SERVING NORTHERN COLORADO · Fort Collins · Loveland · Windsor · Timnath · Greeley Open until 5:30 PM · (970) 224-2824

Brake repair in Fort Collins.

Pads and rotors. Calipers. Brake fluid flush. ABS diagnostics. Parking brake. We do it on every make and model — and we don’t cut corners on the parts that stop your vehicle.

In short: Auto Trends does brake service on every make and model. OEM-grade pads and rotors (or upgraded performance pads if you tow or drive aggressively), proper bedding procedure, and brake fluid flush when fluid is contaminated. We don’t sell you brakes you don’t need.
Common Symptoms

Brake symptoms to watch for.

If your vehicle is showing any of these, bring it in. Most are addressable; all deserve real diagnosis before parts are thrown at the problem.

Our Process

A real brake job.

Most of what we see for “my brakes are squealing” is straightforward: pads and rotors. The job we do is what most shops should do but many don’t:

  • Inspect first, quote second. We measure pad thickness, rotor thickness, runout, and check brake fluid quality before quoting. Sometimes the right answer is “just pads”; sometimes it’s pads, rotors, and fluid; sometimes there’s a stuck caliper or ABS issue we need to address first.
  • Quality parts. OEM-grade pads (Akebono, Brembo, Wagner, Centric for non-OEM applications) and OEM-grade rotors. For tow rigs, we recommend upgraded compounds. For BMW / European, we use OEM-spec pads that match the original wear profile.
  • Proper bedding procedure. New pads need to be bedded into new rotors with a specific heat cycle. Skip this and you get pulsation in 5,000 miles. We do it every time.
  • Brake fluid check. Brake fluid is hygroscopic — it absorbs water over time. Water in the fluid drops the boiling point and corrodes brake components. We test fluid quality at every brake service and recommend a flush every 3 years or when contamination is detected.
FAQ

Common questions.

How much does a brake job cost?

Depends on the vehicle and what you need. A typical pads-only front job runs $250–$450; pads and rotors front $450–$800; pads/rotors/fluid flush at all four corners $800–$1,400. Performance vehicles and trucks with HD calipers cost more. We always quote before we work.

Do I need to replace my rotors when I replace pads?

Not always. If your rotors are above the manufacturer’s minimum thickness and they’re not pulsating or grooved, you can resurface them or run them as-is with new pads. Most modern rotors are designed to be replaced (not resurfaced) for safety. We measure and recommend based on your specific rotors — sometimes the right call is replace, sometimes resurface, sometimes leave them.

How often should I flush my brake fluid?

Most manufacturers recommend every 2–3 years. Brake fluid absorbs moisture which lowers the boiling point and can corrode internal components. We test fluid at every service and recommend a flush when contamination is detected — usually it’s right around that 2–3 year mark.

Why do my brakes squeal?

Several possibilities. Worn pads (the wear indicator is designed to squeal as a warning). Glazed pads (overheated). Cheap pad compound (some aftermarket pads squeal even when new). Caliper issue (stuck slide pin causing uneven pad wear). We diagnose first, then recommend the right fix.

Related Services

You might also need.

Got a problem?
Let's fix it.

Most appointments available within 48 hours. Free estimate. Photo inspection. A real person who answers the phone.

Call Text Book