
If you’re thinking about fitting a new or used ABS wheel sensor, or you’re considering buying a used car and want to know what to watch out for, understanding how this small component affects safety is pretty important.
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If you’re thinking about fitting a new or used ABS wheel sensor, or you’re considering buying a used car and want to know what to watch out for, understanding how this small component affects safety is pretty important.
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Brake pads are essential to the safety of your vehicle and other vehicles on the roads. Failing and worn-out brake pads reduce the efficiency of your brakes and can lead to more costly repairs later on. We’ll guide you through the symptoms of failing brake pads, the types of brake pads available, and how to make your replacement brake pads last longer with good driving habits.
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Brake discs play a vital role in making sure your vehicle stops safely. When you press the brake pedal, the brake pads clamp onto the spinning discs, generating friction that converts your car’s kinetic energy into heat, slowing it down.
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Brake calipers are an essential component of your vehicle’s braking system, alongside brake pads and brake discs. When you push down on your brake pedal, a master cylinder in the engine compartment pressurises the brake fluid within it to activate a piston. This piston pushes against the brake caliper, which acts as a clamp that squeezes the brake pads against the rotating brake discs.
This pressure produces friction which slows the wheels’ rotations in order for them to slow down or stop altogether.
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Brakes slow your car by applying pressure through the callipers and discs (or a similar system). The force behind the pressure is generated by the brake master cylinder when you depress the brake pedal. As one of the main components in the braking system, if the cylinder develops a fault or stops working, then this could have some severe and potentially dangerous consequences.
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Putting your foot down in the car to slow down, only to find your brakes aren’t working, has to be one of the scariest experiences behind the wheel of a car. Hopefully one that most people will never have to face.
Whilst most modern cars have the latest technology, safety features and are rigorously tested to prevent and warn of braking issues, it’s worth knowing what to do in case there’s a failure. So if the worst does happen, how can you quickly reduce your chances of injury and creating danger to others out there on the road?
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Smoke coming out of the brakes? It might be funny in cartoons, but it’s never a laughing matter when it’s your car. In fact, if you do notice a burning smell, or worse still, start seeing smoke floating around your vehicle cabin, it can be a more than unsettling experience.
Brake smoke is one of those situations where you need to act immediately. Even if you have put on new brake pads that can in rare cases smoke when you wear them in – it’s still something that you need to check. So what are the causes (and some of the fixes) of smoking brakes?
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Skids are more likely to occur when there is a loss of friction and therefore traction on the roads. Snow, ice and water can cause a lack of proper grip on the tarmac causing your car to slip and slide.
Throw understeer, oversteer, acceleration and braking into the mix and you could have difficulty controlling your vehicle. When this happens it’s vital you remain calm. Even if you can’t avoid an accident, you can reduce the danger to yourself and others – by taking remedial action.
How can you avoid getting into a skid – and more importantly, what can you do if you should find yourself in one of the two different types of skid, oversteer or understeer?
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Many car parts have a limited lifespan such as the oil filter and lights. However amongst the most important are the brake pads, which are responsible for slowing and stopping your moving vehicle. Old and degraded pads will put metres on your braking distances, which in a worst case scenario could be dangerous and even life-threatening.
Brakes wear out quickly and depending on your use can only last a short while, especially if you drive frequently around inner city areas during peak times. As a result regular checks will help you ensure that your brake pads are in good reliable working order.
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Your car’s brake pads will wear out relatively quickly. This is due to the friction that occurs when braking, with the brake callipers using the pads to stop the brake discs. The harder you brake and the more aggressively you drive, the faster the pads will wear out.
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