Brake Repair: How to Avoid Bad Experiences

Unfortunately, the car mechanic business has more than its fair share of liars and thieves, waiting to take the unsuspecting for a ride they never wanted to go on. This is as true with the brake repair industry as it is with any other car specialty. And unless you have a basic knowledge of what’s going on when your car starts acting up, these mechanics have free reign to tell you anything they want to if it means parting you with some more of your hard earned cash. Here are some basic things you should know about brake repair that can prevent you from going on that awful ride.

The problem with some mechanics (not all...not even the majority) is that they will tell you there is something wrong with your car when there isn’t. Or, more often, they will tell you the needed brake repair is much more extensive than it really needs to be. They will inevitably recommend you have something done for which there is a high profit margin for them. Most mechanic shops have jobs they do that net them a lot of profit and those that they make very little on. With inexperienced customers (and a crafty scammer can see of them coming a mile away), they can easily recommend the more profitable job and the customer will have no idea whether or not the car really needs it.

This is why it is helpful to have a working knowledge of brake repair, even if you never plan on doing it yourself. Just knowing how your car works and what sounds mean what can prevent you from getting scammed. When you go into a shop and begin to speak intelligently about what you believe to be the problem (as opposed to old telltale “imitating the sounds” business which will give you away as someone who doesn’t have a clue), it will let them know that you are no one to be trifled with. It will also let you have a healthy skepticism when they recommend a job that you know isn’t necessary.

If you don’t feel like learning the basics of brake repair is something you really want to spend your time with, that’s okay too. With the internet, you can do your preliminary research when a specific problem comes up. There are a number of great resources online that will help you come very close to doing a basic diagnosis when a problem comes up. That will give you the basic knowledge you need to speak intelligently when you go into a shop. You can also find out the average prices for some common jobs, helping you avoid getting overcharged.