Brake Service

There are multiple components that make up your braking system, with different replacement schedules.  Brake pads and shoes, drums, rotors calipers, brake fluids and the associated hydraulic system, to name a few.  Every manufacturer has different recommendations and your driving style will play an important factor.  It should be noted that the driving conditions in Trinidad and Tobago pushes your vehicle recommended service intervals into the "extreme" category.

At Federal, we consider the entire braking system .  We perform a comprehensive inspection and analysis of your braking system, along with cleaning and lubricating the appropriate brake components.

Balanced braking is also key to stopping safely. We will ensure that your braking performance is evenly balanced across both axels and all four wheels before you leave our shop.

Always check with your Federal Service Manager.  We always reference the manufacturer's recommendations and if you are a customer of ours, your vehicle service history and your specific driving style will all be used to determine your specific Service Intervals.

• Disc brakes Most vehicles use disc brakes on the front of the vehicle
• Drum brakes.  Most vehicles use drum brakes for the rear wheels.  
• Rear disc brakes are not uncommon and can be found on newer, higher end or performance vehicles.

The following guidelines can be used for general reference:

• Brake System inspection.  Regular intervals.  We would suggest you perform a basic inspection with every oil change.  The Federal Advantage includes this as a free service with every oil change.
• Full Brake System Service - every 10,000 km
• Brake pad and Shoe replacement.  Every 40,000 km.
• Brake Rotor or Drum Polishing or replacement - same time as brake pad or shoe replacement.
• Brake Caliper Replacement - as needed.
• Brake Fluid Flush - Every 2 years or 60,000km

Brake services are influenced largely by performance factors and as such actual service intervals can differ from manufacturer recommendations.  Here in Trinidad and Tobago, our driving conditions are very harsh on brake wear.  Regular brake inspections will help set your expectations on upcoming services.

The following performance factors will lead to accelerated brake wear:

• Downhill driving
• Sharp turns
• Hard braking
• Riding your brakes
• Stop and Go driving
• Heavy traffic stopping
• using unreliable brake components (pads, shoes , rotors, etc)
• brakes that are not aligned (e.g pad not making proper/full contact with rotors)
• Driving through water with hot brakes - causes warping/cracking
• Unbalanced braking system (car pulls to one side because one brake is taking all the strain)

Disc Pads and Shoes

• Regular inspection of  pads (for disc brakes)  and shoes(for drum brakes) to ensure they are not worn.  A worn Disc Pad can cause more expensive damage to your rotors or drums and more importantly, affect your stopping ability.  
• We repair or replace pads and shoes as required.

Rotor Service - Machining and Replacement

• For disk brakes, we also inspect the rotors for uneven wear, damage, warping and thickness. 
• We repair or replace rotors as required.

Rear Drum Service - Machining and Replacement

Our Rear Drum Service includes 

• Cleaning, machining or replacing the drum as required;
• Cleaning/replacing shoes as required;
• Checking and servicing the wheel cylinder for leaks.

At Federal, we are one of the few shops in Trinidad and Tobago that has our own onsite, modern Brake Lathe System.  This gives us the option to restore rotors and drums to factory specs. An option far cheaper than a full replacement.  Our Service Manager will work with you to discuss if this is a valid option available to you.

Brake Caliper Service

• The callipers house the brake pads and they push the pads onto the rotor to provide the braking force at the wheel.  
• We check for Caliper alignment, proper pad contact and free movement (slide pin lubrication).

Brake Fluid and Hydraulics

• Brake fluid is specially formulated to have a high boiling point, and protect against corrosion.
• Brake fluid needs to occasionally be bled and flushed to keep your brakes in optimal condition. Air, leaks, contaminants and moisture all adversely affect your Braking System.  
• At Federal we will check your Master Cylinder brake fluid levels and conditions.  We can top up or perform a complete bleed and flush as required.  Our Service Manger will work to you to identify the proper service and type of Brake Fluid for your vehicle.

Brake Hardware

• Brake hardware refers to the various components to keep your brake equipment working properly and in place. Examples of brake hardware for your brake discs include anti-rattle springs, pad-retaining springs, shims, caliper pins, support keys, return springs and retaining screws. With your drums you'll have adjuster springs, adjuster screw assembly, hold down hardware and return hardware.
• When you have your brakes serviced, we inspect, tighten and replace any hardware as required.

Brake Hoses and Steel Lines

• The brake hoses and steel lines that transmit the brake fluid to various elements of the braking system are checked for corrosion and leaks. 

ABS Brake System Repair

• ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System) uses wheel sensors to notify the car's computer when the wheel locks during extreme or emergency braking situations. When the wheels lock, the computer releases the brake many times per second which eliminates the need to 'pump the brakes'. This reduces your chances of skidding as well as enabling you to properly steer your vehicle.
• If your ABS light is on, our technicians will connect your car's computer to our diagnostic computer and we will get your issue fixed.