenance: Keeping Your Vehicle and Loved Ones Safe

When it comes to your vehicle, few components are as crucial as the brakes. They’re not just there to slow you down; they’re a vital safety feature that can mean the difference between a safe journey and a dangerous accident. At Advanced Auto Clinic, we want to ensure you and your loved ones are safe on the road, so let’s dive into the world of brake maintenance.

The Importance of Brake Health

Your brakes are responsible for stopping your vehicle, but they do much more than that. They help you maintain control in emergency situations, reduce wear and tear on your tires, and keep you and your passengers safe. Neglecting brake maintenance can lead to costly repairs and, more importantly, jeopardize safety.

Did You Know? In the early days of automotive history, vehicles didn’t have the braking systems we’re familiar with today. Instead, they relied on a transmission brake. When drivers needed to slow down or stop, they would actually shift into low gear, which would create resistance and gradually reduce speed. It’s quite a contrast to the modern hydraulic brake systems we use now, but it’s a fascinating glimpse into how far automotive technology has come!

3 Common Brake Issues to Watch Out For:

  1. Squeaky Brakes: If you hear that telltale squeak or squeal when you press the brake pedal, it’s time to pay attention. This noise often indicates that your brake pads are wearing down. Worn brake pads can lead to decreased braking performance and potential damage to other brake components.
  2. Soft Brake Pedal: A mushy or soft brake pedal can be unnerving. It may mean there’s air or moisture in your brake lines, reducing the effectiveness of your brakes. A firm, responsive pedal is what you want for optimal safety.
  3. Vibrations and Shuddering: Feeling vibrations or shuddering when you brake? This could point to warped brake rotors. Warped rotors can reduce the efficiency of your braking system, making it harder to stop your vehicle when you need to.

Promoting Safety at Advanced Auto Clinic

At Advanced Auto Clinic, your safety is our top priority. We understand that maintaining your vehicle can be a daunting task, but our team is here to help. We offer a complimentary digital vehicle inspection to ensure every aspect of your vehicle, including the brakes, is in top condition.

Now is the Best Time to Put the Brakes On Breast Cancer!

As October is coming to a close, there’s still time to schedule your brake inspection and be a part of a great cause. We are running our “Putting the Brakes On Breast Cancer” promotion. When you come in for a brake job this month, you’ll receive FREE BRAKE PADS, and we’ll also donate $40 to Breathe Inc for every completed brake job!

By taking care of your vehicle’s brakes, you’re not only ensuring safety on the road, but you’re also contributing to an important cause. Together, let’s put the brakes on breast cancer!

Contact us at (262) 728-2944 or visit our appointment page to schedule your brake maintenance appointment and support this meaningful initiative.

Maintaining your vehicle’s brakes is not just about convenience; it’s about safety.

By recognizing common brake issues, addressing them promptly, and taking advantage of our “Putting the Brakes On Breast Cancer” promotion, you’re safeguarding your family and supporting a vital cause. At Advanced Auto Clinic, we’re here to support you in every aspect of brake maintenance. Don’t hesitate to reach out and schedule your brake inspection today. Your safety and your contribution to this cause are our business!

Brake Rotor Problems

Disc brakes are called disc brakes because of the big metal disc – or rotor – that spins with the wheel. The brake pads rub against the rotor to slow the vehicle. In technical terms, the motion energy of the moving vehicle is transferred into heat energy by the brakes. The job of the rotor is to absorb that heat and dissipate it into the atmosphere. To do that effectively, the rotor needs a certain amount of mass (measured by the thickness of the rotor) and a good surface to mate with the brake pads. Let’s talk about those two things.

First is the thickness. A new rotor is nice and thick. It can absorb a lot of heat and dissipate it effectively. Over time, the rotor will wear away slightly. If it wears away too much, there is not enough metal to take care of this heat transfer and the vehicle will not brake as well. In fact, each rotor is stamped with the minimum thickness the rotor must have. When the rotor reaches this “discard thickness”, it must be replaced.

Next in our consideration is the rotor surface. Now this is not just about the quality of the rotor’s surface, but also about how evenly the brake pad sweeps the rotor. Several things can affect the “swept area” of the rotor. A common problem is a scored – or scratched – rotor. When brake pads wear passed the point in which they should be replaced, metal parts of the brake can meet the rotors and grind grooves into the rotor. Imagine putting new brake pads on a scored rotor. The pad would only contact the ridges. This can significantly reduce the contact area and hurt braking performance. When a rotor has been scored, it may be able to be resurfaced on a brake lathe which smooths the surface. If the rotor is not thick enough to be resurfaced, it must be replaced.

