New & Used: 9673 Kings Auto Mall Road, Cincinnati, OH 45249
Used: 435 E Galbraith Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45215
Sales:
(513) 741-1111
Service:
(513) 697-5200
Owning a vehicle carries a great deal of responsibility with it. Besides the monthly insurance premiums and fuel costs, having repairs and servicing performed at regular intervals is what keeps your vehicle on the road and allows you to reap the benefits of your purchase. The most notable and common services we all need to be performed are an oil change every few thousand miles and having the tires rotated and balanced to ensure the tread wears evenly. Both of these services are integral to the longevity of your vehicle, and both can be performed here at McCluskey Chevrolet.
Clean oil is necessary to lubricate the internal mechanisms of your engine, and your tires are your only point of contact with the road, so they need stability and a solid grip. Another aspect of your vehicle that's just as important—but often understated—is maintaining the brakes. You use them every time you drive, and ensuring they stay in proper working order is essential to your safety. If you're looking for the ideal location to have brake service performed on your vehicle, the parts and service department at McCluskey Chevrolet is here to lend a helping hand.
Understanding your brakes and the kind of service they might need is a lot easier when you understand the different components found in them. There are two main kinds of brakes used to help you slow and stop your vehicle, and there are important differences between them, though they have some things in common, too; in general, you have drum or disc brakes, though you could possibly have both with one type on one end and the other type on the other end. Here are some of the most important parts of your brakes:
There are more components that make up your vehicle’s entire braking system, but this is good enough for most of us. And remember that you don’t need to know exactly how every part of your brakes work, as long as you understand how important they are and to have them inspected and serviced regularly. That way you stay safe and in control on the road.
If you were to ask the average person what the difference is between front and rear brakes, they might respond with an answer based entirely on their names alone; that is to say, front brakes are for the front of the vehicle and rear brakes are for the rear. While this is certainly true, the differences between the two have much more to do than just their location.
The front brakes on your vehicle have much more to do with stopping power and are designed to withstand considerable temperature changes—from passive and cool to sudden, superheated action. The front braking process generates a considerable amount of friction, which in turn creates heat. These brakes tend to be thicker and larger than their rear-based counterparts.
Rear brakes, on the other hand, have less to do with stopping the vehicle's forward momentum and are there to provide stability and prevent loss of control in an emergency situation. Rear brakes are also responsible for the even distribution of energy. When it comes to having your front and rear brakes worked on and serviced, it's important to know that your front brakes will need to be replaced much sooner than your rear ones, as they're the brakes that do the bulk of the heavy lifting when it comes to slowing down and stopping. While it's a good idea to get your front brakes serviced at least once or twice a year, your rear brakes can last for up to five or six years before they need to be replaced.
Every driver is unique, and this is evident in how often their vehicles require servicing. Driving habits, road time, weather conditions, and terrain all contribute to the frequency of brake servicing. However, despite these variations, there are unmistakable signs that indicate when it's time to have your brakes checked.
Any experienced driver knows the importance of reaction time when applying the brakes in a situation that warrants it. How responsive—or lack thereof—your brakes might be can indicate whether or not they need to be serviced. If your brakes aren't reacting as well as they once were, this could be a sign that a faulty line is leaking brake fluid.
If you apply pressure to your brakes and you notice that your vehicle is pulling to the left or right, this is usually an indication that your brakes might be wearing unevenly. Much like your tires, it's essential that your brakes wear evenly. Perhaps your usual routes have you favoring one turning direction over another; your brakes can be swapped—or swapped out for new ones—to remedy this.
If your brakes screech and grind when you press down on the pedal, this is an indication that your pads are completely worn down and need to be replaced. If you notice a noise that happens when you're driving, even when you're not applying pressure, this can be indicative that some foreign materials are caught in your brake rotors.
Either way, you should have your brakes looked at as soon as you can. If you experience strong vibrations while applying your brakes, there might be a problem with your rotors. Don't fret, though! The service center at McCluskey Chevrolet can diagnose any potential problems your brakes might have and return them to proper working order.
Like everything else on your vehicle, proper maintenance of your brakes is essential and strongly advised. Proper brake maintenance is crucial for the longevity of your vehicle as well as the safety of you, your passengers, and other drivers and pedestrians on the road. Just like other parts of your vehicle that you use when driving, it's imperative that you take care of your brakes.
