A vehicle's brakes are one of its most important safety features, and we want to make sure that Lopez Auto Clinic customers stay safe. Whether your brake pads are signaling they need replacement, your brake light is on, or you're not comfortable with how quickly your vehicle is slowing down, call us at 979-542-8800 or visit us in Giddings and we'll give you a prompt diagnosis of your braking system's safety and reliability.

Anti-Lock Brake System
The Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) ensures your wheels keep rotating during braking, preventing skidding and providing better control. If your ABS light illuminates, visit Lopez Auto Clinic for a diagnosis and professional repair.

Brake Fluid Flushes
Brake fluid can absorb moisture from the air over time, diminishing brake effectiveness and becoming corrosive, potentially harming the system. Regular brake fluid flushes are vital to ensure fresh fluid usage in your vehicle. Consult our technicians at Lopez Auto Clinic to determine the right time for a brake fluid flush.

Brake Hoses
A brake hose carries pressurized brake fluid from the master cylinder to the brakes. A damaged hose can lead to delayed or weak braking, and a leak may result in brake failure. While the need for a replacement brake hose isn't common, any signs of cracking or wear should prompt immediate replacement.

Brake Pad & Shoe Replacement
Squealing brakes often indicate brake pad issues. When brake pads deteriorate completely, a harsh metal-on-metal grinding noise occurs during braking, indicating potential rotor or drum damage. Although experienced individuals may attempt home repairs, if you have brake concerns, it's best to consult an auto repair professional promptly.

Caliper Replacement
The brake caliper houses brake pads and clamps around the rotor to apply pressure during braking. Caliper problems can cause uneven braking, leading to skidding during braking and loss of control in adverse weather conditions. Contact Lopez Auto Clinic in Giddings at your earliest convenience for assistance.

Resurface Rotors
In a disc brake system, rotors attach to your vehicle's wheels. The friction with brake pads over time creates grooves and cracks. The process of resurfacing restores rotors to a "like-new" condition, reducing noise and wobbling. At Lopez Auto Clinic, we inspect your rotors thoroughly and recommend the best course of action.



FAQs About Brakes

Why is my dashboard brake light on?
If the brake light indicator appears on your dashboard, it's either time for regular brake maintenance or an alert to a potential problem. Stop by Lopez Auto Clinic and let us help you diagnose this issue quickly.

What percent of brake pad life is 3mm?
When you purchase a new brake pad, it has a standard thickness of around 8 to 12 mm or about a half inch. Over time, your car's brake pad will wear away. A brake pad at 3 mm or around one tenth of an inch will take around 40,000 miles of driving to completely wear out. Don't wait until then to replace your brake pads. Once your brake pads reach 3 mm it is recommended that you schedule an appointment to get them replaced soon.

Why are my brakes making a grinding noise?
Grinding noises usually indicate that your car's brake system is overdue for maintenance. The grinding sound is usually caused by the brake pad being completely worn away or the brake shoe scraping on metal contact points.

Why are my brakes squeaking?
Noises coming from your brakes do not usually indicate a high-cost auto repair. It could be a foreign object such as a small stone or road debris. It could also be a signal that your brake-pads are wearing out and need replacing. As brake pads wear bits of metal in your brake pad come in contact with the rotor to create a squeaking noise when you apply the brakes.

Why are my brakes vibrating?
If your car shakes or vibrates or wobbles when you apply the brakes, it indicates that the thickness of your rotor is uneven. Brake rotors are large, perfectly round, smooth metal discs that sit inside of the wheels. When the disc has become misshapen or unevenly worn it will vibrate or wobble when you hit the brakes. Left uneven, the material will continue to build on the uneven spots, making the problem worse over time. Come to Lopez Auto Clinic to get the face of your car's brake rotors resurfaced to fix the problem.

How do I know if my car is leaking brake fluid?
If your car does not stop as quickly as you expect you may be leaking brake fluid. This is a serious problem. An important part of the braking process involves brake fluid, which is used to create hydraulic pressure against the brake caliper. If your vehicle is leaking brake fluid, you won't be able to stop safely. We recommend taking your vehicle to an auto repair shop as quickly as possible if it is leaking brake fluid.

Why are my brakes making a burning smell?
Overheated brakes cause a noticeable burning chemical smell. Pull over to a safe place and allow the brakes to cool. Ensure you did not accidentally leave the parking brake on. If there's any smoke coming from a wheel, it may be that the brake caliper is malfunctioning and locked in place. In this case, it may be unsafe to continue driving.

Why is my car pulling to one side when I am braking?
If your car is pulling to one side when braking it may be a bad brake hose or a caliper issue causing one brake to engage while the other is not. This causes a pull on the side where the brake is working properly.

What are the 3 types of brake pads?
There are three main types of brake pads in use today: non-asbestos organic, ceramic and semi-metallic. Come by Lopez Auto Clinic or consult your car's owner's manual to determine which type is best for your vehicle.

What are the 3 signs that brake pads are worn?
The three most common sounds that indicate you need to replace your brake pads are squeaking, grinding or the dashboard brake indicator light coming on.

What is the 30-30-30 rule for brakes?
Brake specialists advise initiating new brake pads by using a 30-30-30 method: Perform 30 gradual stops from 30 mph, allowing 30 seconds between each stop for the brakes to cool. This process protects against excessive heat buildup until the resins in the pads have completely cured.

To learn more about our Brake services, call us at 979-542-8800 or request a quote by clicking below:


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What our clients are saying about us

We have established longterm and stable partnerships with various clients thanks to our excellence in solving their automotive needs!

Granted my vehicle is not exactly new, but, I would not take it anywhere else for work to be done. I usually work on my own vehicles but I am no longer able to do the larger jobs. I brought my car to the guys at Lopez because of word of mouth from other old car guys. I asked them to replace my clutch, leaf springs, and shocks. This is not an easy task on these older vehicles being the parts are not they are on todays cars. They found other problem that had issues for the car to handle properly and they have always contacted me to let me know their concerns. They will not let a vehicle leave their business unless it done to the customers satisfaction. It is refreshing to find a business that still has this kind of ethics. Bravo... quotes-image
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Joel and his folks/family took wonderful care of our car this weekend. We had transmission trouble while driving between Houston and Austin on a Saturday. We called, and they were not only able to get us in with little notice, they were able to get us repaired and back on the road at a reasonable price! I spoke with Joel and at least a half dozen other employees while we were there, and they were all friendly, professional, and awesome to deal with. I can't recommend them highly enough! God Bless.quotes-image
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