Will your car stop when you need it to?  Are you hearing squealing or grinding when you step on the brake pedal?  Do you have to push your brake pedal in further than you used to?  Do you feel or hear vibrations or clunking sounds?  These are all indicators of impending brake failure.  To keep you and your family safe, brakes should be inspected every other oil change, or about twice/year.  All brake pads, shoes, rotors and drums are designed to wear down with use and require periodic replacement.  Sensors are placed on your brake pads that will alert you by making a squealing sound when the pad is already less than 2mm, and will require replacement soon.    However, the squealing sound will only alert you for a week or two, and will then go away.  That doesn’t mean that problem has gone away, but rather that it has worn past the sensor and repairs are needed immediately.  If the pads are not replaced, not only do you lose stopping power, you get metal-to-metal contact, resulting in permanent damage to the rotors/drums.  The rotors/drums will then require machining and/or replacing, which is significantly more expensive.  Timely brake maintenance and service (including brake flush) keeps you safe, decreases repair costs, and saves you money by warding off those very expensive accident costs!  Don’t delay - have your brakes inspected by your favorite honest and accurate auto technician now and drive (stop!) safely!