Brake Service Near Atchison, KS

Close up view of a vehicle's brake rotor

Brake Service at Victory GMC St. Joseph

Your brakes are the most important safety feature in your car, truck, minivan, or SUV and must be well maintained. It is important that your brakes work effectively for your safety, the safety of those you love, and the safety of others on the road with you. If you live in or near Chillicothe, Atchison, or Maysville, you can get quality brake service at Victory GMC St. Joseph. Our technicians are here to help you with all of your automotive needs and brake service is just one of many services we offer.

The Role of Your Brakes

When you’ve been driving your vehicle for a while, you get used to your vehicle and how it feels when you brake. You’ll notice when something is off as you drive and apply the brake. Maybe your brakes feel spongy, or stiff, maybe the stopping time and distance seems longer, or maybe you hear strange noises or feel unusual vibrations when you apply your brakes. When there is something wrong, you’ll want to get it checked out at Victory GMC St. Joseph.

Brake Services Offered at Victory GMC St. Joseph

  • Brake inspection: When you have spongy brakes or the brake light is on, our technicians can inspect the system and diagnose your brake problems.
  • Pad Replacement: If your vehicle has a disc brake system, the pad is the portion that grips the rotor and slows you down. In time they wear down and are less effective. When that occurs, you’ll need to replace the brake pads.
  • Rotor Service: Like the pads in disc brakes, the rotor also gets worn out. Sometimes it’s a simple matter of smoothing the rotor surfaces out so the pads grip better, but they also need to be replaced from time to time.
  • Shoe Replacement: Brake shoes serve the same purpose as brake pads only the shoes are a part of a drum brake system.
  • Brake Drum Service: These serve the same purpose as the discs in a disc brake system, but they are part of a drum brake system and sometimes these may need to be smoothed out or replaced.
  • Brake Fluid Service: Your brakes work off a hydraulic system, so to work properly there must be adequate amounts of clean fluid in the system. We can top off or replace the fluid with a fluid flush.
  • Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS): If your ABS light is on, we can diagnose the problem from the sensors to the computer.
  • Brake Repair: Whatever your brake needs, our technicians can repair or replace the worn-out components.

If you notice strange vibrations or pulsations in your brakes, see fluid leaking out, or hear squealing, rattling, squeaking, or grinding when you apply the brakes, it may mean you need brake service.

A Few Common Brake Questions

Your brake system is your most important safety system, so you probably have more than a few questions about it. We hope to answer them below, but if you still have a question that you need answered, you can always visit us at Victory GMC St. Joseph.

How Many Parts Are In My Brake System?
The short answer is: a lot. To name off a few, you have brake pads, brake rotors, calipers, brake fluid, hoses, parking brake cables, and more. When we inspect your brake system, we’ll be checking each part so that you can feel confident on the road.

When Should I Have My Brakes Inspected?
Generally, you should have your brakes inspected on a yearly basis. If you start to notice problems with your system though, it’s important to have your vehicle inspected as soon as possible. This can help you catch issues before they start to spiral out of control. If you notice a sudden change in performance, or you find that your brakes aren’t as responsive, then we can help you today.

What Are Brake Pads and Rotors?
When you activate your brakes, your brake pads are pressed against your rotors, and the friction slowly grinds your vehicle to a halt. Like any other part of your vehicle though, your rotors and brake pads can degrade over time.

Why Do I Have to Service My Brake Pads So Frequently?
Compared to some of the other parts of your brake system, you’re going to have to service your brake pads somewhat frequently. When they’re pushed against the sides of your rotors, it creates a lot of friction, which is going to wear the material down. If you keep driving on worn brake pads, you run the chance of running out of material. If there’s no brake pad left, then your rotors are going to take a serious amount of damage. This is usually the cause of that classic grinding noise you might hear from older vehicles.

Can I Drive With a Broken Brake System?
A bad brake system won’t always keep you from driving, but it will keep you from stopping. It’s incredibly dangerous to drive a vehicle with a worn brake system, as you might not know the extent of the damage. You could be dealing with something small like a worn brake pad, or you could be dealing with something major like a brake fluid leak. If you have to question whether it’s safe to drive your vehicle, then it’s time for service.

What Does The Brake Hose Do?
Your vehicle needs a way to connect parts to one another. Usually, it’s done through either a belt or a hose. Your brake hose is responsible for supplying your calipers with brake fluid when you step on the pedal. If this hose is damaged in any way, then it could mean that you have a brake fluid leak. Brake fluid leaks can be hard to detect, but if you notice any puddles underneath your vehicle, then it might be time to have it inspected. Without enough brake fluid, your brakes will likely cease to function entirely.

If you think you need brake service, please contact us at Victory GMC St. Joseph and set up an appointment, or you can schedule online. We’ll help you get back on the road and stay safe wherever you go with a brake system that you can rely on.