Car brakes are one of the most important safety features on your vehicle. Every day, you press the brake
pedal hundreds of times to stop a car that weighs as much as 2 tons. With every press of the brake pedal,
you engage a complex system that sends your instinctive movement from the pedal to the brakes located at
each wheel. Maintaining your brakes requires good knowledge of the entire braking system on your vehicle.
Considerations
Regular maintenance of your entire braking system is a must. For safety reasons, you should have your brake
system safety inspected at least once a year. Your brake system should be serviced at least every 2 years.
This service should include replacement of front brake pads if necessary, resurfacing of the rotors, replacing
disc or drum brake pads, bleeding of the entire brake system, replacing brake fluid, and a total inspection of
the brake system. In general, your car's brake system should be serviced every 20,000 to 30,000 miles.
Warning
There are rather distinct signs that your brakes need attention. However, there isn't always a warning that your
brakes might be failing, and it's dangerous to wait until too late. Some of the signs of excessive brake wear
include a squealing sound, caused when the brake pads have worn to their replacement indicators, vibrations
when pressing the brake pedal, and the dashboard brake warning indicator light. Your brakes might also need
service if you notice the steering wheel pulling to one side, or if your brake pedal feels spongy or hard to push.