Brakes are incredibly complex components. Depending on the extent of the damage and what kind of car you drive, the price of brake repair could vary wildly. However, if you're looking for a complete brake repair that replaces the caliper, rotor, and pads, you should expect to spend between $300 and $800.
Your brakes are some of the most important parts in your car. You need to take notice when they start acting weird before they fail completely.
Applying the brakes should feel smooth and effortless. But when the brakes are on their last legs, you may notice vibrations going up your legs when you press down on the pedal. This is often a sign the pads are beginning to wear down.
When brakes begin to fail, you hear a loud squealing noise when you come to a stop. This is on purpose. These days, brakes are designed to emit a noise when the pads wear down so that you know to replace them. If you wait too long, then the pads wear out entirely. And metal strikes metal, resulting in a much more expensive repair.
Brake pads on both sides of your car don't wear down at the same rate. One side may have thinner pads than the other. This leads to your car pulling slightly to one side any time you come to a stop. Failing to fix this problem puts additional stress on your steering rack, which costs even more to repair.
Cars keep brake pads in place with pins, bolts, or clips. When those parts begin to loosen, they rattle around. This causes a clicking sound that becomes prominent when you press down on the brake pedal.
After you drive your car for a while, you should have a good sense of how long it comes to a complete stop. With faulty brakes, it takes longer to stop. This is a major issue because you could inadvertently end up hitting another car because you thought you had more room than you actually had.
Numerous parts have to come together to make your brakes operational. You need to take your car to an auto shop when you suspect problems. That way you can figure out what precisely has gone wrong. Different repairs come at various prices. So you could spend a couple hundred to over $1,000 depending on what's wrong.
The length of time you need to leave your vehicle in the shop depends on what needs to be done. If you just need to replace the pads, then it should only take 30 minutes to 1 hour. If more problems are present, then it takes longer. Plus, the mechanic may need to order certain parts, so be ready to leave your car overnight.
You never want to drive around with bad brakes. It's extremely dangerous, and you're at an increased risk of being in an accident.
Plus, the longer you wait, the more damage is going to occur to your brakes. You may just need a pad replacement initially. But delaying repairs ends up damaging the calipers and rotors, too. The moment you hear squealing from your brakes, you need to make an appointment.
Brake pads usually last between 30,000 and 35,000 miles. Rotors often need replacement once every 70,000 miles. However, yours may last less time based on your driving habits. If you're constantly slamming on the brakes, then the components are going to wear out sooner. It's best to be a safe driver so that you don't have to worry about replacements any time soon.
Your brakes experience normal wear and tear. As such, your insurance isn't going to cover repairs. There may be an exception if you can show your brakes sustained damage in a car crash or due to poor weather.
It's still important to have the right insurance policy. In particular, it's good to have a policy with roadside assistance. That way if your brakes fail on you while you're driving, you can have a tow truck take you to the nearest auto shop.
When it comes to car insurance, there are several factors to consider beyond monthly cost. A policy that covers you when you need it, has a low deductible, and offers several discounts can be hard to find - which is why we've done the work for you.
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