Brake Inspection and Repair Should Be a Regular Part of Your Routine Car Maintenance Program
Learning that your car needs brake repair is not cause for concern. Your squealing brakes are telling you that they are doing the job that they were designed to do; after all, brakes are supposed to wear down. Think of brake repair as a necessary component of regular car maintenance instead.
Brake pads are intended to alert you to the need for maintenance by scraping and squealing when they have worn down to a certain point, but they are not the only indication that brake repair is warranted. You should check your brake fluid levels when your brake light goes on; this typically indicates that your fluid is low and your brakes should be checked over by a certified technician. Seeing or smelling brake fluid indicates the presence of a leak that should be checked immediately. Rotor surface issues usually manifest themselves through vibrating wheels or brake pedals, and brakes that squeal even after you release the brake pedal mean that your wear indicators are scraping against the rotors. The grinding or growling of metal on metal means, of course, that the pads are completely worn away.
Experts strongly recommend that you have your brakes checked as soon as you sense that something is amiss. To be on the safe side, brakes should also be inspected on a yearly basis 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. Also have your brake fluid checked periodically for the presence of metal particles and moisture. If you do not, you will need to replace your calipers and wheel cylinders more frequently. Something else to keep in mind: you do not need to have your brake fluid topped off every time you take your car in to the shop for service. 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.
Lastly, 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. Remember, the brake system stops the wheels, but the friction created between your tires and the road is what stops the entire car.