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• MOT failure Fiesta - fix or scrap? 1 Nov 2006 (Forum)
  Took my 95N Fiesta classic 1.8 diesel for it's MOT today and it failed on the following: -both front and 1 rear brake pipe corroded (1 rear was done last year) -Offside front suspension balljoint escessive play -hand brake efficiency only 13% (they say it needs a new cable, I reckon it just wants
• Mondeo ABS failed 18 Feb 2005 (Forum)
  The ABS on SWMBO's P-registered Mondeo seems to have expired. It was locking the front wheels under moderate braking and making a strange noise. Then it had an (unrelated) puncture. Then the ABS warning light then came on. Not a good day. I haven't looked at it yet, but assume it will prove
• audi a6 avant trouble..help 4 Feb 2005 (Forum)
  A few niggles that some of you may be able to help with on my audi a6 avant 2.7T (1999) Noise while braking...sounds like a grinding noise. Had it serviced (non dealer 140k) and rear disks replaced but the noise is still there. Is it brakes or something more sinister.... ...can anyone recommend
• Newbie Diesel Driver 2 Dec 2004 (Forum)
  Can anybody tell me if (Turbo)Diesel engines are like petrol engines and require some kind of 'choke' on cold start up ? Or do they just fire up and thats it - idle curiosity on my part. Also I am surprised by the lack of engine braking on the motorway as I keep bowling up behind things after
• Squeak Squeak 20 Jun 2003 (Forum)
  My 306 dturbo has developed a horrendous squeak that only appears for the first 5 miles or so every day from cold. Having had new brakes recently I blamed those but they have been refitted and copper greased etc, the noise still remains. When accelerating the squeak dissappears and come back when
• Peugeot 106 Front Suspension Thud 7 May 2003 (Forum)
  When reversing my wife's 106 (1124cc petrol '96P at 42000 miles) touching the brakes produces a distinct thud from the front. It must be bad - even she's noticed it. (Sorry - unnecessary chauvenistic remark!!). Seriously though - it's more distinct on left lock and doesn't show up by applying
• Steering fault after new tyres fitted 7 Mar 2003 (Forum)
  I had 4 new tyres fitted yesterday. When I drove from the garage, the car veered to the left when braking. As soon as the brake was released, it drove straight again. It?s a bit like losing control on a patch of ice. The steering wheel doesn?t pull at all. The car drives straight on a flat road
• 1999 Toyota Corolla noise 26 Feb 2003 (Forum)
  My daughter has a 99 Toyota Corolla GS that's making a clunking or grinding noise in the front end when the brakes are applied hard. She also has trouble making quick stops. A mechanic checked it out and said the pads and disks are almost new, and he suspects the anti-lock braking system may
• Cost to put right? 15 May 2002 (Forum)
  My car failed its MOT today and needs the following work doing: A new brake pipe, 3 brake hoses and handbrake cable to replace. Could anyone please advise me of a rough estimate for cost of repair as I have not got time to go from garage to garage for quotes. The car is a 94 Citroen ZX
• MOT Test Insurance 2 Jul 2001 (Forum)
  test 8 years/75,000 miles Cost of test/re-test Windscreen, headlamp alignment, exhaust, CAT, brake friction material and consumables Structural damage Fair wear and tear to items such as brake pads, tryres, clutch etc. There seems endless scope for argument about the "fair" and the "etc."
• Automec brake fluid 5 Feb 2001 (Forum)
  Further to the reference in your column last weekend, I obtained information and local stockists from Automec. As an engineer and keen classic enthusiast...
• 10 Aug 2018 (Forum)
  Good advice, but unfortunately the position of the brake pedal on many automatics is clearly designed for right foot operation. Perhaps the manufacturers are missing a trick here.
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  If my car passed its MoT but has pitted brake discs should this be on my certificate as an advisory? 11 Mar 2019 (Ask HJ)
  If my car passed its MoT but has pitted and scored brake discs, is this supposed to be on my certificate as an advisory?
• Attempted rip-off 5 Nov 2015 (Forum)
  Just need to get this off my chest, so apologies if it seems like a rant. I put my car into my local village garage, a place I've used for years, to get  my front brakes replaced. I returned a few hours later to find new discs and pads on all four wheels, because the mechanic 'felt
• Merc A Class - Wobbly Brakes 14 Mar 2014 (Forum)
  (they're handy little tools but I'm no illusion that an early W168 is a 'good car') with just the usual lurching handling and spine breaking suspension characteristics! Anyhow, the one pressing issue I do have is the brakes. There is a constant 'rubbing' when the car is moving, with the usual
• Audi TT 3.2 V6 - Claiming for repairs from dealer on recent purchase 28 Jul 2012 (Forum)
  was torn on the sidewall. They didnt think the tyres on the car were safe and recommended that I change all of them.  They also checked the brakes and told me the front brake discs were partially corroded and not functioning properly. The car was described as being in top condition
• Honda Accord Coupe 2.2 N Reg - 2 questions about brakes. 27 May 2012 (Forum)
  a clicking noise the rust hasn't fully come of this disc and it appears to be wearing off unevenly. Is this likely to be a new caliper, pads and discs? :( Now under heavy braking there's a small shake through the steering wheel. Question 2 When the car is sat and started all normal dash lights come
• Scary Mountain Passes 15 Sep 2009 (Forum)
  bends and keeping the speed up seemed to be the best way. Amazed that older cars ever coped with going up and down these roads with drum brakes and poorer cooling systems. Lots of brake fade and boiling radiators I?ll bet. Hyundai had no problems- just a bit of clutch pong when I?d to reverse out
• Well done M25 blow-out man! 1 Sep 2008 (Forum)
  wildly as driver tried to gain control. Overtaking car managed to brake well without drama, middle lane car nearest van also braked well as van veered back and across middle lane, inside lane and onto hard shoulder. Of course, it was a rear offside blowout, tyre shredded. The van diver did so well
• MOT Advisories - This should not have happened. 5 Aug 2008 (Forum)
  Had the car MOT'ed last week and it failed on the brake pipes. The work has now been done so just need to have it re-tested. I checked the car's MOT history online and for the past three years it has had an advisory for brake pipes and suspension bushes. I replaced the suspension bushes 6 months