ALT-1 Tips for Finding a Good Brake Mechanic
The braking system on your car is obviously a very important item to maintain. Finding a good brake mechanic who will take care of you without worries is also very important. You want someone you can trust, not only in the work that they will do, but to also to give you a fair price. Here are some solid tips to help you decide on a mechanic that will do the job right for you.
- Look for the ASE Certified sign, it should be visible around the business and the mechanic should have the patch on his shirt. (ASE stands for Automotive Service Excellence; any good mechanic will have taken the tests from this program and become certified in the brake area.) This tells you that at the very least they are competent in this area. The ASE tests aren't mandatory (except at most dealerships) for anyone working in a garage, so if they are certified then you know they want to do business with you and keep you coming back.
- Check to see how long they have been in business. (The more experience the better chance of getting it done right.) If you are unsure about the local garage then go check out the National Chain business (like Midas) or the dealership. They are in the business of keeping your business and usually keep mechanics without a lot of turnover.
- Ask about the guarantee. (Not only a guarantee on the parts but on the service as well, some brake parts are only guaranteed for a short while, try to get at least a 90-day guarantee on parts and labor) Brakes are a wear item so it is hard to get a long-term guarantee on them because of different driving habits and conditions but at least ask before you buy.
- Ask for an itemized written estimate before any work is done and about any other expenses that might occur once they start fixing your brakes. (Estimates aren't foolproof as sometimes there may be more wrong with your brakes then could be foreseen, such as a leaky wheel cylinder or a bad wheel bearing so if you ask upfront they will be more likely to give you a better estimate and not have to surprise you later)
- Ask if there is an option for higher or lower quality parts. (Brake shoes in particular come in different grades of quality, plus you can use after-market or original equipment manufacturer's (OEM) parts. Usually the after-market brake shoes are just as good if not better than the OEM parts and priced lower by about half.) If you are getting a guarantee then you will most likely have to go with what the shop recommends.
Lastly ask around and see if anyone else has used this mechanic and what their opinion is of him or her. There is nothing better than knowing someone else got great service at a great deal from the mechanic you would like to use.
