Braking System Diagnostics

Brake System Diagnostics involves looking at symptoms and determining which brake system components are causing the issue. If you don’t know where to start or don’t have the time, we are here to diagnose your braking issues

Brake system component and common symptoms

Braking systems are comprised of the same key components, all designed to stop your vehicle. A problem with any of them can result in poor braking or no braking.

Master Cylinder

The master cylinder is a hydraulic cylinder. It is controlled by the brake pedal. The force applied to the brake pedal is transferred, via hydraulic brake fluid to each wheel. This fluid is responsible for providing the force to vehicles brake pads or brake shoes, which slows or stops the vehicle. Common symptoms of a bad master cylinder are:

Low or Leaking fluid
Spongy or squishy brake pedal
Brake pedal sinking to the floor when holding the pedal
Failure to engage brakes.
Contaminated brake fluid

Brake Pads

Brake pads are the fiction material on vehicles with disc brakes. They are material which is used to slow the rotation of the vehicles wheels. They can be made of various materials. The most common are: organic material, a semi-metallic material, or a ceramic material. Over time the brake pads wear out. Common symptoms related to brake pads are:

Squealing when braking
Increased stopping distance
Increased brake pad travel
Lower brake pad
Grinding Noise

Brake Shoes

Brake shoes are the fiction material on vehicles with drum brakes. The material is used to slow or stop wheels on the vehicle. They are typically made out of an organic or semi-metallic material. Just like brake pads, brake shoes wear out over time. Common symptoms related to brake shoes are:

Grinding, squealing, or screeching sound
Vibration or pulsation when applying brakes
Having to press the pedal further to engage
Grinding, squealing, or screeching sound
Having to press the pedal further to engage

Brake Rotor

The rotor is the surface that brake pads press against to slow or stop a vehicles wheels. These are typically made of a machined cast iron. They do wear out over time. Common symptom related to brake rotors are:

Vibration or pulsating when braking
Increased pedal travel
Lower brake pedal position
increased braking distance
Grinding or squealing when applying brakes.

Brake Drum

The drum is the surface that brake shoes press against to slow or stop a vehicles wheels. These are typically made of a machined cast iron. They do wear out over time. Common symptom related to brake rotors are:

Increased pedal travel
Increased stopping distance
Pulsating brake pedal when apply brakes
Metallic scraping of squealing noises
Lower brake pedal

Brake Booster

The brake booster is designed to multiply the force delivered by the drive to brake system. The booster makes pedal movement easier for the driver. Brake boosters are most commonly vacuum driven, however, hydraulic driven system and electrically driven systems do exist. The most common brake booster symptoms are:

Hard brake pedal
A hissing or whistling noise, usually when the brake pedal is pressed.
Increased stopping distance
Leaking fluid (Hydro-boost)
Illuminated Warning Light (Electric brake booster)

Brake Lines & Hoses

Brake lines and hoses carry hydraulic brake fluid from the master cylinder to other brake components. The rigid brake lines make up the majority of the system that carries brake fluid. Hoses are used at each wheel or where there is a need for a component to move with the vehicles suspension. Symptoms related to a bad brake line or hose typically are:

Significantly increased braking distance
Inability to stop or safely stop
Brake fluid leaking
Brake pedal dropping when pressed.
Increased brake pedal travel

Brake Caliper

On a brake system which has discs brakes, the caliper houses one or more hydraulic pistons. These pistons are moved by hydraulic brake fluid when the brake system is used. This piston drives the brake pads against the rotor,creating the force necessary to slow or stop a vehicle. The most commons symptoms related to brake calipers are:

Leaking fluid
Vehicle pulling hard to one side when braking (with tires properly inflated)
Clunking sound
Squealing or metallic rubbing noise.
Increased stopping distance
Increased pedal travel

Brake Wheel Cylinder

On vehicles with drum brakes the wheel cylinder is what is used to apply force the brake shoes and slow or stop a vehicle. The wheel cylinder is driven by the hydraulic brake fluid. The most commons symptoms related to brake wheel cylinders are:

Increased pedal travel
Increased stopping distance
Lower brake pedal
Leaking fluid
Scraping or metallic sounds

How much will it cost?

