Choosing a Brake Repair Specialist
Very similar to the medical field, the car care field has become very specialized, and for good reason, you should stick to the specialized field for the respective needs of your car. Just as you would first consider a neurosurgeon for surgery that pertains to the brain or an oncologist if you fear you are dealing with cancer, you should see a brake repair specialist for the care and maintenance of your vehicle’s braking system. Now that you have narrowed your needs down to a specialist, how do you choose amid those professionals? Consider your warranty, gain referrals from friends, and do a little research on the businesses yourself.
If you have a vehicle that is still under warranty,
by all means take it to the dealership that will honor the warranty. You will, however, have reason to be skeptical if your braking system has totally deteriorated within your warranty period, and you may want to have any work inspected by a specialist. There may be a specialist on duty at the general dealership repair shop, but to be sure, just as you would with a medical diagnosis, take your vehicle to a brake repair specialist company to have any warranty work checked and to inquire about similar issues that repairmen have seen with the particular make and model of your vehicle.
If this rapid deterioration is a problem across the board with this kind of car, your car may be part of a recall during which the dealership will correct the issues for free. If there is no recall, see if a specialist can remedy the issue and/or perform a driver diagnosis—that is have him tell you what you may be doing wrong to cause expedient wear and tear.
In looking for a brake repair specialist, you will want to ask as many people as possible about their experience. Inquire about how long your friend’s vehicle was kept at the service center. A thorough job is important, but if you can get a thorough job with the convenience of drop-in same day service, that is certainly an added bonus.
Perhaps you can utilize a drop off/pick up service so that your vehicle can be services while you are at work and ready when you at quitting time. Cost comparison is definitely something in which to take interest, but it is important to know what services are included. Misnomers such as “complete overhaul” and “all inclusive” can mean different things to different places of business which brings you to the next step in the search process.
Once you have a few reputable places on the radar, make a few phone calls and/or visit their websites. Get a good definition of what services include; then proceed to cost comparisons. Inquire directly with the place of business if this is a matter that involves an insurance claim or a warranty. Many brake only car care businesses will complete a free diagnosis, or they will at the very least apply the diagnostic fee to any repair work that you choose to have completed.
Remember that you are dealing with your own safety and the safety of others. Do not drive your vehicle around for any length of time if suspect that the brakes are totally out, and do not put off other related repair work even for a short amount of time.
