Brakes are the one system you never gamble on. A squeal that comes and goes, a pedal that sinks, a shake in the wheel as you slow down: that is the brake system telling you something has changed, and none of it fixes itself. TAB Motors is a full-service repair shop and Exxon station at 4035 Langston Blvd in North Arlington, and brake work is one of the jobs we do most. Every brake job starts with a free brake inspection. We pull the wheels, measure pad thickness, measure the rotors, and look over the calipers, hoses and fluid. Then we show you what we found before we recommend a single part.
Problems this fixes
- Squealing, squeaking or grinding when you press the pedal
- A pedal that feels soft or spongy, or slowly sinks toward the floor
- Pulsing in the pedal or a shake in the steering wheel as you slow from speed
- The car pulling to one side when you brake
- Stopping distances that have quietly gotten longer
- A brake warning light, or a burning smell after heavy braking
- A brake item written up on a Virginia safety inspection
What a brake job here includes
- Free brake inspection with the wheels off, all four corners
- Front and rear brake pad replacement
- Rotor measurement, then resurfacing or replacement depending on what the numbers allow
- Caliper service and replacement, including seized slide pins and sticking pistons
- Brake fluid flush and bleed
- Brake line and hose inspection and repair
- Parking brake adjustment
- A road test before the car comes back to you
How the visit runs
- Tell us the symptom. Call (703) 243-3080 or stop in. What you hear and feel, and when, narrows things down before a wheel comes off.
- Inspection. Wheels off, pads measured, rotors measured, calipers, hoses and fluid checked.
- You see it before you decide. We show you the worn part and the measurement, explain what it means, and quote the work upfront.
- Repair. Once you approve the price, the work goes ahead. Most pad and rotor jobs are finished the same day.
- Road test. We bed the new pads in and confirm the pedal is firm and the car tracks straight before handing the keys back.
What changes the time and the price
We quote your car, not an average. A few things move the number:
- Pads only, or pads and rotors. Rotors have a minimum thickness stamped on them. If yours still measure above it and run true, they can stay. If not, they get replaced, and that is a larger job.
- Which axle. Front and rear brakes wear at different rates. Doing one axle costs less than doing both, and there is no reason to do both if only one needs it.
- The vehicle. Parts for a European luxury car cost more than parts for a common commuter, and some rear brakes need a scan tool to retract an electronic parking brake before the pads can come out.
- What else the inspection turns up. A seized caliper, a leaking hose or contaminated fluid adds parts and labor.
- Parts on hand. Calling ahead so we can have your parts ready is usually the difference between same-day and next-day.
You get the price after the inspection and before any work starts. If you want to think it over or take the quote somewhere else, that is fine with us.
What this service does not cover
Not every braking complaint is a brake part, and we would rather tell you that than sell you pads. A shimmy that is there at highway speed even when you are not braking is usually a wheel balance or tire issue, which is tire and wheel work. A pull that is there all the time, not only under braking, points more often to alignment or a worn steering or suspension part. An ABS or traction control light needs diagnostics to read the stored fault before anyone replaces a brake component.
What customers actually said
We do not write these. From a Google review by an Arlington customer: "Got an oil change and brakes done at TAB Motors in Arlington, and also had them look at a noise my car was making when turning. They got everything done surprisingly quick, and fixed the weird noise in the steering mechanism." Another put the shop this way: "Honest diagnostics, quality work, and fair pricing." Our Google rating is 4.9 from 60 reviews.
Brakes and the Virginia inspection
Brakes sit at the top of the Virginia State Police inspection checklist, and worn pads or scored rotors are a common reason a car leaves with a rejection sticker instead of a pass. Because TAB Motors is an official inspection station as well as a repair shop, the inspection, the repair and the new sticker can all happen in one visit. If you are not sure whether yours are due, our post on the six things worn brakes do to warn you is a good place to start, and if the wheel shakes in your hands when you slow down, read why a brake pedal pulses and what it means for stopping distance.
Getting here
We are at 4035 Langston Blvd, minutes from Cherrydale, Waverly Hills, Ballston and Clarendon. See everything we handle for drivers around Arlington, or just call (703) 243-3080 and tell us what your brakes are doing. The inspection is free, so you will know where you stand before you commit to anything.