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car brakes problem

Noisy Car Brakes-Nice Red Citroen DS3 Pulls in with a Grinding Brakes Problem?

Noisy Car Brakes

I was surprised to see this nice looking red car 

Been the owner of a busy garage has many” ups and downs”. One of the more nicer and pleasant aspects of the job is to see the the number of different cars and car models that would appear in any given week.

This past week has seen cars as diverse as a Rolls Royce Wraith ( which was one of only 220 cars produced) to a Wolsey Hornet Mini from the late sixties, not counting the everyday cars such as Ford Fiestas and VW Golfs. Early on in the week we had a car made by Citroen, the DS3 call in to us with rattling Car Brakes. The was in my favourite  colour a very bright red, ( I love red cars). We put the citroen car with the Noisy Car Brakes on a ramp and removed all the wheels to check the Brakes, and sure enough the front pads were worn down to the metal and the friction from having “metal to metal” had also damaged the front discs. The rear brakes were cleaned and checked and were good for further use.

We contacted the customer and was given the go ahead to replace the brakes

Of course, this meant that the customer was getting good quality brakes with a nation wide guarantee. The  job was completed and the customer went on his way. Importantly, I took a couple of pictures because I am a great fan of the Citroen DS3. The colours are very bright and modern looking with a choice of 11 colours and four different roof colours, you can even have colour coded alloy wheels and also different carpet designs. There is also a sports version known as the D-Sport which comes with Blue-tooth and climate control. The car also include 17 inch alloy wheels, the one I looked at came with Yokohama tyres and looked great. They also come out with additional body modifications and really look very stylish.

This car in my opinion is a great tribute to the New Citroen DS3 designers, who had to compete with the BMW Mini and the great little Fiat 500.

More reading…

The DS3 is the first in a range of very different Citroen models that put the emphasis on style and personality, along with strong performance and driver appeal. With its stylish look and compact size, it’s easy to see why so many comparisons have been drawn with the popular MINI and Fiat 500.” msn cars

“The engine combines strong low-rev performance – 110bhp at 3600rpm and 199lb ft at 2000rpm, enough for a sub-10.0sec 0-60mph time – with a claimed 62.8mpg (combined cycle) and 118g/km of CO2 emissions, which sees annual road tax costing just £20…”EVO

 

 

Check Your caravan Tyres

Michelin Tyres Development-Set their Targets High as far back as the Thirties

 It is no surprise to the older drivers amongst us that Michelin Tyres Development has always been at the forefront of tyre design 

Ever since I started work as a junior tyre fitter all those years ago. So, I have marveled at the skill and professional work. That Michelin Tyres Development  have put into their products. Even going back before my time ! French tyre makers were at the top of tyre development.Subsequently, all the other tyre companies were playing catch-up.

Enter the first steel belted radial that started it all off for Michelin tyres.

This was to be the tyre that changed their history. Including the great American tyre makers of the time. Of course, this new tyre from Michelin tyres was to be a far cry from the cross ply. Significantly, made by most other European tyre companies . Including, the Bias-belted tyres that were been developed in the USA.

The new Michelin Tyres Development was to be known as the Michelin”X”. Consequently, first appearing in 1949 (a year after I was born). This tyre would revolutionize the tyre industry ! With a product that would last longer and prove better car handling. Especially, for the type of suspension that was used on European cars.

This tyre was to be fitted as original equipment to Lancia and Citroen cars and also to the Mercedes 190 SL models.

It took a good ten years before the other tyre makers started to catch Michelin Tyres Development up, all trying to copy the steel belted “X” tyre.

Compared to the cross-ply tyre the radial gave many advantages. They  gave a much better mileage and road holding, ( I must admit that when I was in my early tyre fitting days. I can remember drivers complaining about Michelin  being bad in wet weather ?). This also gave added bonus of lower fuel consumption, a great

bonus for some of those old gas guzzling cars.

This is also the same time that imported cars were coming into the UK cars such as the Citroen 2 CV and Renault Dauphins.

More reading…The Dauphine took over from the 4 CV in 1956, but not as a replacement. The name dauphine (heiress) was highly significant. Release was a major event on the motoring scene, and followed up by a successful career on French and export markets.  

Dauphine played its successor’s role to the full, boasting all the latest features of the epoch, such as adjustable seats, heating, and an automatic gearbox. The finish was very smart, with a red and black steering wheel and matching seats. The dashboard layout was uncluttered, and the interior roomy.  

Dauphine was a four-seater, with rear bench and two separate seats at the front. In January 1957, the US motoring weekly The Motor crowned it the “prettiest little four-seater in the world”. Sure, it was beautiful, elegant and shapely, totally in keeping with spirit of the 1960s.”…http://www.renault.com/en/vehicules/hier/pages/renault-dauphine.aspx

The Dauphin did not do too well in the “Cold Damp British climate”

So, soon had a bad reputation for bad rust. But it did come out on Michelin tyres, and I will never forget. Of course, the first time I had to remove one of these products  from the rim. The tyre just fell off the wheel it was so easy to do. A big improvement on the struggle we had when fitting Dunlops . In those days we only had a hand held tyre bead breaker and some tyre levers, balancing was carried out on a small “bubble” wheel  balancer which I still believe never really worked.

