Peña's Auto Electric, Smog & Repair provides brake service in south Bakersfield, including inspection and pad and rotor replacement. We measure wear first and explain what needs work now and what can wait. Call (661) 599-9098.
Signs your brakes need attention
Squealing when you brake lightly often comes from the wear indicator built into the pads. Grinding means the pad material is gone and metal is touching the rotor. Other signs include a pulsing pedal, a car that pulls to one side when braking, a soft pedal and a brake warning light. Do not wait on grinding. It damages rotors and raises the repair cost.
What an inspection involves
We remove the wheels, measure pad thickness, inspect rotors for wear, scoring and thickness against the minimum stamped on the part, check calipers and slides, look at brake hoses and test the fluid. Pads are commonly replaced around 3 millimeters of remaining friction material, and rotors must be above the minimum thickness. Measurements, not guesses, drive the recommendation.
Pads, rotors and fluid
Pads wear first and are the most common brake repair. Rotors can sometimes be resurfaced if thick enough, and are replaced when worn, warped or too thin. Brake fluid absorbs moisture over time and is commonly replaced every two to three years, though your manual sets the interval. We tell you which of these is due and which can wait.
Stop-and-go and heat
South Bakersfield driving mixes stop-and-go traffic on S Union Ave with highway speeds on Highway 99, and summer heat adds stress to brake components. Heavy loads and towing wear brakes faster. If your driving fits that pattern, ask us to check the brakes during every maintenance visit.
Brakes and the electrical system
Anti-lock brake sensors, brake lights and the brake warning light are electrical parts of the brake system. Because we are an auto electric shop, we can diagnose a brake light that will not turn off or an ABS light that stays lit without sending you to another shop.