Everyone who owns or drives a vehicle knows how incredibly important your brakes are to your vehicle’s overall functionality. Recently, MSNBC published an article regarding how you can achieve a more affordable brake job in just 10 steps.

10 Steps to Affordable Brakes:

1. Educate yourself- Know what the terms disc brake assembly and drum brake assembly mean.
2. Know when to wonder-The more you know about your vehicle, the less of a chance you’ll have at being ripped off when you bring it in for service.
3. Don’t be duped- A common sales approach involves calling attention to your brake pad wear. Know that there is no replacement typically  needed to correct this. Get a second opinion if necessary.
4. Ask about fit- Sometimes cheaper isn’t necessarily better. Know that not all brake pads fit every vehicle well, which may cause excessive noise or other problems down the line. Instead, opt for factory brake pads that are designed specifically for your vehicle.
5. Stay on high alert- Some mechanic shops promote discounts on brake jobs. However, be cautious and don’t agree to have work done on your vehicle that you may not necessarily need.
6. Make your signoff a requirement- Always opt to have the shop call you prior to making any mechanical changes or alterations to your vehicle.
7. Shop around- It doesn’t hurt to make 3-4 quick calls to local mechanics in the area prior to having repairs made to your vehicle.
8. Check the store’s reputation and complaint history- Visit the Better Business Bureau to double check a repair shop’s history of good (or bad) service.
9. Know when to give the green light- If you trust the shop that your car is in, you can always let them know ahead of time that any changes they need to make are ok by you. However, it would behoove of you to ask about a written warranty as well as keeping any old parts.
10. Wrap things up-Before you drive away from the repair shop, make sure that the itemized items on the bill match up with the estimate you were originally given, etc.

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