Brake Repair in St. Catharines, ON

What types of brake systems does my car have?

Your vehicle has an anti-lock braking system, which allows you to steer as your brakes are engaged. In addition to this, most cars have two or three types of brake systems. If any of these brake systems are wearing out, it is crucial to bring your car into Boyd Automotive & Tire for an inspection before their condition worsens. These brake systems are:

Disc Brakes

If you look through one of your car's wheels, you will see a shiny metal disc just inside. This is called a disc brake. When the driver steps on the brake pedal, a pad of hard-wearing material clamps onto the brake disc and rubs it to make it slow down—in a similar way to bicycle brakes.

Drum Brakes

Some cars have disc brakes on all four wheels, while others have disc brakes on their front wheels and drum brakes on their back wheels. Instead of the disc and brake block, drum brakes have shoes inside the hollow wheel hub that press outwards. As the shoes push into the wheel, friction slows you down.

Handbrake

Your vehicle's handbrake applies force to the disc and drum brakes in a slower, less forceful way via a lever that's located between your car's two front seats. When you pull on the brake, a system of levers tugs on a pair of sturdy cables that apply the brakes to the back wheels. The handbrake system is completely mechanical and does not use brake fluid like the disk and drum brakes, so it can be used as an emergency brake (with great care) when the other brake systems fail.

How do I know if I need to bring my vehicle in for a brake service or repair?

Taking care of your brakes is crucial to maintaining a safe driving experience for you and your passengers. It is a feature you use everyday, and even a slight change can indicate something is wrong. If your vehicle’s brakes are performing poorly and you are in Fonthill or Jordan, it is imperative that you bring your car in to Boyd Automotive & Tire for an inspection. Some warning signs include:

The brake light on your dashboard turns and stays on.

If this happens, first make sure your handbrake is not engaged. If your brake light stays on, your vehicle is telling you it is time for an inspection and/or there is a problem with your brakes.

Your car pulls to one side when braking.

One brake system may be working more efficiently than the other, causing your vehicle to pull to one side when braking.

Your brake pedal feels soft or spongy.

If you notice a difference in the resistance in the brake pedal — it feels “softer,” or sinks all the way to the floor mat when you press on it — it’s a sign you need immediate service. There could be air or moisture in the braking system or a problem with the master cylinder.

Your brakes are squeaking, grinding, or squealing.

If you hear a high-pitched noise when applying your brakes, it likely means that your brake pad has worn out. This could also cause a grinding sound; a grinding sound could also indicate a lack of lubrication in vehicles with rear drum brakes.

If you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms, do not hesitate to bring your vehicle to Boyd Automotive & Tire in St. Catharines today! We will make sure your shocks and struts work. We can also perform other services you may need, like scheduled maintenance, tune-ups, and engine repair, oil changes, fluid services and tune-ups, or transmission repair.

Your award-winning local Shop for Brake Repair

We recommend that you get your car’s brakes inspected once a year. If you are in Ontario Province, Jordan, Lincoln, Niagara Falls, or surrounding areas, you can bring your car to Boyd Automotive & Tire. Since 2002, we've used the highest-quality tools and parts to make the appropriate fixes to ensure you get back on the road quickly and safely. We will perform a complete brakes diagnostic to determine if the issue is coming from your Toyota's brake pads, your Honda's rotors, your Ford's fluid, your Hyundai's master cylinder, or somewhere else.

Here are some reasons why you should choose us:

Locally owned and operated since 2002
Only OEM and OEM-approved parts/components
Shuttle on all services, loaner on major service

At Boyd Automotive & Tire in St. Catharines, we pride ourselves in providing thorough and transparent assessments of the vehicles we service, so don’t hesitate to bring your vehicle in for an inspection today. If you are in the L2S 0B3 area or nearby, you can give us a call at 905-685-5821 or schedule an appointment with us online !

Brake Repair in St. Catharines, ON