Have you recently purchased your first vehicle? Have your family and friends told you horror stories about the high repair costs that they've had to deal with in regards to their own vehicles? Fortunately for you, car repairs don't have to cost a fortune. There are some things, such as a brake service, that should almost always be relatively quick and inexpensive. But before you take your vehicle in for a brake job, here are some things to keep in mind:

Don't just nod and agree to anything: Mechanics are often a kind of salesman. And, like salesmen everywhere, they want to up-sell you on everything. This doesn't make them dishonest or greedy, they simply want to make a profit for their shop. Part of this is by suggesting repairs that you don't necessarily need right this second, such as replacing your rotors during a brake service. at a shop like Buettner Tire & Auto. Rotors do wear out and do need to be replaced from time to time, but your rotors may still be in good enough condition to last through another set or two of brakes. Even if you don't understand everything, have your mechanic explain exactly why they are recommending a replacement for each part. He or she should be able to show you exactly how the part is damaged or worn and what this means for your vehicle.

Uneven wear isn't usually a concern: Sometimes during a brake service, a technician will try to tell you that the reason why your brake pads are worn unevenly is due to a more serious problem with your vehicle. But this is rarely the case. You probably already know that your tires need to be rotated every so often. This is because things like turns cause your tires to wear at slightly different rates. Unlike tires, brake pads aren't rotated; they're simply replaced. The only time that you should be concerned is if one of your brake pads keeps wearing away more quickly than all the rest. 

Shop around: When your brakes start squealing and making noise because they're wearing out, this can be scary and it's all too easy to be tempted into dropping your vehicle off at the first brake shop you can find. But before you get any brake service done to your vehicle, it's a good idea to check out the prices at three or four shops in your area. One shop may be running a special or another shop may have a higher overhead due to being in a more visible and desirable location. Only once you've gotten the total replacement cost from several shops should you then make a decision as to who will get to work on your vehicle. 

Hopefully, you now know what to do the next time you run into issues with your brakes so that you can save yourself a buck or two.

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