The brake system is one of the most important systems in your car, particularly as far as your safety is concerned. That is why you need to have the brake system inspected as part of regular auto maintenance. Here are some of the major parts of the brake system the mechanic will focus on during the inspection:

The Brake Pad

The brake pad is integral to your car's brake system because it is the part of the brake that presses or clamps on the spinning rotor to stop the wheels when you apply the brakes. This means your car won't be able to stop, at least not in time, if there is something wrong with the brake pad. For example, a thin brake bad will not be able to apply the necessary force to stop the car without damage.

Therefore, during brake inspection, the mechanic will asses and measure the thickness of the brake pad. The mechanic will then compare the measures thickness to that recommended by your car's manufacturer. Even if the thickness is optimal, the mechanic will still inspect the brake pads for other problem such as cracks.

The Brake Lines

As you probably know, it is the hydraulic pressure of the brake fluid that forces the brake pad to clamp down on the brake rotors and stop the car. Now, this fluid is normally stored in the brake master cylinder and only moves to the brake calipers, via the brake lines, when you depress the brake pedal. This means damage to the brake lines will reduce the hydraulic pressure of the fluid which will reduce the effective braking force.

It makes sense, therefore, that an inspection of the brake lines is a must during brake inspection.  The mechanic will check the brake lines for cracks, corrosion and rigidity/flexibility (note: the brake lines should be flexible and not rigid). Damaged brake lines aren't patched but rather replaced to maintain the integrity of the brakes.

The Brake Discs

This is the third part of the brake system that the mechanic must include in their inspection. The brake disc, or rotor, is attached to the suspension of a car and spins along with the wheels. As mentioned above, the action between the discs and the pads is what stops the car when you apply the brakes.

A good brake disc should have an even/shiny surface although slight lines of wear are normal. Rough spots or grooves on the discs, however, mean that the discs are too damaged and should be replaced. The same thing is true for a disc that appears warped or damaged in other ways.