When your brakes start making a noise you need to listen. When your brakes work properly it keeps your car safe and easy to operate. As such the Car Care Council says you should always check your brakes if you suspect there could be a problem. 
While it’s definitely a good idea to have your brakes checked once a year to keep them safe this isn’t an excuse to ignore any signs that your brakes need some tender love and care. There are some clear warning signs that you need to have your brakes checked and recognizing these signs keeps everyone that little bit safer.
The following key signs are the warning signs that every driver should watch out for. If you spot any of these then you should get your brakes inspected.
• Noise: any noise occurring when the brakes are pressed such as screeching, grinding, or clicking
• Pulling: when you brake the car pulls to one side
• Low Pedal: “low pedal” is when you have to really press the brakes down before they work
• Hard Pedal: “hard pedal” is when it takes a lot of effort to get the brakes to move and engage
• Grabbing: this is when the brakes will grab even when barely touching them
• Vibration: when the brake pedal vibrates even when you’re braking normally
• Light: when the brake light is activated even though you aren’t touching the brakes
Because your brakes wear down over time it’s important to have them replaced when they need to be. There are a number of things that can affect the speed your brakes are worn down such as your driving habits, the operating conditions, the type of vehicle you drive, and the kind of brake lining material used. It’s important that you get your brakes replaced before they reach the “metal-to-metal” point because this could lead to rotor or drum replacement and that isn’t cheap.