Keep Your Brakes in Optimal Condition

Posted 11/25/09

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. Brake repair is more a necessary part of good car maintenance than the signal of an automotive problem.

Although brake pads are designed to scrape and squeal when they have worn down (alerting you to the need for maintenance), they are not the only warning sign that your brakes need attention. 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. If you see or smell brake fluid, get your car to a technician immediately as that indicates the presence of a leak. 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. Certain maintenance tasks should be performed regularly as well in order to keep your brakes in optimal condition and brake repair to a minimum. Be sure to have your brake fluid tested for the presence of metal particles and moisture. Otherwise, you will have to have your calipers and wheel cylinders replaced more often. 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. Keep any metal to metal brake components well lubricated, too, to maintain an effective barrier between the 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.

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