What We Fix on Pads, Rotors, and Calipers

Our brake bay handles everything from quick pad and rotor jobs to more involved caliper and hydraulic fixes. On a typical day we repair:

• Pads worn down to the wear indicators or backing plates
• Rotors that are warped, grooved, or too thin
• Calipers with seized slides or sticking pistons
• Hardware that is rusted, bent, or binding

Clear Estimates Before Any Work Starts

Before we turn a bolt, we walk you through what we found and what it will take to fix it. Your estimate separates parts and labor, notes anything that is urgent versus “keep an eye on it,” and gives you options when they exist, like good, better, best pad and rotor choices.

Signs You Need Brake Repair

Squealing, Grinding, or Soft Pedal

If you hear a high pitched squeal most times you stop, the pads are likely down to their wear indicators and asking for attention. When the noise turns into a harsh grinding, the pad material is often gone and the metal backing plate is digging into the rotor, which is both unsafe and more expensive to fix.

A soft or spongy pedal that sinks lower than it used to can point to worn pads, old fluid, or a hydraulic issue.

Pulsation, Steering Shake, or Pulling While Braking

If your steering wheel shakes on the off ramp or the pedal pulses under your foot when you slow from 60 to 30, the rotors are usually the culprit. That pulsation is the brake system grabbing and releasing over warped or uneven rotor surfaces, which will not fix itself and often gets worse with heat.

Brake Warning Light or Burning Smell

A brake warning light on the dash is your cue to let us check fluid level, ABS sensors, and the rest of the system, not something to cover with a piece of tape. Even if the brakes feel okay, the car is telling you something has changed.

A sharp burning smell near one wheel after city driving or a freeway run often means a dragging pad or sticking caliper that is generating too much heat.

Professional Brake Repair Services

Pad and Rotor Replacement With Quality Parts

We match your car, truck, or SUV to quality components that meet or exceed factory specs, then pair pad compounds and rotor designs to how you actually drive around Story Rd, King Rd, Senter Rd, and the freeways.

During the job we:

• Replace pads and rotors as a set on each axle
• Clean and prep contact surfaces so everything sits true
• Apply the right lubricants in the right places to reduce noise

Caliper Service, Pins, and Hardware Refresh

If calipers or hardware are sticking, no pad and rotor combo will feel right for long. We inspect slide pins and brackets, free up or replace anything that is seized, and install fresh hardware where needed so the pads can move and release properly.

Brake Fluid Exchange and Pedal Feel Reset

Old, moisture filled fluid is a common cause of soft or inconsistent pedal feel, especially with the heat from hills and stop and go driving. When tests show your fluid is past its best, we perform a brake fluid exchange, cycling fresh fluid through the system to restore proper hydraulic performance.

Once the system is bled and tested, we verify pedal height and firmness on the road. Many customers notice the difference right away, especially in repeated stops or longer downhill stretches.

Parking Brake Adjustment and Cable Checks

Parking brakes are easy to forget until they start sticking or stop holding on hills. While the wheels are off, we can inspect mechanical or electronic parking brake components, clean and adjust where needed, and check cables or levers for rust and binding.

ABS Sensor and Wheel Speed Diagnostics

If your ABS light is on or you feel pulsing from the pedal at odd times, we can look beyond the pads and rotors. Our techs can scan for ABS codes, inspect wheel speed sensors and tone rings, and check wiring at the hubs for damage or corrosion.

Local Driving Conditions and Brake Wear

Stop-and-Go Near US-101, King Rd, and Senter Rd

During brake service, we choose components and set up the system with this stop-and-go reality in mind, not ideal “highway only” conditions that do not match East San Jose.

Heat and Hills That Stress Pads and Rotors

During diagnosis we pay close attention to discoloration, surface cracking, and fluid condition so we can recommend brake repair that stands up to these real-world demands.

Tips to Extend Life in City Traffic

A few small auto care habits  can help your fresh brakes from our Story Rd shop last longer:

• Look farther ahead so you can brake earlier and more smoothly.
• Leave a bit more space in traffic so you are not constantly stabbing the pedal.
• Downshift gently on longer hills (where appropriate) instead of riding the brakes.
• Have us check pads, rotors, and fluid during regular tire or wheel alignment visits.
  

Turnaround, Pricing, and Warranty

Typical Repair Times by Service Type

Most standard pad, brake repair and rotor jobs on one axle are typically completed the same day once your vehicle is in the bay, and many can be wrapped up in a few hours depending on how busy we are. More involved work, like multiple axles, caliper replacement, fluid exchange, or ABS diagnostics, can take longer, and we tell you up front what to expect so you are not guessing when your car, truck, or SUV will be ready.

Upfront Pricing With Options for Every Budget

Before any brake repair starts, we walk you through what we found and build a written estimate that separates parts and labor. Where it makes sense, we give you options, such as good/better/best pad and rotor choices, or the ability to tackle safety-critical items now and schedule less urgent work for a later visit.

Parts and Labor Coverage Details

The brake components we install (like brake lines, tires, and disc brake parts) are quality parts that meet or exceed OEM specs and are backed by the manufacturer’s warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. On top of that, we stand behind our labor: if you experience unusual noise, vibration, or pedal feel soon after a brake job, we invite you back so we can inspect the work, verify torque and hardware, and make it right if there is a workmanship issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Service Areas Near Story Rd

Our brake repair services on Story Rd are designed for drivers in Story Rd, Alum Rock, Evergreen, Little Saigon, and Downtown San Jose. From our shop at 1620 Story Rd, San Jose, CA 95122, it is easy to stop in for a brake check between work, errands, and school runs without crossing all of San Jose.