Diagnostic services are preformed to find the cause of an issue. Depending on the system that is being worked on the complexity man vary. When preforming diagnostic services we estimate the amount of time it will it take. This information is presented to customer along with a price. The price is not charged, as long as the customer chooses to go forward with the repair.

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How it works

Request a service:
Get a quote online or set-up a time to have your vehicle looked at.

Choose your service time:
Pick time slots that work for you, easily, online. We will confirm appointments and send reminders.

Get your vehicle repaired:
No waiting at the shop. Our mechanics bring everything that is needed to you. All you have to do is provided a safe area for the work to be performed.

What what need from you

A safe place to work on your vehicle:
No working on the side of busy roads, No working on unstable or steep surfaces. We do not perform repairs during severe weather.

Authorization from a property owner or management.
If you rent please ensure work can be performed where your vehicle is. If your repair work is being done in a parking lot or at your place of employment, please ensure you have permission to have work performed. We do not do repairs in areas restricted by law.

How is Fixitfor.us different from other repair shops?

Our service is an on-demand approach. Unlike traditional shops, there is no additional time taken out of your day. There is no need to arrange dropping off your vehicle, no need sit in a waiting room and we help avoid towing your vehicle to the shop if its undrivable.

Why should I choose mobile vehicle repair?

Save yourself time and energy. No need to spend your off-time arranging how to get your vehicle to and from the repair shop. Schedule your repair and go about your day.

Do you service all makes and models?

Yes. We are able to serivce all manufactures. Our technicnas have the required tools and experience.

What type of parts does Fixitfor.us use?

All parts we use are designed to meet or exceed OE quality.

What should I expect during my appointment?

After you request a free quote you will receive an estimate, which is our best guess, based on the information you provided. Our technician will arrive at your location with all tools and parts required for the repair. They will inspect the vehicle and get your approval for any changes or additional work that needs to be done.

Are you in our service area?

Our primary service area is greater Grand Rapids, including Comstock Park, Kentwood, Walker and Wyoming.

We will travel, to other locations in west Michigan including Holland, Kalamazoo, Muskegon and their surrounding areas.

What our customers say:

    
 
 
        
   Kassidy G. 
 2023-09-25
 
 
  My fiance & I were having trouble finding someone to repair our car, but Fixitforus came in CLUTCH! They were able to come to our house since our car wasn't drivable. They really know what they're doing! I was expecting to pay anywhere between 400-500 due to quotes from other shops, but they were so reasonably priced and I ended up paying around $245! Highly recommend!

     Good  
     Based on 3 reviews 
    
 
 
   
 
 
        
   Kassidy Garza 
 2023-09-26
 
 
  I contacted SEVEN auto shops and none responded. Aaron actually reached out to me through Yelp & I am SO THANKFUL HE DID!! Him & his partner came and were able to get my alternator done in two hours! Also charged way cheaper than one shop quoted me for. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
  
 
       
   Edixx Avey 
 2023-03-24
 
 
  They are not good at there job they need more practice at what there doing they need to go back to mechanic school
  
 
       
   Richard Alvarez 
 2022-11-21
 
 
  I was expecting to pay for at least service just replacement  of screw need I say more

     Good  
     Based on 3 reviews 
    
 
 
   
 
 
        
   Kassidy Garza 
 2023-09-26
 
 
 recommends I contacted SEVEN auto shops and none responded. Aaron actually reached out to me through Yelp & I am SO THANKFUL HE DID!! Him & his partner came and were able to get my alternator done in two hours! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
  
 
       
   Lisa Mclean 
 2021-07-15
 
 
 recommends got my egr valve, hood supports, and new keys programmed on a chrysler 300 for way cheaper than the dealer, and was very easy because they come to you.
  
 
       
   Brandon Carpenter 
 2020-07-03
 
 
 not recommends is not licensed or insured and will break your car no more