The Brake Squad Blog

Frequently Asked Questions about Brake System Flushes

Brake Squad Tech Looking Under the Hood of a Car | TheBrakeSquad.com

Over time, your brake fluid can absorb water. Because water and oil don’t mix, this leaves little pockets of water in your brake lines, which is bad news. The brake fluid does not compress, giving you good steady pressure on your brakes, but the water does compress. If you have too much water in your brake lines, your brake pedal will feel soft, and you’ll have to press the brakes much harder to stop or slow your vehicle. When this happens, it’s time for a brake system flush.

What is a brake system flush?

When you call us for a brake flush, the waterlogged brake fluid is flushed out of the brake system. Much like a blood transfusion, new brake fluid is being added to replace the old fluid during the flush.

How often should I get brake flush services done?

Ideally, you should flush the brake fluid in your car either every 2 to 3 years or every 24,000 to 36,000 miles—whichever comes first. The more moisture that your brake fluid absorbs, the less effective your brakes will be, so keep weather conditions in mind as well, as they may shorten the time between flushes.

Where can I get brake system flush services? When you call The Brake Squad, we come to you. We use an electronic tester to determine if you need a brake flush first. Then, our team performs the flush on the spot and takes the old brake fluid to be recycled.

Preparing Your Car for Fall and Winter, Part II

In the first part of this blog we talked about washing your car, checking your wipers, and testing your heater in preparation for fall and winter. Here are a few more tips, including calling us for mobile brakes maintenance:

Tires: Making sure your tires are not worn or damaged is crucial for safe driving on icy or wet roads. Check for tread wear, make sure your tires are properly inflated, and get your tires rotated so that they wear evenly. If you need new tires, now is a good time to get them.

Oil: Before the stress that winter will put on your car, it is wise to make sure your oil is changed. If you go to a mechanic for this, they can also make sure your essential fluids like coolant are topped off.

Brakes: Winter weather brings with it dangerous driving conditions, so it is imperative that your brakes will work properly when the time comes that you need them. Call The Brake Squad for convenient mobile brakes maintenance to make sure you’re ready to safely drive in ice and snow.

Even though the kids are just now heading back to school and the leaves may not have begun to turn yet, it’s not too early to start planning to prepare your vehicle for fall and winter weather. With services that come to you, The Brake Squad will make checking one item off your list convenient and easy!

Preparing Your Car for Fall and Winter, Part I

BMW on Red Fall Leaves Under Trees with Red Leaves | TheBrakeSquad.com

While summer may still be in full effect, it’s not too soon to start planning for preparing your car for fall and winter. Our brakes only mobile service has your brake maintenance needs covered, but there are some other things you should do to prepare your vehicle as well:

Wash your car: This is a great time to give your car a good cleaning. Wash off any bugs or other debris that could hinder visibility, and then give your car a good waxing so that it will be protected from salt, sand, or any other elements you will encounter when winter weather arrives. Clean out the inside of your car while you’re at it too, you may not be motivated to do so once it gets cold outside.

Wipers: Wipers should be replaced every six months to a year, and you definitely want to make sure they’re in good shape before the first snow fall. Old wipers may even end up smearing your window when you use them, making your visibility worse rather than improving it.

Heater: You don’t want to wait until you need your heater to realize that it isn’t working! Test your heater and defroster to make sure they are operating as they should.

There are more steps to take to prepare your car for fall and winter, including calling our brakes only mobile service for routine maintenance. Check back for part II of this blog for more tips!

The Benefits of Using Mobile Brake Repair Services

Mobile Brake Repair Being Done at Apartment Complex | TheBrakeSquad.com

Maybe you’ve never heard of mobile brake repair before or you figured it might be too expensive so you haven’t considered it, so let’s take a look at the benefits of utilizing mobile brake repair from The Brake Squad!

Convenience: Having to wait at a mechanic shop or get a ride while your car is being repaired is annoying and inconvenient. Whether you’re at home or at work, we will come to you to complete your repair, so you can continue your day with minimal interruption.

Affordability: We worked hard to create a service that is affordable, and our low overhead allows us to pass the savings on to you. Additionally, because we only do brakes, you don’t have to worry about someone trying to upsell you for additional, pricey auto services.

Safety: If there is a critical problem with your brakes, the last thing you should be doing is driving your car. Because we come to you, you won’t be risking your safety to drive a car with malfunctioning brakes to an auto shop.

If all of these benefits sound great to you, visit TheBrakeSquad.com to request a free quote! Our mobile brake repair services will help you save time and money and get back on the road safely.

Signs That It’s Time for a Brake Service

The Brake Squad Technician Doing Mobile Brake Work | TheBrakeSquad.com

Brakes are a very critical safety feature in our vehicles, which is why it is important to make sure we are keeping them in good condition. Here are five signs to be aware of that could indicate that it’s time for a brake repair in Alexandria, VA or the surrounding areas:

  1. Squealing: Your brakes have been designed to squeal or screech to alert you that the brake pads are getting low. If you hear this, contact a brake repair specialist right away to prevent the problem from getting worse.
  2. Vibrating: Shaking, vibrating, or other unusual motions from your car when you apply your brakes may indicate warped rotors.
  3. Howling or grinding: If a howling or grinding noise happens when you brake, it’s likely because you have very little or no brake pads left, meaning that metal is grinding on metal.
  4. Soft brake pedal: If you find that you need to push further down on your brake pedal to use your brakes, it could indicate a couple of different issues. Your brake pads could be worn down, or your brake fluid could be low. A brake specialist will diagnose this.
  5. Pulling to one side: If your car pulls to one side when you brake, there is probably something wrong with your brake system. Problems can range from a collapsed brake hose or uneven brake pad wear or even a brake fluid issue, so it is best to see a technician.

Brake issues happen, but the team at The Brake Squad can help you fix them without you having to move your car! Visit TheBrakeSquad.com to learn how our mobile brake repair in Alexandria, VA can help you get back on the road safely.