Include Brake Inspection and Repair in with your Car Maintenance Schedule
Think of brake repair as just another component of regular car maintenance. Since brakes operate quietly when they are at their best, those telltale sounds that let you know your brakes need repair are actually telling you that your brakes have been doing their job well and need a tune up to keep working properly. Brakes tend to do this in a few different ways. If your brake light goes on when your parking brake is off, you need to check your brake fluid levels. A brake fluid leak manifests itself by sight (a light amber color) and a smell that is distinctive. Rotor surface issues will cause your brake pedal or wheel to vibrate. Brakes that need repair may squeal until you come to a full stop or when you release the brake pedal. When that happens, it means that the brake wear indicators may be scraping against the rotors. The grinding and growling sound of metal on metal means only one thing: that your brake pads are completely worn away.
You should have a certified brake repair technician inspect your brakes annually, twice a year if you do heavy hauling and towing on a regular basis. Your brake repair technician should check all metal to metal contact points for proper lubrication, which maintains an effective barrier between the different contact points, and inspect brake fluid for metal flake or moisture contamination. Fluid contamination can cause damage to essential braking components. And, while we are on the subject of fluids, be aware that experts recommend that you not top off your brake fluid when the level drops. Too much fluid prevents the brakes built in alert system from working when the pads wear down.
Rotate your tires every 5,000 to 7,000 miles to keep them from wearing unevenly. You need for your tires to be in top condition so that your brakes can do their job. Your brakes may stop the wheels, but the friction between tires and road actually stops the car. Uneven tires prevent the brakes from working properly.