Brake Repair As Routine Maintenance
Learning that your car needs brake repair is not cause for concern. If your brakes are squealing, that only means that they are doing the job that they were designed to do; brakes are meant to wear down. Brake repair is more a necessary part of good car maintenance than the signal of an automotive problem.
Although brake pads are designed to scrape and squeal when they have worn down (alerting you to the need for maintenance), they are not the only warning sign that your brakes need attention. Check your brake fluid levels when your brake light goes on; that usually means that your brake fluid is low and your brakes need to be inspected by a certified technician. Seeing or smelling brake fluid indicates the presence of a leak that should be checked immediately. A vibrating wheel or brake pedal usually points to rotor surface issues and brakes that continue to squeal after you release the brake pedal means that the wear indicators are scraping against the rotors. The grinding or growling sounds that metal on metal makes is a clear signal that your brake pads have completely worn away.
Experts strongly recommend that you have your brakes checked as soon as you sense that something is amiss. You should still have your brakes inspected at least once a year even if nothing appears to be wrong. There are also certain maintenance tasks that should be performed on a regular basis to ensure that your brakes remain in optimal condition and to minimize the need for brake repair. Be sure to have your brake fluid tested for the presence of metal particles and moisture. If you do not, you will need to replace your calipers and wheel cylinders more frequently. And, while on the subject of brake fluid, keep in mind that you do not need to have the fluid topped off whenever you have any service work done to your car. Your brake wear alert system will not function properly with full brake fluid levels. Any metal to metal brake components should also be kept well lubricated in order to maintain a barrier between parts.
Finally, do not forget to rotate your tires every 5,000 to 7,000 miles. Tires need to be in top shape in order for brakes to do a proper job. After all, the brake system may stop the wheels, but the friction between the tires and the road is what stops the entire car.