Tips

Are your brakes ready for winter?

With winter approaching, now is a good time to make sure your car is ready – particularly when it comes to your brakes. After a long, hot summer, you might think that your brakes are working perfectly well, but once the roads get wet, it can be a different story.

May 20, 2021

As you use your brakes, they wear down over time, making them less effective. This is why it is so important to have your brakes checked on a regular basis. Often you don’t realise your brakes need attention until you need to stop quickly, and they don’t do their job properly.  

As you drive around, take note of how your brakes are performing.  

  • If you can hear a loud screeching sound when braking, it’s a warning sign that new brake pads are needed, or at the very least require inspection to make sure they are safe.  
  • Does your vehicle pull to one side when you brake? This could be the result of unevenly worn brakes.  
  • If you have to push the brake pedal right to the floor before it works, your brake fluid might be leaking. Keep an eye out for a small puddle of fluid on the ground when your car is parked, which also indicates a leak. Your brake pads may also need replacing.  
  • Do your brakes make a grinding noise? Grinding brakes are caused by excessively worn brake linings; when the lining wears off, the metal part of the brake pad or brake shoe makes contact with the brake disc or drum and can quickly do a lot of damage.  

Paying attention to your brakes and having them checked before winter arrives will keep your vehicle as safe as possible and give you the chance to identify any other potential issues before they become major problems.

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