When it comes to your safety on the road, there are two critical vehicle components you never want to ignore: your tires and your brakes. While checking your tires might seem relatively straightforward, checking your brakes might be a little bit more intimidating. Fortunately, scheduling routine brake inspections can help you stay on top of your brakes and avoid any severe problems.

If you haven't had your mechanic take a look at your brakes recently, you may want to set up an appointment as soon as you can. Below are three reasons why routine brake inspections are necessary to keep your brakes functioning correctly and safely.

1. You Can't Rely on Wear Indicators

Modern cars will typically have two systems for letting you know that your brake pads may require replacement. The low-tech side of the equation is the humble metal wear indicator. This simple tab touches the rotor when your pad thickness drops below a certain threshold, creating a loud squealing. The higher-tech version is a sacrificial wear sensor that triggers a warning light on your dash.

Unfortunately, both methods can fail. Wear indicator tabs can easily break off, leaving you without that telltale squeal. Likewise, wear sensors can sometimes break loose, preventing them from hitting the rotor and triggering a warning light. A visual inspection by a trained technician will give you a close estimate of your remaining pad life so that you don't have to rely on these potentially faulty indicators.

2. You Won't Always Notice Severe Problems

Brake pad wear is a routine part of operating your vehicle, but more severe problems can also develop. Common issues on many older vehicles include stuck calipers or worn-out brake hoses. These problems can cause your pads to wear down more quickly or even result in brake fluid leaks that can leave you with substantially reduced stopping power.

A brake inspection considers all of these components so that you can spot any problems before they become driving hazards. Finding braking system failures as early as possible is usually the best way to save money on repairs and keep your car operating safely.

3. You'll Learn About Smaller Issues

Car brakes include many relatively small and seemingly unimportant components. For example, many manufacturers use small plastic clips to keep brake hoses and wires attached to the strut tower. While these might seem purely cosmetic, a loose brake hose can rub against metal as your car goes over bumps, potentially wearing away the lining and creating a leak.

An experienced technician knows to check these details while also inspecting braking hardware, such as your anti-rattle clips and caliper slide pins. A thorough inspection of these minor components can ensure your brakes operate smoothly and reliably. You may even discover that a cheap and easy fix can save you from a drastically more expensive future repair.

If you think you need a brake inspection, visit a company such as Escondido Auto Tech today.