SMOOTHLY? TO HAVE YOUR CAR
OR VAN SERVICED,
CALL US TODAY ON
020 8358 6000
FIRST AND FOREMOST – LOOK AFTER YOUR BRAKES
The most important part of your car is its brakes. Healthy brakes reduce the risk of accident, whereas faulty brakes can cost lives.
Get them checked regularly, once a year at least; it’s cheaper than expensive bodywork repairs. You should also make sure you know the
important danger signs, so that you can bring your car in before you get any costly failures. You can make the road safer for your family – it’s
not worth it to gamble.
ROUTINE MAINTENANCE
At our garages based in Hendon and Colindale where we serve customers from across the city of London, we carry out regular annual
maintenance checks on car and van brakes. We remove the wheels and inspect them thoroughly – we’ll check the brake lining wear, brake disc
thickness, brake fluid level and condition, brake hoses and brake lines. We’ll even take your car for a short test drive to spot any other
potential brake problems. Any issues will be resolved and the car will be returned to you, safe and sound for another year.
REPLACING BRAKE FLUID
Every two years, your brake system should be flushed and the
brake fluid replaced. Why? Because brake fluid absorbs water, and
this has a number of knock-on effects.
Brake fluid that contains water can become acidic, causing
expensive components to corrode and need replacing. The water
could thin the brake fluid, making it ineffective. If the water
becomes vapour, it will create air pockets that again make your
brakes less effective. And that water can freeze, too, meaning your
brake cables are completely jammed.
It’s absolutely vital to have your brake fluid changed every two
years. We can handle that for you.
SPOTTING THE DANGERS
two years should protect you from serious brake issues. However, unexpected failures can happen at any time, so for your own
safety, it’s important to stay alert! A brake warning light is an
obvious sign, but there are others to watch out for.
A grinding noise is often the first indicator, and small metal flakes
on your wheels are a common sign. Unusual vibrations, heavy
steering and a “grabby” feel to the brakes all mean you need to
get your car checked by a professional.
Another clue is the behaviour of the brake pedal. Does yours feel “spongy” when you press it? Or perhaps it feels unnaturally hard
and unresponsive? Both changes to the brake pedal behaviour
could indicate problems with the brake disc or the brake fluid.
If in doubt at all, come and see us. Prompt action could literally be
a lifesaver.