Finding a good, reliable car mechanic who works on brakes can be difficult.
Repair shops are notorious for ripping customers off or performing shoddy car work.
Their lackluster reputation makes finding a place that does great car work, including brakes, that much more rewarding.
Brakes need periodic inspections to ensure they’re working properly—a service that should not be left to inexperienced mechanics.
With over 2,500 auto center locations across the country, Walmart offers a number of in-store car care services using certified and trained technicians and mechanics, in addition to selling hundreds of car part products online and in-store.
Plus, their prices are fixed, making them a credible and reliable auto service company.
Does Walmart Do Brakes?
No, Walmart does not offer a brake service as part of their in-store auto services.
Walmart currently only offers basic services in-store, such as oil changes, tire replacements, and battery replacements and installations.
However, Walmart does offer an at-home brake service, which involves customers purchasing brake parts online and then scheduling an appointment for a mechanic to come to their house to install them.
Walmart’s at-home brake service is currently only available to those with sedans, trucks, or SUVs.
Where Else Can You Get Brakes Done?
It’s always great to check with local car mechanics before resorting to chain auto service centers, as you might find great deals and better service.
Word-of-mouth is a great technique to use when looking for a trustworthy car mechanic.
Some local and small-business car mechanics and repair shops will specialize in certain types of vehicles and auto services, including brakes.
However, if you do need to take your car to a chain auto service center, places like Firestone Complete Auto Care, Meineke, Jiffy Lube, Midas, Mavis Tires and Brakes, Pep Boys, and Goodyear Auto Service are good options for brake services.
Each company, and sometimes each different store location, offers its brake services at different prices.
Some locations of chain auto stores are franchises, meaning that the prices can vary based on location.
Also, services can be more or less expensive depending on where you are in the country.
You can often find coupons online for chain auto shop brake services, such as pad replacements or full brake replacements, so check their website before booking an appointment.
How Does Walmart’s At-Home Brake Service Work?
As part of their partnership with Wrench Mobile Mechanic Service, customers can purchase brake pad replacement parts online, have them delivered to their home, and schedule an at-home service appointment with a mobile mechanic.
This service provides a convenient and easy solution for brake work.
After going on the website, select which brakes you’re looking for—rear, front, or both—and then select whether your vehicle is a sedan, a truck, or an SUV.
Front sedan brake pads and services start at about $160, while rear sedan brakes cost about $260.
Front truck/SUV brake parts and pad replacement service starts at about $320.
Rear truck/SUV brake parts and services start at about $385.
If you’d like both the front and rear brakes done, service and parts are only available for trucks or SUVs and pricing starts at $449.99.
Once you make your selections, you’ll receive an email from Wrench Mobile Mechanic Service confirming your vehicle details and confirming that you’ve chosen the correct brake pads.
From there, you’ll schedule an appointment for a mechanic to come to your home.
Wrench then delivers your new brake pads to your home and installs them on the front, rear, or both ends of your vehicle.
This service makes car repair and maintenance fast and easy and is available for a wide range of car makes and models.
It’s also helpful if your vehicle is currently immobile, saving you the cost of getting it towed to a mechanics’ garage.
Wrench also works with your schedule, making sure the job gets done at a time and place that’s convenient for you.
Wrench Mobile Mechanic Service is currently only available in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Washington DC, and Wisconsin.
Can You Still Buy Brake Parts At Walmart?
Yes, you can still buy brake parts in-store and online at Walmart.
Visit Walmart’s website and click on the “Auto, Tires, and Industrial” tab under “Departments,” then scroll to “Brake and Brake Parts” under “Auto Parts & Accessories.”
From there, select the parts you need by inputting your car’s make, model, and year.
The site will then pull up the right brake parts for your specific car, ensuring you get the correct parts.
You can shop for brake pads, rotors, and much more.
You can also purchase other car parts, including engine parts, exhaust parts, paint and body items, filters, heating and cooling parts, radiators and engine cooling items, suspension and steering parts, transmission parts, wheels and rims, windshield wiper blades, automotive tools, and much more.
When shopping on Walmart’s website, you can narrow down available car parts by inputting your car’s make, model, and year, making it easy to shop for exactly what you need.
What Car Services Does Walmart Offer In-Store?
Walmart’s in-store auto services focus mainly on three services: oil changes; tire replacement, balance, or rotation; and battery installation.
Oil change options include standard oil, conventional motor oil, high-mileage oil, semi-synthetic oil, and synthetic oil.
Tire services include specialty tire mounting, balance and rotation, valve stem installation, flat tire repair (tubeless), carry-in tire mounting, and lug nut replacement.
