car maintenance

Are you concerned about the efficiency of your cars brakes or would like them checked before going on a long journey you should get in touch with Pontypool Accident and Repair Centre and get them inspected as soon as possible. After the inspection we will provide you with a written brake analysis and a quote for any work which is needed.

How Do I Know If My Brakes Are Failing?

My Brakes Are Grinding – when the friction material on brake pads are heavily worn, this will result in a grinding noise as the brake pad has worn down to the metal callipers. This will damage the brake disc at the same time so getting them replaced will be important. Talk to us about brake pad replacements.

Squeaking And Squealing Brakes – there are many reasons why your brakes squeal and squeak. It may indicate the brake calliper has stuck and the brakes pad remains partially applied to the disc but some pads have wear indicators that squeal when worn to let the driver know the brakes need changing.

Pulsating Brakes – If you feel a continuous pulsating from the brake pedal when you apply the brakes, this indicates the brake disc has become warped due to excessive heat or wear. This happens because the brake disc is distorted and no longer provides a perfectly flat surface when the brake pad makes contact.

What Is A Sticky Calliper

Pulling Brakes – if your car pulls to the left or right when you apply the brakes this usually means a sticking hydraulic or mechanical component such as a seized or sticking calliper.

Spongy Brakes – the brake pedal feels spongy and the brakes seem unresponsive. This is a sign that air has entered the brakes lines and is preventing the brake fluid from flowing through the brake system effectively.

Soft Brake Pedal – if the brake pedal is limp and goes all the way down to the floor, this may indicate a serious braking system issue which you should have inspected by us straight away. A brake pedal that is soft and can be applied all the way to the floor usually means the brake fluid is ineffective and needs replacing.

Dashboard Brake Warning Light – if a brake warning light appears on your dashboard either continuously or when you apply the brakes it usually means the brake fluid level is seriously low. This may also indicate a leak in the brake hoses.

High Handbrake Handle – If the handbrake is pulling up higher than normal it possibly needs adjusting. In modern cars, this is usually anything more than 6 to 8 clicks. If the handbrake lever reaches the end of its travel it will fail the MOT automatically.

Brake Fluid – If your brake fluid is over 2 years old it could be losing its effectiveness since it has hygroscopic properties which means it absorbs moisture over time. This affects the properties of the fluid which has negative effects on the cars braking.

Your brake fluid should be changing approximately every two years but check your vehicle manufacturers handbook or call us directly.

Brake Checks Pontypool

Regular brake checks are a vitally important part of your vehicle’s maintenance plan. The brake checks can identify a problem before it begins to impact on your braking efficiency, thus providing an opportunity to restore the effectiveness of your vehicle’s braking system to its intended operating performance. At PARC we appreciate the importance of regular inspection and maintenance of your brakes can be to ensure your brakes continue to work effectively.

When Should You Replace Your Brakes?

Different driving styles have a serious effect on how often your brakes need servicing. A set of brake pads could last anything up to 60,000 miles or more on a car driven mostly up and down the motorway. However, the brakes on the same car driven in busy city centre traffic may last only 25,000 miles or possibly even less.

Front brakes normally wear out before rear brakes because they handle a higher percentage of the braking load, especially on front-wheel drive cars. It is often recommended that brake pads should be replaced if the pad friction material has worn down to a thickness of 3 millimetres. Brake disc thickness should be measured if they are at or below the manufacturer’s safe minimum thickness specification they should be replaced.

Brake Checks Near Me

Whether you need vehicle repairs, a full service, MOT test or car recovery, our friendly team can meet all of your requirements. We are proud to be Which? Trusted Traders, so you will always receive the best service! Our fully qualified technicians have years of experience in their areas of expertise, and we use modern, state of the art equipment and tools.