Have you been driving for a couple of years without getting any sort of brake maintenance? If so, then there is a good chance that your brakes are actually damaged, which can cause costly and major repairs to your braking system. A great way to tell when your car needs new brakes is to:

Listen For Squeaking Noises

Noise from your braking system is a common and easy indicator that informs you that your brake pads are too thin.

The squeaking noises that you hear are likely caused by the metal plates underneath the padding on your brakes coming into contact with other components in your braking system. This is due to the fact that your brake pads have been so completely worn out that there is no longer any padding left to them, which exposes the metal plates located behind the padding.

If you hear any sort of squeaking sounds coming from your brake system then you will definitely want to take your car in so you can have your brake pads replaced before they potentially cause damage to the other components in your braking system. 

See How Sensitive Your Brake Pedal Is:

If your brake pedal feels spongy and non-responsive then the performance of your braking system may be compromised by the quality of your brake fluid.

Air bubbles can cause complications with your brake pedal, as air will cause you to apply more force and pressure just to get a response from your brake pedal. If this is the case, you will want to have a mechanic inspect your fluid line, flush out any bad fluid and air bubbles and replace it with clean and high-quality brake fluid. 

Check How Smooth Your Car Comes To A Stop:

If your car isn't coming to a smooth stop then this could be caused by warped rotors. Rotors that are warped don't allow your brake pads to have a flat and smooth surface to latch on to, which causes your car to shake when stopping.

If this is the case, you will want to have your local mechanic either replace or resurface your rotors, which will provide a better surface for your brakes to latch onto, which will allow you to have a smooth stop. 

By taking these tips into consideration, you will be able to understand when and why your car is in need of brake services. This will also ensure that you avoid overlooking these issues and potentially allowing your car to get damaged further and need costly repairs. For professional assistance, consider contacting Auto Team Car Care Center LLC.