Put on the Brakes: Brake Service at Charlie's Fast Lube Sparta

January 21, 2024

When it comes to preventive maintenance and vehicle care, most Sparta drivers know how important it is to check their brakes. But brakes are more than just brake pads and shoes. There are a lot of components in the brake system, and they all need to be in good working order.The pads and shoes ar... More

Put the Brakes On! (Brake Caliper Replacement)

October 30, 2022

Keeping your vehicle's brakes in top shape is one of the most important things you can do for your safety and those on the road with you. Most drivers know a little about brake pads and rotors but maybe not so much about another brake component called the calipers. Disc brakes work by a mechanica... More

A Sticky Brake Situation (Parking Brake Service and Maintenance)

February 27, 2022

We've all been there. You park your vehicle on a steeper than usual hill and worry about it rolling down while you're running your errands. So you decide you'll use the parking brake. When you get back, you release the parking brake, hit the ignition, put it in gear anduh, ohyou can feel the p... More

The Need for Speed (Wheel Speed Sensor Maintenance)

October 3, 2021

Today's vehicles have some pretty amazing technology in them, including a computerized braking system we all pretty much take for granted these days. Antilock brake systems (ABS) have been around for years but they help drivers stop in much shorter distances reliably than ever before. When you ... More

It's Brake Time (Brake Calipers)

October 4, 2020

Race car drivers have demonstrated the advantages of disc brakes, so most modern vehicles use them. Sometimes just the front wheels have disc brakes, but many vehicles now have them all the way around. A major component of the disc brake is called a caliper. It works by squeezing brake pads ag... More

Stop It! You Need Good Brakes

September 6, 2020

Good brakes are obviously very important. If you've ever had your brakes go out while you're driving around the Sparta area, you'll know how terrifying it can be. Today we'll focus on how to tell when you have a brake problem and how to make good repair choices. Often, the first indication that... More

Brake Service at Charlie's Fast Lube Sparta in Sparta

May 3, 2020

Brakes really aren't optional equipment for Sparta drivers' vehicles. And taking care of them isn't optional either.A regular brake inspection is on every Illinois driver's vehicle maintenance schedule. At Charlie's Fast Lube Sparta, our team will check your brake system and let you know if ther... More

Hitting the Brakes in Sparta

April 5, 2020

Safety should always be an element of your vehicle care. So even if you don't care about how your vehicle looks, you should practice preventive maintenance to protect yourself and other Sparta drivers on the road. And good safety starts with good brakes.Brakes need a regular inspection. There ... More

Automotive Tips from Charlie's Fast Lube Sparta: Rotor Problems

February 10, 2019

The brake rotor, or disc, is attached to your wheel. The brake pads rub on the rotor to slow your car when you are driving in Sparta.Rotors can warp, crack or become misaligned. They can also be damaged by worn out brake pads that scratch grooves into the surface. These conditions result in less ... More

Automotive Tips from Charlie's Fast Lube Sparta: Brake Noise

January 27, 2019

Your brake pads are the important parts that rub against the rotor (or disc) to slow and stop your car when driving in Sparta. They eventually wear down.When your pads are worn too much, they wont stop your vehicle as well. When the friction material is worn away, metal parts of the pad are expos... More