Think of Brake Repair as a Sign That Your Brakes Are Doing Their Job
Car owners should not think of brake repair as the end of the world. It is really just part of your regular car maintenance program. Think about it: your brakes are intended to wear down in the act of stopping your car and would not be doing their job properly otherwise. Brake repair brings your braking system back to full functionality as a tune up returns your engine to top working order.
Your brakes have a way of letting you know when brake repair is necessary. An illuminated brake light when the parking brake is disengaged indicates the need to check your brake fluid level. It may be too low. If your brake fluid is leaking, you will notice either a light amber colored liquid underneath your car or a distinctive pungent odor, or both. You cannot mistake the smell of leaking brake fluid.
Take your car in for brake repair if your brake pedal or wheel begins vibrating. There could be an issue with one of your rotors. Brakes that squeal when coming to a stop are also letting you know that you are in need of brake repair. There is an exception to this rule: if your brakes begin squealing not long after you have had your brakes repaired, it usually means that the brake repair shop did not complete the repair process. Brakes squealing after you have released the brake pedal may mean that your brake wear indicators are scraping against your rotors. A grinding or growling noise signifies metal on metal scraping from worn brake pads.
Keep a couple of things in mind about brake fluid. Brake fluid can be contaminated by metal flakes and moisture, which cause problems with calipers and wheel cylinders. Have your brake fluid inspected on a regular basis. Also, do not automatically have your brake fluid topped off whenever you take your car in for service. Your brake wear system cannot work properly if the brake fluid level is too high. Lastly, be sure to keep your metal on metal braking components lubricated to create an appropriate barrier between them.