Your braking system is complex, being a collection of different parts; not nearly as complicated as your engine, but of the foremost importance behind your powertrain and wheels. How your brakes work is actually quite fascinating. When you apply pressure to the brake pedal, brake fluid is transferred from the master cylinder to the rotors, which in turn press your pads against the inner wheel hubs, slowing down your vehicle.
Among the components that need care the most frequently are these pads, which should be replaced every 30,000 miles, and fluid should be changed after 45,000 miles. However, weather can play a pivotal secondary role in how often you have your pads changed and your fluids flushed. Much like your engine, brakes create a considerable amount of friction; in warm weather, your brake fluid and pads can degrade sooner. Some mechanics and technicians stress the importance of getting your brakes looked at before the summer begins to ensure their quality and effectiveness, so as to mitigate the likelihood of their failure on the road.
In general, it is a good idea to check your vehicle’s owner’s manual or other information from the manufacturer regarding a service schedule for your car, truck, or SUV. This will indicate how often you should have your brakes checked and replaced, though it is a good idea to have them inspected during every major service interval, or about once each year.
We also suggest having them checked out before any major road trip just to be sure they look good. Regular wear and tear can also take its toll on your brakes, so if you like to go off-roading in your truck or you deal with a lot of bumpy roads (or you recently got too friendly with a curb), then it is a good idea to have your brakes checked—and perhaps even replaced—more often.
Although we are a Chevrolet dealership, our service experts are passionate about and trained on a wide range of different vehicles. The most important thing to us is that you have a vehicle that is safe on the road and that you know you can count on. That is why our service center can provide brake service to most makes and models, ensuring your brakes are reliable. You can give us a call or contact us online today to discuss your vehicle and the services we can provide for it.
The brake system is your vehicle's only stopping power, making brake service crucial to your safety in the driver's seat. However, just because this service is significant doesn't always mean it's convenient. Most customers approach brake service with dread. Why? It often requires rearranging your schedule, losing precious time at work, or experiencing setbacks caused by your fleet being out of service.
McCluskey Chevrolet is dedicated to providing a world-class service experience that ensures your vehicle or fleet has everything needed to run its best without negatively impacting your schedule or hindering your business's daily operations. So, how do we do it? Beyond our reputation for integrity and transparency, we're proud to introduce a new service experience that respects your trust and values your time.
Our extended service hours ensure every customer, from busy parents to commercial clients, can schedule brake service when it's convenient for their schedule rather than ours. Most service centers operate during regular business hours, forcing customers to take personal time off work or adding to a fleet's downtime when it should be making deliveries or service calls. Fortunately, we don't make that demand because our technicians work seven days and nights, sharing their expertise around the clock to save you valuable time. You can schedule brake service for an early weekday morning, an afternoon on the weekend, or after dinner throughout the week. The choice is yours.
With extended service hours, routine services like brake tune-ups and the associated repairs are less of a headache. You no longer have to rearrange your schedule or place more demands on your fleet vehicles that are in service. Instead, you can confidently leave your vehicle in our trusted hands, knowing our technicians will work tirelessly to get the job done and get your car, truck, SUV, or van back on the road. The result is an incredible and efficient experience you won't find anywhere else.
Brake service is only one type of essential maintenance we can provide for your vehicle; other types of routine service we offer include:
No matter what kind of service, repairs, or maintenance your vehicle needs, we are here to help. Our certified service center and expert technicians look forward to every opportunity to work for you and ensure your vehicle is in the best shape possible. That way, you can get back on the road right away in a car that you know will be there for you every time you get behind the wheel.
Having your brakes serviced is an essential part of maintaining the longevity of your vehicle. Just like when you schedule an appointment with your doctor or dentist to take better care of yourself, having your brakes checked periodically can ensure the structural integrity of your vehicle and be an excellent preventative measure for maintaining the safety of those you share the road with. Safety is the responsibility of everyone, and your brakes are critical to this obligation.
When it comes to having your brakes inspected and serviced, the experts at McCluskey Chevrolet are here to lend their wealth of knowledge and expertise for the benefit of your vehicle. Our service center is fully staffed with experts who can diagnose any potential issues before they become too much of a hindrance to your quality of life. We can offer complete brake services and guarantee prices that are much more affordable than our competitors.
