Ways To Maintain Brakes

Winter is almost over and you're looking forward to warmer weather, but as you handle your way around stupendous craters, you can't help but wince at every pothole. It's glorious that summer is just around the corner, but right now the troublesome squeal coming from the left-hand side and the quake of the steering wheel take your full attention. Performing regular brake maintenance will keep you from experiencing that sound and save the embarrassment when people stop to stare every time you apply the brake. Having your brakes working properly is a must, for your own safety, as well as your family members.

Brake maintenance is a very essential aspect of your vehicle's regular inspection. A few warning signs to remember are: 

Grinding or squealing sound when brakes are applied. 
Does your car pull to one side or the other? 
Does the steering wheel vibrate or the front end shake? 
If the ABS indicator light on the dashboard is on there is a good chance that the wheel sensors have detected build-up of metal shavings from the brake system. 
Many systems shut down when this happens. Your vehicle will still stop during braking so don't worry; only the ABS feature itself is inactive. Here is a few helpful things to guide you with your brake maintenance:

Have a certified technician pull the wheels off and have a look once a year. 
Part of your brake maintenance should include flushing and replacing brake fluid every two years. After a period of two years, fluid can turn acidic. 
Refer to your owners' manual to find out what brakes are required for your vehicle, and how they should be adjusted. Most drum brakes are self-adjusting. 
No matter what the condition, it is highly recommended to replace brakes every 25,000 - 30,000 miles.