Another common rotor problem is something called run out. This is when the rotor is slightly off axis (crooked) so the brake pads do not contact the rotor fully and evenly. Run out is measured in thousandths of an inch, so we are talking very small variations that can affect braking. Run out can be caused by a bit of dirt or rust between the brake rotor and the wheel hub, or even by slight variations in the mating surfaces of the brake and hub. Your technician can determine the cause and take the appropriate measures to restore proper brake pad contact.

When run out is not detected and corrected early, the rotor itself can wear unevenly leading to thickness variations. This condition is called parallelism because the inboard and outboard surfaces of the rotor are no longer parallel. The variations are small, measured in 10 thousandths of an inch, but they can significantly affect braking performance because of limited brake pad contact. This condition used to be referred to as “warped” rotors, but that term is inaccurate. If the rotor is still thick enough, the brake technician will correct the underlying run out problem and resurface the rotor to restore the contact surface. If the rotor is severely worn it must be replaced.

So, if you hear a grinding sound when you brake, get your brakes inspected as soon as you can to avoid possible rotor damage. With run out and parallelism, you may feel a pulsation in the pedal as you brake. If you feel a pulsation or if your pedal feels unusually soft or hard, bring your vehicle in for an inspection. A qualified brake technician using quality brake parts can get you safely running – and stopping –as soon as possible.

Get a $40 back when you buy $250 or more of qualifying brake parts**.

Make The Stop!

Make a stop at your local NAPA AutoCare Center, Advanced Auto Clinic, and you’ll stop with confidence everywhere you go thanks to great savings on brakes. Get a $40 prepaid Visa card when you buy $250 or more of qualifying brake parts. It’s the perfect time to get NAPA quality at great savings. So stop in to Advanced Auto in Delavan for big savings on the most important part of your car.

Hurry, offer ends June 30th!


COMPLIMENTARY MULTI-POINT DIGITAL VEHICLE INSPECTION!

At Advanced Auto Clinic in Delavan we understand the importance of keeping up with technology in the world of automotive repair and maintenance. There are many ways in which AAC surpasses other auto repair shops in the Walworth County area including utilizing AutoVitals, the most advanced automotive repair digital shop software available. The vehicle inspection process is all done digitally. Each of our ASE Master Certified technicians uses a tablet to perform a multi point courtesy digital vehicle inspection prior to starting any work on your vehicle. This process ensures that you are informed of all needed and recommended repairs prior to you having to make a decision on repairing your vehicle. You will see exactly what our technicians see and you will have an electronic copy for your records. Schedule your complimentary inspection today.

Click here to learn more about our Digital Vehicle Inspection

SCHEDULE YOUR NEXT APPOINTMENT WITH AAC TODAY!

If you are ready for the best customer service and vehicle repair that you have ever had, then contact us today and schedule an appointment by calling OR TEXTING 262.728.2944 or schedule an appointment online. Questions or concerns?  Contact us or click on the chat icon in the bottom to chat.


Learn more about brakes:

Having good brakes just keeps you out of trouble. You’ll want to carefully maintain your brakes. With disc brakes, brake pads rub on a disc – or rotor – to slow the wheels.

The brake pads are attached to a caliper that squeezes the pads against the rotor. It’s kind of like how squeezing the handbrake on a bicycle pushes the brake pads against the wheel of the bike.

Pads will wear away with use – kind of like a pencil eraser wears out. The good news is that replacing brake pads is a straight-forward repair.


Taking care of your brakes keeps them working safely – and you could prevent premature brake repairs down the road.


The brakes themselves are applied at the wheel using hydraulic pressure. When we step on the brake pedal, we create pressure in the power booster that’s multiplied by vacuum from the engine. The resulting pressure pushes brake fluid through the master cylinder into tubes and hoses that run to the brake at each wheel.


DID YOU KNOW?

Hydraulic brake fluid replacement is not listed in some owner’s manual service schedules. Ask your service advisor about when he would recommend a power brake fluid replacement. Fresh fluid has adequate levels of anti-corrosion additives that can help protect expensive brake components. At Advanced Auto Clinic in Delavan we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 262.728.2944 and let us help keep you safely and economically on the road.

Avoid Surprises & Brake Into Savings! Get $75 Back on our NAPA Brake Special

Make a qualifying NAPA Brake parts purchase of $250 or more and claim a $75 prepaid Visa Card!

If you car doesn’t have the stopping power it used to, stop by Advanced Auto Clinic, your local NAPA AutoCare Center in Delavan, for our NAPA Brake Special! Score BIG savings with NAPA Brakes, the trusted and most dependable brakes available. Now through June 30th, receive a $75 prepaid Visa card with a qualifying NAPA Brakes purchase of $250 or more. Avoid surprises and stop in Advanced Auto Clinic in Delavan to have your brakes inspected by the professionals.

