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Brakes

Brakes

How brakes work is fairly simple, from a simple perspective, it is basically about pressing the brake pedal, which generates hydraulic pressure, administered to the master cylinder, and this generates more hydraulic pressure on hydraulic brake lines, and this brake lines are connected to you wheels, and they generate more hydraulic pressure.

Of course, that is just a simple explanation about their function, there is more to it than the eye meets, and now, with technology advances, brakes even use the energy from your engine as extra power to make your vehicle stop. A car usually has two brake systems, and each one of them controls the speed of two wheels.

Every single part of a vehicle has a vital importance, as parts work as a whole, but you can trust us on this one: you do not want your brakes to fail.

Sometimes we have doubts about their performance, and so to know how to troubleshoot them comes in handy, here some suggestions:

  • Does your car make a sound when braking? If there is a squealing sound it may be there because your brakes are new, but only you know that, if they are not then to replace the brake pads may be necessary. Do not wait, get them replaced as soon as possible or you will wear the rest of the system off and you will have to get more spare parts.
  • Does your car make a grinding sound when braking? If there is a grinding sound is because you did not pay attention to the suggestion below and your pads are not there anymore, and you are pressing the metal plate behind the pads, yes, it means more money.
  • Do you feel some kind of vibration on your steering wheel when braking? If there is a vibration then your rotor is warped, this is not necessarily your fault, the rotor may be catching on the pads, and this makes the steering wheel shake. Get your car checked, as this will wear off your pads rapidly, which means a higher risk for occupants.
  • Do you have a spongy brake pedal? If your brake pedal feels spongy that means that there may be a problem with brake fluid, that is, a leak, air the brake lines, or maybe dirty fluid. In case your fluid is dirty you will have to drain it and replace it.
No matter what the matter is, if there is one, make sure your vehicle get the necessary assistance, as a responsible driver would never risk his/her own safety or anyone else's.


The New Ford Ka

Upgrading the original model Ford Ka represented a difficult task for Ford as the car has attained the status of a cult car in the ten years plus of its existence. This first version also set a pretty high benchmark for subsequent versions to match, combining very distinctive styling with an extremely low retail price. In order to prevent the new version coming up against unreasonable comparisons, Ford have pitched the new Ford Ka as a different, more upmarket vehicle.

The chassis, powertrain and engine on the new version are all heavily inspired by the similar underside of the 500 Fiat - and the links also extend to the inside of the vehicle, with the new Ford Ka having a strikingly similar dashboard and instruments to the Fiat. While this is actually quite a good thing, given the good finish of the Fiat, the overall outer design of the new Ford Ka range is disappointingly muted compared with the previous version. The range has gained considerably in terms of size, equipment and safety, but has sacrificed character in the design.

On the road itself, the new Ford Ka is still offers a marvellous driving experience, with the chassis responsive, the steering accurate and overall comfort levels within the vehicle, pretty good. It's not all quite so impressive though, as the engine - a 1.2-litre, basic model - is not exactly powerful. However it does provide what you need for practical use in urban areas, as well as offering considerable benefits in terms of low CO2 emissions and fuel economy.

The engine comes under the desired target of 120g/km in terms of CO2 emissions, which is a real bonus. It is the perfect option for any new driver as it is a small and easy to drive car. Visit motors.co.uk to find great deals on available Ford Ka's.

There is the option of a 1.3-litre engine, which is diesel rather than petrol, but this offers little when it comes to savings on fuel, making it arguably the more expensive option overall.

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