Below are some frequently asked questions and answers about general brake information, appointments, and our mobile brake repair service. If you have additional questions or need clarification, please contact us at 703-994-2773 or email us at info@thebrakesquad.local. We look forward to serving you.
About Brakes
- What is the difference between brake pads and brake shoes?
- What is a rotor and how do I know if I need new ones?
- How do I know what service I need?
- What types of parts to you use?
About Your Appointment
- Do you come to my home or office?
- Where will you work on my vehicle?
- How early or late can I schedule my appointment?
- What if I need to change my appointment?
- Do I need to be home/meet your brake specialist when he/she works on my vehicle?
- What information do you need about my vehicle? What is your process?
About Our Services
- How does your service compare to a brake job done at a mechanic’s garage?
- How long does a brake service take?
- What are your operating hours?
- Why are you closed on Sundays?
- What is your process?
- Do you do free brake inspections?
- Do you do more than brakes?
- Do you offer Fleet Services?
About Brakes
What is the difference between brake pads and brake shoes?
Brake pads are used for disc brakes. Brake shoes are used in drum brakes. When you make your appointment and tell us the year, make and model of your car, we bring the right parts to your appointment either pads or shoes.
What is a rotor and how do I know if I need new ones?
Rotors are metal and disc-shaped and are located behind your wheel. The brake pads squeeze the rotor’s surface to slow your vehicle and bring you to a safe stop. Rotors are manufactured to be a certain thickness and designed to dissipate heat efficiently through vents or drilled holes. Sometimes rotors can last through two or three sets of brake pads before needing to be replaced. But the thinner they get the harder it is for them to dissipate heat properly causing them to warp.
Many brake repair services will offer to “turn” or “resurface” your rotors instead of outright replacing them. This means shaving enough metal off of the rotors to make them smooth and true again. However, newer vehicles are equipped with thinner, lighter rotors to save on costs and increase fuel economy. If these rotors are “turned” or “resurfaced” you’ll likely be making a U-turn back to the garage to have them replaced after only a few months. That’s why we recommend changing your rotors and pads at the same time.
How do I know what service I need?
Often people have their brakes diagnosed along with other engine maintenance at a traditional garage. Most of the time, people know they need brake service because of what they hear, feel or observe on their own about their vehicle and brakes. If you still have questions, call our support team and they will set up a time for you to talk with one of our Brake Repair Specialists.
What types of parts do you use?
We use parts that meet or exceed original equipment (OEM) specifications. That means we use the brake parts made to the exact tolerances and quality standards set by the manufacturer for your vehicle. We don’t use low-quality aftermarket parts that can squeak.
About Your Appointment
Do you come to my home or office?
We come to either your home or your office, whichever is convenient for you. It is helpful if there is extra space around your car to work in and if we aren’t working in a very busy traffic area or on a slanted surface, but our brake specialists have worked in all kinds of situations and are equipped to help you.
Where will you work on my vehicle?
We can work on it in your driveway, a parking lot at home or at work.
How early or late can I schedule my appointment?
To accommodate your busy life and schedule, we have early morning, evening and Saturday appointments readily available for you. We also do work during regular business hours. If you have an exceptional request, just give us a call and we’ll do our best to accommodate your schedule.
What if I need to change my appointment?
No problem. We understand life is busy and things come up that’s why we are a mobile service. We’d appreciate it if you can call us at least 24 hours in advance so we can manage our schedule well. We will reschedule for a time that works for you.
Do I need to be home/meet your brake specialist when he/she works on my vehicle?
Either you or an authorized person with keys to your car will need to meet us when we arrive. We only use the keys to turn the car on and test the brakes once we are finished fixing them for you. When we are finished, we will need to meet again with you or an authorized person to take payment and return your keys. No one needs to stay with us or your vehicle while we are actually doing the work, though you are always welcome to stay and watch.
What information do you need about my vehicle? What is your process?
It’s simple. You call us or fill out a form on our website and request a brake service. You tell us the year, make and model of your vehicle. You also give us some dates and times that work for you as well as the address where you’d like us to work on your brakes.
One of our friendly and organized team members will call or email you back to confirm a date and time for your appointment. Then, our highly trained, friendly and respectful Brake Specialist will meet you, or someone you have designated, at your car and perform the work.
Once we are done, you or your designee will pay for the service with a credit or debit card. We print a credit card receipt for you on the spot. Later you will receive an email containing a total receipt outlining the service we performed and any notes from our Brake Specialist for your records.
About Our Services
How does your service compare to a brake job done at a mechanic’s garage?
In the words of our customers, “it is SOOO much better!!!” While both The Brake Squad and traditional mechanics garages offer 100% guarantees on work done to your vehicle, there are some very distinct differences between us and a traditional garage. We have outlined just a few of our customers’ favorite differences below:
| The Brake Squad Experience | A Traditional Garage Experience |
|
|
How long does a brake service take?
About 1 hour. Some larger vehicles or more complex services may take up to one and a half or two hours. But, most of our brake services are done in less than an hour.
What are your operating hours?
We are open Monday through Friday, from 8am to 7pm and Saturdays from 8am to 6pm. However, we do schedule early morning or late evening service appointments as needed. We are closed on Sundays.
Why are you closed on Sundays?
We work hard for you all week, including Saturdays because we know that often that is the only time some people have available for maintenance activities like car repairs. Sundays we are closed so we can spend time with our families, to celebrate the Sabbath and recharge so we are ready for another week of service to you and others.
What is your process?
It’s simple. You call or email us and request a brake service. You tell us the year, make and model of your vehicle . You also give us some dates and times that work for you as well as the address where you’d like us to work on your brakes. One of our friendly and organized team members will call or email you back to confirm a date and time for your appointment. Then, our highly trained, friendly and respectful Brake Specialist will meet you, or someone you have designated, at your car and perform the work. Once we are done, you or your designee will pay for the service with a credit or debit card. We print a credit card receipt for you on the spot. Later you will receive an email containing a total receipt outlining the service we performed and any notes from our Brake Repair Specialist for your records.
Do you do on-site brake inspections?
If you are unsure what your vehicle needs and we are unable to diagnose your brake issue over the phone, then we do offer on-site brake inspections. There is a charge for the inspection. However, if you choose to have us perform the repair we will credit the inspection fee towards the cost of the brake repair.
Do you do more than brakes?
We are Brake Specialists and focus on brake pads and rotor replacement. We have intentionally limited our services so we can be excellent at them and be efficient in our mobile service. That focus allows us to offer great service at competitive prices. For fleet services, we do offer a few routine vehicle maintenance services along with brake service. If your vehicle needs additional service, we can recommend several reputable traditional garages in the area.
Do you offer Fleet Services?
Busy business owners know all too well that when a company vehicle is down for repairs, they might as well be closed for the day. We keep your business open by performing critical brake repair on the spot. Whether that is at your office or on a job-site we can get your vehicles back on the road quickly. Call us at 703-994-2773 or visit our fleet services page for more information. We will set up a time for one of our business development managers to speak with you about your fleet service needs.
Check out our services by clicking on the button to the left or give us a call if you have questions.
We look forward to helping you save time and money!