To conclude Michelin Tyres Development have never looked back and in the early days. Because of their better cornering they were used in the early motor-sport cars with great success.

lucas battery

Lucas Premium Batteries: Key to Hassle-Free-Car Maintenance

Lucas Premium Batteries

Lucas Premium Batteries

Of course, since I wrote this post in 2016, things in the automotive industry have moved on. especially in the battery world. Including Lucas batteries!

Because of new emissions laws, the auto industry has had to develop cleaner and greener engines. Emission laws have become much stricter, and car makers have had to develop cleaner engines. Including “Start-Stop “engines. I think we all probably know by now what this is. However, judging by the emails that I have to respond to on Ebay ! Then you would not think so.

Customers still want the cheapest car battery possible ?

So, customers with large cars are always trying to cut corners by asking about the cheapest battery for their car. Annoyingly, they are always asking if our small 063 battery will fit their vehicle ! Of course, the correct battery is usually ten times bigger and more powerful ! But they would fit the cheapest car battery possible if they could !

So, why this is I will never know ! This brings me on to “Stop-Start” batteries. Because of the constant switching on and off of the car engines that are fitted with stop-start, a stronger battery with deep cycle capability had to be developed. So, this development came in two forms! The AGM car battery and the EFB car battery.

Consequently, the AGM battery comes out on the larger car models and the EFB car battery on the smaller car models. This is usually the general rule of thumb. So, without getting too technical, your battery will state which type it is. Of course, the images in this post clearly show the different types ! AGM of EFB.

Not only are batteries a mode of transportation,

Significantly, battery selection can be a reflection of their respective owners. Of course, this relates to the selection of different types of Lucas Premium Batteries and which car drivers buy. So, as I have said earlier some of our online customers just want the Cheap Car Batteries. Whilst other people prefer to buy a better known brand, such as Lucas Premium Batteries.

If you require a certain type of battery for your vehicle. Say with a different terminal type, such as early Ford vehicles, like say the Ford Cortina or early Ford Escort. Of course, you can look for products on the search engines and type in ” Batteries to fit Ford Cortinas”.

Owning a vehicle has also become supposedly easier

Because there are more options now and the second hand car market is more organized and sophisticated. Of course, thanks to the Internet and e-commerce. However, a lot of people prefer to hold on to their old cars and vans! Because the not-so-recent global economic crisis has decreased their purchasing power. the average family in the UK spends £3000 a year less than before the financial crisis started.

So, for these reasons, it is important to keep your vehicle in tiptop shape for as long as possible. naturally, this could be achieved with proper vehicle maintenance. Apart from the periodic oil changes and tune-ups ! So, it is also crucial that your car be installed with dependable and well-performing  Premium grade Batteries.

Even with the advent od electric cars, the majority of the world’s vehicle owners drive cars run on fossil fuels.

Because of engine development including on-board computers. Specifically, these cars require more a more powerful supply of electric energy ! Without good quality Premium Batteries .Your car will not be able to start !Nor will it be able to have access to electrical power in the event of an alternator failure.

In addition, as I have said, nearly all recent car models have an on-board computer . Which is also powered by electrical charge supplied by the car batteries. Suffice it to say, people must pay as much attention to their car batteries as other aspects of their cars. There are numerous dealers of well-known brands such as ApolloPower batteries, Varta batteries, and of course Lucas batteries.

ll of which can be found at regular shops or online battery stores. They are best places to go to for information and recommendations for the most suitable Premium Batteries for your particular vehicle. There are certain factors to consider in choosing a Replacement Car Battery ! So be aware of these ! Consequently, by ensuring the longevity of your battery and the overall stress-free maintenance of your vehicle.

The first consideration is which battery is for you.

This can be determined by your old batteries part number ! Also by measuring the dimensions of your existing battery, including the terminal layout ! There are standard group sizes which cover all types of Lucas batteries.

 You can find out the group size of your car battery by checking the owner’s manual or through certain online sources for battery cataloguing. Another important factor to consider is what the Amp/Hr rating is for your battery ?

This is an important element in choosing a good car battery

. Because it determines how long the battery can supply the required electrical power. Of course, in case the car’s alternator fails to function. In my opinion, the best way to make sure that you buy the correct one ! So is to replace it with exactly the same part numbers as the one on the car.

For extra assistance, then you can also telephone your online dealer to help in choosing the correct one for your vehicle. Beware of online companies who are not willing to help you. On the whole, a confident honest company will have all contact details at hand to give you the correct advice. In the event of not giving you there contact details then do not buy from them ? Subsequently, they may not be there in two years time ! To cover you in case your battery should go faulty.

What is Cold cranking amps ?

Cold cranking amps or CCA refers to your power rating in terms of its ability to start your vehicle . Supplying electrical power even during extremely cold weather. Naturally, you will can indeed choose a new battery with a rating CCA higher than or equal to car’s original one. This will ensure that your car will continue to operate smoothly even in the harshest winters. Last but not least is the quality of the brand of the car battery that you can buy .

As I have reiterated before, there are many brands to choose from ! But only a handful are reliable and of good quality. In the UK, you can easily find Lucas Premium Batteries for any type of vehicle. Along with other makes and types, this is one of the most cost-effective brands known for its long life and stability.

Eric Roberts