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Brake Failure in Preston

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Brake Failure in Preston

Brake Failure in Preston
Brake Failure in Preston

Brake Failure in Preston

Despite how crucial they are, vehicle owners frequently ignore brakes.

For my part, I was just as guilty of this when I was younger and a junior mechanic. Back in the sixties, when I was just starting out as a mechanic, my boss Peter let me use his car for the day. He gave his blessing, but stressed the importance of checking the brakes and oil before heading to the British seaside resort of Blackpool.

As a newly qualified driver, I was going the maximum allowed speed of 30 miles per hour through the town of Preston as we drove back from Blackpool. Back then there were very little motorways and the route home took us on the main highway and through the town of Preston. Cruising down the high street, I should have been able to stop easily when I got to the pedestrian crossing. As I tried to use the brakes, though, they slid straight to the floor, and I had a terrifying rush of fear, as the car failed to stop.

first ever drive out of Yorkshire. Brake Failure in Preston

I veered off the road and crashed onto the sidewalk to avoid hitting a pedestrian crossing the street. To slow the car, I pumped the brake pedal rapidly, creating enough resistance to bring the vehicle to a halt. Once my pals and I moved the car a hundred yards down the road to a mechanics shop, I lifted the hood and saw that the brake fluid level was at zero and a chill went down my spine.

Luckily, we were able to get topped up with Brake Fluid, so we replenished the reservoir and pumped the brakes till they worked again. Although it was a scary ordeal, we eventually made it back to Yorkshire. Having learned my lesson the hard way about the importance of working brakes, I swore never to let it happen again. Here are a few things you need to know about brake maintenance before setting out on a trip.

If you and your passengers value your lives, you should never go out on a long trip without first checking the brakes.

Here are six good reasons to inspect your brakes before every long trip:Brake Failure in Preston

  1. By performing routine inspections of the braking system, one can prevent brake failure by finding any issues before they become serious. Finding issues before setting off on a trip is preferable to discovering them mid-trip.
  2. To guarantee effective stopping, make sure: In order to stop your car, you must first apply the brakes. If they are in good working order, you won’t have to worry about being able to stop in time to avoid a collision.
  3. You can keep your brakes going for a lot longer if you perform routine maintenance on them. Such as checking for and replacing worn brake pads and shoes. In the long term, this can help you save money by reducing the need for costly brake repairs or replacements.
  4. Overheated brakes pose a serious threat to safety, especially while driving uphill or pulling a heavy trailer. If you give your brakes a once-over before you head out, you can keep them from overheating and still use them when you need them.
  5. Improving the vehicle’s overall performance is a side effect of maintaining healthy brakes.

Your car will be easier to manoeuvre and more stable to drive.

Brake Failure in Preston
Brake Failure in Preston

Checking your brakes before starting off on a lengthy trip is crucial for your peace of mind. Confidence and security when driving are greatly enhanced when you know your brakes are in good working order.

Brake inspections should be part of a driver’s routine maintenance .Brake Failure in Preston

because they literally have life-and-death implications. As specified by the VOSA MOT test, the British MOT test has contributed significantly to the improvement of road safety in the UK. Because they were traditionally located beneath the vehicle, unprotected from the elements, checking the brake pipes was a hassle. They have a special coating of wax, oil or even plain grease to keep the elements at bay.

Even with this safeguard, brake pipes can rust and leak braking fluid over time, causing the brakes to gradually fail. By performing routine checks on your brake pipes, you can prevent something similar to what happened to me in Preston.

car brakes problem

CHECK YOUR CAR BRAKES REGULARLY

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CHECK YOUR CAR BRAKES REGULARLY

CHECK YOUR CAR BRAKES REGULARLY
CHECK YOUR CAR BRAKES REGULARLY

CHECK YOUR CAR BRAKES REGULARLY

Along with your tyres , your car’s brakes are the most important (and sometimes most neglected) part of your car. I have been guilty of neglecting my brakes. Especially, when I was a young man. When I was a young mechanic, I borrowed a car from my then-boss, Peter.

Peter said that I could, but I must check the car’s brakes. Also. the engine levels before setting off on my journey. I was heading for Blackpool. a seaside resort on the west coast of the UK. On our return home, we started to pass through a town called Preston.

I was doing the statutory speed of 30 mph

and was approaching a pedestrian crossing. Of course, I should have had to stop. But, when I pressed the brake pedal,. Then there was nothing there. Hence, the pedal went straight to the floorboards.

Consequently, I had to swerve the car to miss a guy walking across the crossing. Ending up on the pavement (sidewalk). I rapidly pumped the pedal and managed to get some brakes. Thus, on the pedal. Luckily, the vehicle came to a stop. My  friends and I managed to push the car to a garage filling station. Of course, a hundred yards down the road.

CHECK YOUR CAR BRAKES REGULARLY

 I lifted the bonnet (hood) only to find that the car brake fluid was at zero level.. in the fluid reservoir. I felt a cold chill down my spine. Because I remembered what my boss Peter had said. Just the day before we set off. We managed to buy some Tesco brake fluid and top up the reservoir.

The car brakes pumped about halfway up. Luckily, the car would stop when I pressed the pedal. So, we limped home back to Yorkshire, UK. Subsequently, it was a rather terrifying experience. Of course, which I vowed would never happen again. Lessons were learned that day. As a result, I am going to spell out a few important things about the care of your brake discs. Hence, for your understanding,. Before you embark on a journey or indeed at any time that you own a car,.

CHECK YOUR CAR BRAKES regularly Your brakes are a life saver

The British MOT test has been a great step forward towards the safety of our cars and our roads. When your car is having it’s annual MOT test, we check everything on that car ( to the  VOSA MOT test specifications). One of the problems with old was the checking of your car brake pipes.

Brake pipes connect all four-wheel braking systems and the cylinders and brake pedals and are fixed under the car, exposed to all the elements. A special coating of wax, oil, or occasionally just grease protects them.

Despite all the protection,. The corroded brake pipes would rust and then start to leak the brake fluid, eventually causing the brakes to fail, similar to what happened to me in Preston.

CHECK YOUR CAR BRAKES REGULARLY for corrosion

The MOT test makes sure that all your brake pipes (lines) are in good working order, and if not, the car will fail the test and the pipes will have to be replaced. If you are not sure about the condition of your brake pipes, you can get them checked out at your local independent garage, free of charge, or at the local garage that you use at the moment.

You must always check the brake fluid

in the reservoir under your bonnet, and top it up if required with the correct fluid. Check your brake pedal; it should feel nice and solid. If it goes too far down, then have yours checked by a professional garage or mechanic. Don’t take risks, you should not have to pump your pedal to get a good brake.

Your brake fluid should be changed every so often; this can be done when you have your car serviced, Your local garage will be able to ascertain when, by looking it up on his service
computer for your model of car, we use the Autodata system for checking out the fluid change times.

Check your car’s brakes regularly, including the fluid levels.

Also, you should check your disc brakes and Car Brake Pads. These are the parts that constantly wear out and need replacing with brake pipe kits when they get down to a certain thickness.

When the pads wear down to the the metal part of the pads

then this is when you can hear a loud grinding noise that frightens the driver to death. Once again, if this happens, you should have your car’s brakes checked by a professional mechanic or your local garage.

Once again, if you have your car serviced when you have your annual MOT test then your brakes will be checked and should be fine for the next year. If your brake pedal does not feel right or goes further down than it should before you get a brake, then have the car checked out. Until an expert has examined the vehicle, do not drive.

CHECK YOUR CAR BRAKES REGULARLY- Thanks www.mot-halifax.co.uk