However, there are other minor maintenance services they provide as well.
These include fuel system checks, wiper blade installation, air filter installation, headlight restoration and installation, miniature bulb installation, and refrigerant recharge.
They also offer a Pit Crew service that checks your vehicle’s transmission fluid, washer fluid, power steering fluid, differential fluid, tire pressure, battery performance, air filter, wiper blades, and lights.
Visit their service and pricing site for more details.
How Does Walmart’s In-Store Auto Service Work?
If you want to use one of Walmart’s available in-store services, you can either book your appointment in-store or use the more convenient option of booking your appointment online.
If you’re looking to replace your tires or battery, you can pre-purchase your items online to ensure they are in stock at your local store.
Once you put the items you need in your virtual cart, go to the cart and select “Find nearby store.”
This will help you search for a Walmart auto center near you that can provide the service you need.
Find a location that works best for you and click on “Save.”
Now, you’ll have the option to either pick up your tires in-store or get them shipped to the auto department for installation.
If you opt for the latter option, click through to “Continue to checkout” then click on “Schedule” and book a time that works best for you.
Depending on when your tires arrive at the store, you have seven days to schedule your installation.
Tire installation costs an additional $17 per tire for Walmart’s basic service or $27 per tire for their value installation, which includes a road hazard protection warranty.
According to their website, “the road hazard protection warranty provides coverage for tire failure caused by impact breaks and other non-repairable punctures.
[They] will fix repairable punctures at no charge.
For conditions that require replacing the tire, ask your local Auto Care Center for details.”
It’s estimated to take one hour to replace four tires, making it easy to schedule your time or plan your Walmart shopping trip while waiting for your car to be finished.
Where Are The Best Places To Get Brakes Done?
Since each location of the big chain auto repair shops is different, it’s hard to say for certain who does the best brakes.
Each place has its pros and cons and varies in the type of services offered, pricing, and labor quality.
Midas offers a 55-point brake inspection, brake pad replacement, brake rotor service, brake shoe replacement, brake drum service, brake fluid service, anti-lock brake system (ABS) service, and general brake repair.
Meineke has a 23-point brake inspection, with their brake services including brake pad replacement, brake rotors and drums resurfacing, brake fluid flush and replacement, brake caliper and rotor re-alignment, brake caliper replacement, brake hose replacement, and brake master cylinder replacement.
Goodyear Auto offers the traditional brake services of replacing worn brake pads and/or brake shoes, resurfacing brake rotors or drums, and replacing brake fluid if it is needed.
They also offer two great warranties: one for general brake services, which includes 24 months or 24,000 miles (whichever comes first) on both parts and labor.
The other warranty is for their brake overhaul service, which includes 24 months or 24,000 miles (whichever comes first) on parts and labor, as well as a lifetime warranty on brake shoes and/or disc pads.
Pep Boys offers a standard brake service that includes brake pads and installation, a brake system inspection, and resurfacing of brake rotors/drums.
The standard service comes with a lifetime brake pad/shoe warranty and a 12-month or 12,000-mile labor warranty.
Pep boys also has a premium brake service that includes Wagner brake pads and installation, brake system inspection, resurfacing system of brake rotor/drums, and brake fluid exchange.
The premium service comes with a lifetime brake pad/shoe warranty and a 24-month or 24,000-mile labor warranty.
How Often Should Brakes Be Replaced?
How often your brakes should be inspected or replaced depends on your vehicle, where you live, and your driving patterns.
Generally, brake pads or shoes may last anywhere from 20,000 to 80,000 miles, whereas brake fluid can last 2-5 years.
Your vehicle owner’s manual should list brake inspection recommendations for your specific vehicle.
Inspections are commonly recommended once a year or every 10,000-12,000 miles.
You’ll know there is a problem with your brakes if you hear squeaking—this is usually a high-pitched, unavoidable noise.
If you don’t replace your pads at this stage, then you’ll start to hear a grinding, which typically means that your pads have been worn down enough that your metal rotors are exposed.
Once your brakes get to this stage, it becomes dangerous to drive your car because you won’t get the braking response time that you should.
Plus, replacing your rotors is much more expensive than simply replacing your brake pads.
Other common signs that you need to get your brakes inspected include your brake pedal becoming flimsier, your brake requiring more effort to press to the floor or responding slowly, or your brake pressing farther to the floor than usual.
Your vehicle may also start pulling to either side when you brake, and you may hear unusual noises like grinding or squeaking or feel vibrations during braking.
Your steering wheel may also shake, your car may pulsate when you drive at higher speeds, the brake warning light on your dashboard may come on and stay on, or your vehicle may take longer to stop than usual.