Great Brakes. Great Price.

Stop into Advanced Auto Clinic today for details.  Offer valid May 1 – June 30, 2020

BRAKING NEWS: Get $75 Back on NAPA Brakes.

Braking News Alert! Score BIG savings with NAPA Brakes, the trusted and most dependable brakes available. Now through June 30th, get $75 back on a qualifying NAPA Brakes purchase of $250 or more. Take a break and stop in Advanced Auto Clinic in Delavan to have your brakes inspected by the professionals!

Great Brakes. Great Price. Great Service!

 

Get $50 with Qualifying Brake Parts Purchase!

Prepare for the Busy Driving Season Ahead and Get $50 with qualifying brake parts purchase!

As the temperatures heat up, so do our schedules. Come in early and have your brakes checked to make sure they’re in good condition and ready for the busy days ahead. Now through June 30, you can get a $50 Prepaid Visa® Card when you have the minimum amount of qualifying products installed at Advanced Auto Clinic in Delavan.

Do your brakes sound or feel funny to you? Why don’t you schedule an appointment today and have them inspected by the professionals at Advanced Auto Clinic in Delavan.  Claim a $50 Prepaid Visa ® Card* from NAPA ® Brakes with $250 qualifying brake parts in a single purchase between April 1 –June 30, 2018. You can submit your rebate ONLINE ONLY at NAPARebates.com

*Offer valid April 1st – June 30th, 2018 

$50 Prepaid Visa Card when you have quality NAPA Brakes products installed!

Summer is here so now’s the perfect time to get your brakes checked to make sure you’re road trip ready. You only have until June 30th to receive up to a $50 Prepaid Visa® Card when you have quality NAPA Brakes products installed during the Stop At Your Destination rebate promotion!

No matter where you’re going or what you drive, trust the most dependable brakes available. #NAPA #Brakes!


Request an appointment today at aacdelavan.com/automotive-services/request-an-appointment/


 

BAD BRAKES? Receive a Visa Gift Card worth up to $50 back on NAPA Brakes!

BAD BRAKES?

Do you hear excessive noise, vibration / pulsation or having brake pedal issues? You may need a brake replacement!

Receive a Visa Gift Card worth up to $50 back on NAPA brakes, drums, rotors, shoes & pads at Advanced Auto Clinic!

Stop into Advanced Auto Clinic today in Delavan to learn more about our $50 VISA gift cards.

Offer valid May  – June 30th, 2016

 

NAPA_May_June_Poster

NAPA will donate $1 the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund for every Gift Card redeemed.

To learn more about the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund please visit www.FallenHeroesFund.org

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Advanced Auto Clinic Brakes

Brakes: BRAKE Out Savings

BRAKES

Summer — and lot of extra driving — are just around the corner. It just makes sense to have your vehicle’s brakes checked today.

Signs You Need New Brakes:

Grinding or growling: This loud metallic sound means that you have worn down the pads completely, most likely beyond replacement. The grinding or growling noise is caused by the two pieces of metal (the disc and the caliper) rubbing together. This can “score,” or scratch your rotors, creating an uneven surface. If this happens, do not be surprised if your mechanic tells you that the rotors need to be “turned” (a process that evens out the rotor surface), or even replaced.

Squealing: The most obvious indicator that your vehicle’s brakes need attention is an incredibly high pitched squeal when you come to a stop.

Car is pulling: It often indicates that a driver needs new brake pads. If the car pulls to one side or another, without turning the steering wheel when a driver applies the brakes, this often indicates that the current brake pads are wearing unevenly and need replaced with new brake pads. If a car is simply pulling while a driver is accelerating, or driving at a steady speed, without applying the brakes, this pulling usually indicates a different repair issue.

Pulsating: A vibration or pulsating brake pedal is often a symptom of warped rotors (but can also indicate that your vehicle is out of alignment). The vibration can feel similar to the feedback in the brake pedal during a panic stop in a vehicle equipped with anti-lock brakes.

Advanced Auto Clinic BrakesYou should make sure you are keeping up with the maintenance of your vehicle. Even if there are no warning signs, you want to get your brakes checked to ensure that everything is in order. Not to mention the increased cost of repairs if you wait until problems occur. Better to prevent issues altogether.

If you do need new brakes, you can save big with the great “Brake Out Savings” Rebates on NAPA Brakes now at Advanced Auto Clinic. For your qualifying NAPA Brakes  purchase now through June 30, you’ll get up to a $50 Rebate Visa® Card, by mail.

Reliable stopping power. Plus, BIG Savings.