Tangent and Albany Auto Repair

Over time anything can wear out, even your starter. Just think of how many starting cycles you've had over the course of the lifetime of your vehicle. Every single time you start your vehicle your starter has to make that happen. Over a period of many years all that starting can cause the brushes inside of the starter to wear out and stop functioning. Sometimes it's a part that can be repaired and other times it just needs to be replaced -that just depends on the starter itself.  Give us a call and let us take care of you.  Happy Adventures,  Heather

Hi Everyone! Thanksgiving is coming up and we are all excited to spend quality time with our families and of course, to eat lots of turkey. We will be open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week so whether you are staying close to home or traveling far, stop by or give us a call to make sure your vehicle is safe for all of your travels. Happy Adventures, Heather

Your brakes are probably squealing due to the fact the are ready to be replaced. Most brake pads have squealer tabs on them. When the brake pads get down to a predetermined thickness they will start to make a noise to warn you that your brake pads are ready to be replaced.  Give us a call and let us take care of you.  Happy Adventures, Heather

Anytime that your car is making noise when braking it needs to be inspected. If you're not able to stop when braking then you need to have your car towed to have it inspected. We do free brake inspections, just give us a call and we will schedule you an appointment for us to take a look at it, most of the time the same day.  Give us a call and let us take care of you.  Happy Adventures,  Heather

When your wheel is hot and brakes are making noise it's a clear indication that you have a caliper that has seized and it has done damage to your brake pad and rotor. When this happens you will need to replace the brake calipers, rotors and pads. At times you have a caliper that sticks on occasion and then will release again, when this happens that calipers should be replaced and if the rotors are still in good condition they will be fine but brake pads will need to be replaced also.  When your caliper is sticking it causing the brakes to be on all the time and that effects drive-a-bility, fuel economy and overall handling of your vehicle.  If you think you're having brake issues give us a call or request an appointment online. Happy Adventures, Heather

Many vehicles come equipped with a sensor that tells you that your brake pad is low and it's time for replacement, others have a "squealer" and when the brake pad gets low then it will start to make a noise. Neither of these work 100% of the time. The best way to know for sure is to have them checked each time you have your oil changed. That way you know in advance and you can plan ahead.  Each time we see your car/van/pickup - what ever it is that you drive - we do a full 52 point inspection, that includes all fluids, brakes, tires, belts and electrical. We want to make sure you're safe on all your travels and that you have nothing to worry about.  Give us a call or stop by and we'll make sure you're ready to go.  Happy Adventures, Heather

If your car is shaking when braking it could be an issue with the pads or the rotors, the best way to know is to have it checked. We do free brake inspections, give us a call or request an appointment on-line and we will get to the bottom of your issue.  Happy Adventures, Heather

Your brake lines are rubber and like all things they deteriorate over time and should be replaced. This isn't something that should be replaced often, they should be inspected at every oil change and replaced every 100,000 miles.  Happy Adventures, Heather

Your vehicle can have two types of brakes one are disc brakes and the other are drum brakes. The drums will always be in the rear of the vehicle and the disc can be in the front and or rear also depending on the make and model.  Front and rear disc brake pads should be changed will they are between 2-3 mm of material left. For brakes shoes they should be changed at 2 mm. As for how often that just depends on the type of driving you do and where you're driving. If you drive the freeway then your brakes will probably last longer than if you drive in town all day. If you're towing and going through the mountains expect to change your brakes more frequently.  We do free brake inspections so stop by and we will make sure you're safe on all your adventures.  Happy Adventures, Heather

---This brake pad fell off. The caliper was seized and caused the pad to wear prematurely and damaged the rotor---  If your brakes are making a noise then it would be best to have them checked as soon as possible. I would honestly say that stopping and steering are the two most important parts to the car. They keep you safe and everyone safe around you.  If you are hearing noise when you're braking have it checked out immediately. It could be a rock or it could mean it's time to replace your brakes. We do free brake inspections, give us a call or stop by and we will check them for you.  Happy Adventures, Heather