A lot of cars have been involved in accidents because of brake failures, one leading indicator is the feel of the brake pedal, so if your car pulls left or right when braking, or if the front end shakes, then these are definite signs of excessive brake wear. If the brake pedal in your automobile begins to feel spongy, it could be a sign that air has entered the brake system or fluid is low. Do not ignore these warning signs!

A spongy brake pedal, together with a decrease in brake fluid, may also indicate brake wear, so when you check the brake fluid reservoir, make sure it's topped off. If not, then brake fluid is most probably remaining at the wheel to fill the space caused by wear. Most vehicles purchased from car auctions experience this kind of problems because of being stocked for a long time in car garage or showrooms. Simply replacing the brake fluid and letting it flow throughout the wheel by pumping the brake pedal a few times before your run the used automobile helps in ensuring safety for you and your passengers.

Many new cars have ABS (Automatic Braking System) which initiates a rapid- fire pumping sequence to the brakes, keeping the car straight during sudden or hard braking. If the ABS light illuminates on your instrument panel, then it's likely that the wheel sensors have detected excessive build-up of metal particles from the brake system. Most cars are designed to shut down the ABS when excessive particle build-up occurs, but a shutdown ABS does not prevent you from stopping, it just means that the ABS feature isn't working. Most used cars don't have ABS installed with them and safe driving and proper brake maintenance is adviced to avoid accidents.

Wheels should be pulled and brakes checked once a year by an experienced brake specialist. You must take care when deciding on a brake technician because you must be certain of their expertise. At rdabrakes.com.au, who is the largest supplier of disc brake rotors and brake drums for cars in Australia and New Zealand, they have experts who can fit your vehicle with high quality, high performance braking components. Whether it's used car or not.

It's not uncommon to replace brakes after 20,000-30,000 kilometres. An inspection typically includes the rotors, calipers, drums, pads, pistons and brake lines. Brake systems should be flushed and brake fluid replaced every two years. By doing your online search at OzFreeOnline.com for technicians available to do the job, you will source just the right company who can provide superior service, safety and peace of mind.

Brake fluid absorbs moisture in the system and becomes acidic after two years or 35,000 kilometres. Check your owner's manual or ask your technician to see what kind of brakes your car has and how they are adjusted. For example, most drum brakes are self-adjusting by backing up or engaging the emergency brake.

Check out the used car values of second hand cars or see the availability of ABS for brand new cars if your planning to buy a new car. You can also request for the cars history, when you buy used cars, and trace whether the vehicle had some problems with its brakes.

Regardless of care, brakes should most likely be replaced every 40,000- 50,000 kilometres, but of course, how and where you drive will greatly influence when your brakes must be replaced.