What is a "complete" brake job? It is a brake job that does not leave important things undone to save time and/or money. We are talking about things like rebuilding or replacing high mileage calipers and wheel cylinders, replacing disc and drum brake hardware, resurfacing or replacing drums and rotors, changing the brake fluid and bleeding all the lines, checking and adjusting the parking brake and even checking the ABS system.

Overlooking items such as these may have no immediate impact on how the brakes work, but it may at some point down the road. And that can often mean the difference between a brake job that lasts and one that does not or performs poorly.

Not everybody can afford a comprehensive overhaul of their brake system and many vehicles don't need a lot of work. But in instances where additional work can prolong the life of the brake system, improve safety and/or enhance brake performance, it should be done.

For instance, there's no need to reline the rear brakes when installing a set of front brake disc pads as long as the rear brakes are in good condition. But if the shoes are marginal or have been contaminated by fluid leaks or grease, they should be replaced -- along with any other drum components that are not in acceptable condition. Even if the shoes are still within service limits, you should ask yourself if they'll last as long as the pads you're replacing up front. If the shoes don't have a lot of meat left in them, install new linings on the rear brakes as well.

Good brakes are absolutely essential for safe driving, so the foundation of a complete brake job begins with a thorough inspection of the entire brake system, including the anti-lock brake system if the vehicle is so equipped.