Regular Car Maintenance Should Always Include Brake Service and Repair
Brake repair is in truth just a car maintenance task, not a response to a major flaw in the system. Think about it, brakes wear down if they do their job correctly. When your brakes squeal, they are signalling you that they need repair to keep functioning properly. It is kind of like your oil light going on when the fluid level is low. If you top your oil off, all will be well. Repair your brakes, and you can keep on driving safely. Pretty similar.
Brakes do more than make noise when they need repair. If your brake light goes on when your parking brake is disengaged, have your brake fluid replenished. (You will be able to smell your brake fluid if a leak is the source of the trouble.) A vibrating wheel or brake pedal signals rotor surface difficulties. Grinding or growling noises mean that the brake pads have entirely worn away.
Any issues should be discovered in time if you have your brakes inspected on an annual basis. (Your brakes should be inspected twice a year if you do any heavy towing or hauling.) At inspection, make sure to ask your brake repair technician to relubricate your metal on metal components and check the overall condition of your brake fluid. Metal flakes and moisture can contaminate the fluid and wear down essential braking components such as calipers and wheel cylinders.
Be sure to address your brake repair needs as soon as problems arise, before they get any worse.