Maintaining your car is more than changing the fluids.  Remember, brake pads and shoes are made of friction materials that grind and wear down over the years as you drive your car.  Eventually, they are going to have to be replaced.  Replacing the brake pads or shoes is an important and relatively inexpensive repair. That is, unless you ignore what your vehicle is telling you.  You should never hear grinding or high pitched squeals when stopping your car.  If you do, then get your car to Mad Hatter as soon as possible.  Ignoring the problem will only result in costly repairs.