German and British Auto Repair Done Right the First Time

11874 Coakley Cir, North Bethesda, MD 20852, United States

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Brake Repair & Service
in Rockville, MD

in Rockville, MD

Your vehicle’s brakes are one of the most critical safety features. Keeping them maintained prevents accidents and ensures you have a smooth driving experience. Brake maintenance also saves you money in the long run – if you allow the brake pads to get too low, they can score the rotors so badly that they can’t be machined. If the brake pads are allowed to get too low, they can cause the calipers to overextend and the brake hoses to collapse. MB Automotive in Rockville, MD, a European auto repair shop, provides brake service & repair for German and British vehicles.

Signs You need Brake Repair

Common Brake Problems

In most cases, your vehicle’s brakes will warn you when it’s time to replace the brake pads. The backing plate on each pad has a metal tab that sticks up alongside the edge of the brake pad. When the pad wears enough so that it’s even with the metal tab, you’ll hear a squeaking or squealing noise when you step on the brakes. That is the metal tab rubbing the rotor.

If you allow it to continue, the tab scores the rotor so much that machining it far enough to get the groove out makes the rotor too thin. If you ignore the noise, the backing pad, which is also metal, starts scraping the rotor. At this point, the pad is so low that it can cause the caliper to overextend and the brake hoses to collapse. Other signs of brake problems include:

Vibrations

If you feel a vibration or pulsation in the brake pedal while applying the brakes, you may have warped rotors. In some cases, rotors can warp if they get too thin. They can also warp if you overheat them. While overheating can happen if you use the brakes too much on a steep hill, it’s more common for them to overheat when a caliper sticks, holding the pads against the rotor.

Soft or Spongy Brake Pedal

If you notice that the brake pedal feels soft or spongy, you most likely have a leak somewhere in the brake system. Brake lines, hoses, calipers and the master cylinder can leak. The lines coming from the ABS can also leak.

Grinding

When you hear grinding, you are hearing the metal backing plate behind the brake pads scraping the rotor. You will have to replace the pads and the rotors at this point. The brakes are no longer safe.

Pulling

When your vehicle pulls to one side when you step on the brakes, you could have uneven brake pads or issues with a caliper or hose. Uneven brake pads are caused by one caliper not opening all the way, allowing the brake pad to rub the rotor and wear down faster.

Components in THE

Braking System

The brake system in all vehicles, including German and British vehicles, are made of several components, including:

Brake Pads

The brake pads ride inside the calipers. When you step on the brakes, the calipers press the pads against the rotor to create friction to slow the vehicle.

Brake Rotors

The rotors are metal discs that ride on the spindles.

Brake Calipers​

The calipers straddle the rotors and hold the brake pads. Stepping on the brake pedal forces brake fluid from the master cylinder into the brake lines and hoses, which forces the calipers to close and press the pads against the rotor.

Brake Lines

Metal lines carry the brake fluid from the master cylinder to the brake hoses, which are attached to the calipers.

Brake Hoses

Most of the brake lines are metal. However, because of the tight space and the need to be flexible, each brake has a hose that connects the brake line to the caliper.

Master Cylinder

The master cylinder is located inside the engine compartment on the driver’s side firewall. When you step on the brakes, the action pushes a piston into the master cylinder, which forces the brake fluid through the lines and hoses to the calipers.

Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)

The anti-lock braking system is a computer that relies on wheel speed sensors to tell it what is happening. When a wheel locks up while you are stepping on the brake, the computer releases the brake on that wheel and reapplies it, much as you would do when you feel the brakes lock up. However, the computer can do it much faster than a human.
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