Good 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 similar to when your oil light goes on when the fluid level drops too low. If you top your oil off, all will be well. Have your brakes repaired, and you can keep on driving safely. Same thing.
Brakes do more than make noise when they need repair. A brake light that comes on when the parking brake is off warns of low levels of brake fluid. (And you wont be able to miss the smell if your brake fluid is leaking.) A vibrating wheel or brake pedal signals rotor surface difficulties. Grinding or growling is your clue that the brake pads have completely worn away.
Annual brake inspections should uncover any issues before they become critical. (Your brakes should be inspected twice a year if you do any heavy towing or hauling.) Make sure that your brake repair technician also keeps your metal on metal parts well lubricated to maintain an appropriate barrier between them and performs a general inspection of 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.
When problems do arise, it is best that you address your brake repair needs right away, before they get any worse.