Brake Repair: The Cost

Brake repair, the most common is replacing the pads, or “shoes.” This type of servicing is best left to the professionals because it is a complicated, multi-step process that would first require some disassembly of the wheel hub in order to get to the brakes. In fact, any brake repair would involve this first step, which requires a special set of tools. For safety reasons, the nuts and bolts of the wheel hub are secured very tightly onto a vehicle.

Otherwise, the constant motion of the wheels would cause them to fall off if they are not secured tight enough. Most individuals attempting to perform this first task wouldn't get very far with standard tools; an auto repair would however have these tools available at their disposal. From there, the caliper must be removed to get to the pads, and then the pads must be removed. It is possible to damage these parts with the wrong tools, or complete the job without re-fastening the nuts and bolts tight enough.

There are other, more complicated brake repairs including replacing and master cylinder or the calipers. Making these kind of repairs also requires having a thorough understand of the braking system and how it is assembled, and then having a knowledge of the type of brakes that are on the car. Furthermore, some manufacturers have specialized systems that are not standard, and therefore are not thoroughly explained in a do-it-yourself book or website.

Auto technicians are specially trained individuals with educational training and certifications to support their skill set. Many automobile repair shops will employ mechanics will special training in braking systems. When repairs are necessary, their training enables them to perform the job much more efficiently; they can also diagnose other issues that an untrained eye might not see. In addition to this specialized training, many will have experience working with different types of braking systems. This is especially helpful to owners of foreign cars because foreign manufacturers will sometimes have a different braking assembly than domestic vehicles. Although the parts to repair a braking system are inexpensive, most of the cost comes from paying a mechanic to install these parts. Their skill set is invaluable, especially when it comes to convenience and having the repairs done properly the first time.

The brakes on a car are the most important safety mechanism, and also very complicated. When something goes wrong with this system, the car is too dangerous to drive because it will not stop properly. Repairs to this system are expensive because they require a special skill set that the average vehicle owner does not have. Certain repairs such as replacing the battery or changing the oil can be done by the vehicle owner, it is best to leave the repairs up to the professionals.