Where should I go to get my brakes replaced?

In that one simple question, there are really two underlying questions to be addressed. They are: “Who should I trust to put new brakes on my car?” Moreover, “What does a brake job really entail?” The first question is relatively straight forward, and so is the answer. You should go to your trusted mechanic. The same one who does your oil changes, your tune-ups and your mechanical breakdown repairs, and who answers all of your car-related questions. In short, you should have a relationship with one shop and that’s where you should go for everything related to your car(s).

The second part of the question is more complex. Several different grades of brake pads are available, and while some cars will do fine with low-priced organic brake pads, other vehicles will squeal like a smoke detector in the middle of the night if you install anything other than ceramic brake pads. Some cars will produce what looks like pounds of black dust from using metallic brake pads, and others will never produce a noticeable amount. Furthermore, some brake jobs will require additional work like resurfacing of the brake rotors, wheel seal replacement, or repacking of wheel bearings. Again, you should consult with your trusted repair shop not only on when you should replace your brakes, but also on just what that brake job entails. Beware of the overcrowded newspaper ad that says “Lifetime Brake Job $89.95”; if it sounds too good to be true…