Brakes & Alignment

Brakes are an essential part of your vehicle. Good maintenance is key to making sure that your brakes do what they were designed to do - keep you safe by stopping your vehicle.

Free Brake Inspection
At any time during normal business hours, you can come into your Lewisville Muffler & Brake without an appointment for a free brake -- anti-lock and regular -- inspection. One of our ASE-certified , factory-trained technicians will examine your entire brake system -- pads/shoes, hydraulic fluids, anti-lock systems, rotor/drum wear and calipers. Then we will tell you what, if anything, is needed 


Resurface or Replace Rotors or Drums
To ensure your brake rotors or drums have a clean, even surface -- necessary for proper braking, we will resurface or "turn" them, keeping the rotor/drum within your vehicle manufacturer's recommended specifications for minimum thickness. If they need to be replaced, then we will tell you up front and provide a written estimate too.

Bleed and fill hydraulic system
Sometimes braking can become unsteady due to air bubbles in your vehicle's hydraulic brake line. By 'bleeding' your brakes, we will remove troublesome air bubbles and refill your hydraulic brake fluid to the manufacturer's recommended level with hydraulic fluid that meets or exceeds your vehicle manufacturer's specifications.

ABS Light or brake warning light   
If the light is on all the time, it could mean you simply forgot to release the parking (emergency) brake. The brake warning light remains on when the brake is set as a reminder. If the brake warning light remains on when the parking brake is released, then something is amiss.

In some cases, the brake warning light may remain on if the switch on the parking brake pedal or lever is misadjusted. Nothing is wrong with the brakes and a simple adjustment should fix the problem.

If the brake warning light comes on when you apply the brakes, or is on continuously, it means that hydraulic pressure has been lost in one side of the brake system or that the fluid level in the master cylinder is dangerously low (due to a leak somewhere in the brake system). In either case, the fluid level in the master cylinder should be checked. Adding brake fluid to the master cylinder reservoir may temporarily solve the problem. But if there’s a leak, the new fluid will soon be lost and the warning light will come back on.

Brake fluid leaks are serious because they may cause the brakes to fail! So avoid driving the vehicle until the system can be inspected to determine what’s wrong. Leaks can occur in brake hoses, brake lines, disc brake calipers, drum brake wheel cylinders or the master cylinder itself. Wet spots at hose or line connections would indicate a leak that needs to be fixed.

Leaking brake fluid can also contaminate the brake linings, causing them to slip or grab. The uneven braking action that results may cause the vehicle to veer to one side when the brakes are applied. Brake shoes or pads that have been contaminated with brake fluid cannot be dried out and must be replaced.
  
CAUTION: If the brake warning light also comes on and remains on while the ABS warning light it on, it signals a serious problem. Your vehicle may not be safe to drive. The brakes and ABS system should be inspected immediately to determine the nature of the problem!

BrakeFlush  
Brake fluid naturally attracts moisture, one of the leading causes of break failure and repairs. The appearance of the brake fluid in the reservoir isn't always the best way to tell if it needs replacing. Look at your odometer, if you're gone over your OEM recommended service interval, or your brake fluid doesn't meet manufacturer's specifications, it's time to replace it.   Many vehicle manufacturers recommend changing your brake fluid about every 2 years or 30,000 miles. Manufacturer's recommendations may vary. See your owners' manual for your vehicle's requirements.


Computerized Four Wheel Alignment

Increase tire life, fuel mileage, and restore proper handling.

Wheel alignment provides safe, predictable vehicle control as well as a smooth and comfortable ride.

Alignment is one of the key maintenance factors in getting the most wear and performance from your tires.


The following information should help to explain the importance of proper alignment.

Alignment Basics or truck involves the adjustment of the vehicle's suspension -- not the tires and wheels. The direction and the angles that the tires point in after the alignment is complete, however, are critically important. There are four factors involved in setting the alignment to specification: caster, camber, toe and ride height. The following brief discussion of each aspect will help you understand the process and spot potential problems.

Caster
Caster is the angle of the steering axis (the part of the suspension that supports the wheel and tire assembly). Viewed from the side of the vehicle, an imaginary line drawn between the centers of the upper and lower ball joints forms an angle with true vertical; this is defined as caster. The illustration below shows whether this angle is referred to as positive or negative. Caster is important to steering feel and high-speed stability.

Toe
Viewed from above the vehicle, toe describes whether the fronts of the tires are closer (toe-in) or farther (toe-out) apart than the rears of the tires. The illustration to the right shows this relationship. Toe settings vary between front and rear wheel drive vehicles. In a front wheel drive vehicle, the front wheels try to pull toward each other when the vehicle is in motion, which requires a compensating toe-out setting. A rear wheel drive vehicle works just the opposite, necessitating a toe-in setting. Stated differently, toe is set to let the tires roll in parallel (at zero toe) when the vehicle is in motion.

Ride Height
Ride height is simply the distance between the vehicle's frame and the road. This is the reference point for all alignment measurements. Vehicle customizing very often will include raising or lowering the vehicle. Don't forget to have your vehicle aligned afterward. Also, this rule applies if you put a taller or shorter tire on your vehicle.

Today's modern suspensions require a precise four-wheel alignment that can only be achieved through a modern alignment system. This applies to both front and rear wheel drive vehicles.

Worn Parts
Very often a worn suspension part is the cause of an alignment problem.
On older vehicles, worn springs can lower a vehicle's ride height, altering its geometry and creating misalignment
(all alignment settings refer to ride height). Weak springs can also contribute to uneven or "cupped" tire wear. Another common problem is worn ball joints. The symptoms here are erratic handling, slow steering response and irregular tire wear. Finally, worn tie rods can allow the tire to wander left to right, effectively changing toe as the vehicle rolls down the road. Irregular feathering will develop on the tire tread when this is the problem.

How can you tell if your wheels are out of alignment?

Front end shimmy

• Incorrect wheel alignment
• Excessive wheel / rim run-out
• Steering gear box (rack) mount loose
• Steering gear adjustment loose
• Tires out of balance
• Tires out of round
• Wheel bearings worn or loose
• Worn steering / suspension components

Hard steering

• Ball joint tight or seized
• Bent steering knuckle or supports
• Damaged suspension components
• Front tire pressure low
• Idler arm bushing too tight
• Power steering fluid low or belt loose
• Power steering pump defective
• Steering gear out of adjustment

Premature tire wear

• Incorrect wheel alignment
• Incorrect tire inflation
• Suspension / steering system worn
• Uneven or sagging springs
• Improper torsion bar adjustment
• Worn or defective shocks / struts
• Tires out of balance

Pulls to one side

• Incorrect tire inflation
• Brakes dragging
• Mismatched tires or Radial Pull
• Frame bent
• Control arm bushing worn
• Broken or sagging springs
• Uneven sway bar links

Car wanders

• Incorrect wheel alignment.
• Incorrect tire inflation
• Wrong tires for vehicle
• Worn shock / strut
• Improper vehicle height
• Stabilizer bar missing or defective
• Worn steering components

Worn strut rod or control arm bushings