If your car has noticeably faulty brakes or is simply due for new brake pads, you’re probably wondering how long you can expect your vehicle to be at the shop.
Brake services often take between one and three hours. However, they can be longer or shorter depending on the type of service, how busy the auto repair shop is, and whether the parts are in stock.
The Length of Your Brake Service
Brake service alone can be as quick as 15 minutes or as long as 8 hours, depending on what kind of fix you need and the overall condition of your car. If your car is receiving other services at the same time, like a tire rotation, that can make the service take longer. Generally, you can expect to pick your car up from the shop in between 1 and 3 hours.
How long your service takes also depends on how many people brought their cars ahead of you. If the auto technicians are busy with other vehicles, the wait time will be longer than if the auto shop is relatively empty.
Repair time also depends on whether the necessary parts are already in the shop. For example, if you bring a vintage 1971 Dodge Challenger to Hometown Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram for brake service and it turns out the car has worn rotors, we can order the brake components from our MOPAR auto service department. However, we can’t perform the repair until those parts arrive. If you need the same fix on a 2017 Challenger, we’re more likely to have the parts on hand.
Routine maintenance tends to be faster than a complete brake repair, so it’s essential to stick to your car’s maintenance schedule.
Typical Brake Service Times
When carried out by experienced technicians, the most common types of brake maintenance and brake repair take between 15 minutes and 1 hour. However, many variables affect the actual service time.
Brake Inspections: 30 Minutes (Not Including Repairs)
A standard brake inspection by a professional mechanic is a reasonably fast service, usually taking half an hour or less. This doesn’t include any time needed for further maintenance or fixes; if you need repairs, you’ll also need to factor in that time.
Brake Fluid Change: 15 Minutes to 1 Hour
If you’re simply getting your brake fluid changed, an experienced mechanic should complete the task in about 15 to 30 minutes. However, a brake fluid flush (also called a brake fluid exchange) might take a little longer, especially for newer mechanics: since a brake fluid flush involves draining and replacing all brake fluid, the process can take between 30 minutes to an hour.
Brake Pad Replacement: 30 Minutes to 1 Hour
Swapping out your brake pads will take between 30 minutes and an hour. It’s a fairly routine maintenance task: the technician will remove your tires, remove the worn brake pads, install the new ones, and put the tires back on.
Depending on the condition of your braking system, your mechanic may recommend switching to ceramic brake pads. Ceramic pads are typically used in performance vehicles; however, they cause less wear and tear on the rotor. Switching to ceramic pads can prevent expensive rotor damage if your rotor is looking worse for wear.
Brake Caliper Maintenance: 1 Hour
Maintaining your brake calipers isn’t necessarily considered routine maintenance, but it’s still essential to brake upkeep. The mechanic removes the slide pins from the caliper, removes any accumulated rust or gunk, applies a lubricant to the slide pins, and then reinserts them back into the caliper. It takes about an hour, but it can save you high repair costs later.
Brake Caliper Replacement: 2 to 3 Hours Per Caliper
If your calipers have been neglected and are starting to act up, a complete brake caliper replacement might be necessary. Replacing the brake calipers requires extensive manual labor, so you can usually expect a single caliper to require 2 to 3 hours to replace.
Brake Rotor Service: 1 Hour or More
You usually don’t have to replace your brake rotors as often as your brake pads. Warped brake rotors need to be replaced as soon as possible; they can slow down the braking process or even cause the brakes not to work, making them a major safety hazard. How long a rotor replacement takes depends on the auto repair facility, but you can generally expect to wait at least an hour.
Brake Master Cylinder Replacement: Between 2 to 8 Hours
The master cylinder is essentially the lifeline of your brake line, so if it breaks down, it will take far longer to fix than most other repairs. Depending on the vehicle and the extent of the replacements needed, you can expect somewhere between 2 hours or an all-day repair.
Telltale Signs it’s Time for a Service
Generally, you should check your brakes every 20,000-60,000 miles. Your specific schedule depends on your vehicle model and driving habits. For example, if you habitually slam on the brakes, you’ll need more frequent brake maintenance.
However, any vehicle owner should take note of changes in any part of the braking process. Regardless of when you last had your brakes looked at, visit a brake repair technician if you notice any of the following issues:
- Your brakes don’t do as good of a job as they used to (brake fade)
- Soft brake pedals; little resistance when pressing
- Squeaky brakes, the sound of metal on metal, or rattling when braking (some brake pads have metal contact points to signal they need replacement)
- The car or steering wheel shakes or wobbles when braking
- Light yellow liquid dripping from your vehicle (this can indicate leaking brake fluid)
- The brake rotor surface looks notably uneven
- Brake warning lights appear on your dashboard, even with the parking brake down
- Anti-lock brake system (ABS) light appears on your dashboard
- Check Engine light appears on your dashboard
Get Quick Brake Service at Hometown Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
Maintaining your brakes is crucial for safe driving. At Hometown Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, we know the importance of proper maintenance, so we provide fixes for any brake issues, ranging from regular maintenance to a complete master cylinder replacement.
Make an appointment with our team of skilled mechanics by calling (517) 436-0433 or using our online form. We’ll diagnose and repair the cause of your brake problems so you can get back on the road as soon as possible.
