Inner Workings - June 2024
A Bit About Us
Since 1961, German Motors has been a family-owned maintenance and repair center focused on German cars. It was started by Joe and Paul Sattelmayer, German immigrants who escaped the chaos of Germany post WWII. In the early days, it was a lot of air-cooled VW bugs and busses. Over time, work included other German makes like BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Porsche, and more! The shop is still owned by the Sattelmayer family with both of Paul's sons Steve and Ralph taking over management during different and overlapping eras. Now, you may also come across Paul's grandson Clayton (Oh hey! That's me!) during your visit.
Our family is honored to have been trusted by you and so many others over the past 63 years. 60+ years in business is a badge that very few companies get to wear. We hope to continue providing excellent automotive service and repair for the foreseeable future!
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Give Me a Brake
It is often said that brakes are the most important part of your vehicle. We agree. Going fast is a lot of fun, until you can't stop. From daily commutes to long journeys, brakes are the silent guardians that make every ride safer and more secure.
That's why we check your brakes at every oil change to ensure they are still within proper specs and advise when they are reaching their end of life. When it's time to replace your brakes, there are three major service components of most modern vehicles with disk brakes that we look at: Rotors, Pads, and Brake Fluid. A failure in any one of the former can result in a seriously dangerous situation.
When you apply pressure to your brake pedal, calipers squeeze brake pads against the rotors causing friction that slows your vehicle. Over time, both the rotors and pads wear down until they need to be replaced.
Brake Fluid, over time, absorbs water which lowers the boiling point. This can lead to a spongy feeling pedal and decreased brake performance. Most dealers will recommend a flush based on time or mileage, but a quick test with the right tool can also tell us how degraded it is and if it's time for a replacement. Often it is best to do the flush when other major brake components are being replaced.
If your brakes are squeaking, or squealing, or you are seeing a brake warning light on your dash - let us know! We'd be happy to take a look and let you know what steps to take to ensure your brakes are operating at their best.
Hit the button below to schedule an appointment. Or give us a call at (916)383-9495.
