It's always a good idea to keep up with your automotive repair, and few parts of your car are as important as its braking system. They keep you safe, and they keep you on the road. Airbags, crumple zones and backup cameras are all great safety features, but they're not nearly as essential as a set of properly working brakes.

No matter what kind of vehicle you drive, there's a lot riding on your brakes. Even in the sturdiest Humvee available, it's far better to avoid an accident altogether than to rely on its crash test rating. Brakes are even more important in such a heavy vehicle, actually, because they need to compensate for the powerful momentum and longer stopping distance of a truck.

There are two basic types of brakes used in most personal vehicles, drum and disc brakes. Disc brakes are more sensitive, but drum brakes usually last longer between replacement. Some cars have disc brakes on all of the wheels, but many cars have disc brakes in the front and drum brakes in the rear.

Disc brakes are probably more familiar to the average person. In this model, the wheel is attached to a smooth metal disc, called a rotor, that spins with the axle. Each disc brake has two pads, one on each side. When you press the brake pedal, the pads clamp down on the rotor and slow its rotation.

It's important to have a trustworthy car repair shop inspect your brakes periodically, because the pads wear down over time. Don't wait until you hear those distressing sounds. The brakes are already in very bad shape once you start hearing grinding, clanking or squealing sounds. If the surface is worn down enough the pads won't be able to grip the rotor properly, which makes them less effective. If the pads become worn down to the point that bare metal is scraping and scratching the rotor's surface, you may end up paying for a new rotor.

Most of your stopping power comes from the front wheels, so disc brakes will always need periodic replacement. However, you can still use a few tricks to keep your brakes in good condition and extend their usefulness. Don't ride the brake pedal, use it only when you need it. Also, try not to keep it pressed down when stopped. Instead of braking all the way down from freeway speed, try downshifting instead. This can slow a car surprisingly quickly, but the technique works best with a manual transmission.

Drum brakes work a little differently. Disc brakes are relatively easy, but drums are best left to an auto repair professional. The mechanism is enclosed in a cylindrical drum found behind the tire, hence the name. Instead of clamping onto the exterior of a disc, drum brake shoes slow the wheel by pressing against the interior surface of the drum. This is usually where the car's emergency brake is connected. To keep your rear brakes in tip-top shape, always be sure to release the lever before driving off.