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Is My Handbrake OK?

Brake Disk - Hand Brake

The blog this week is about signs to look out for that may indicate that the handbrake on your Volvo or Toyota is failing. Please seek professional help from your local independent garage for further investigation if you experience any issues with your handbrake that you cannot rectify yourself. Preventative maintenance is always cheaper than reactive repairs. Read on to find out more:

Problem - A Loose Feeling Handbrake

If your hand brake feels loose, it could be that the cable is too stretched or out of alignment which makes your hand brake feel flabby. Resulting in the handbrake being hard to use and cannot lock into position when trying to brake.

Problem - Handbrake Not Disengaging 

If you experience drag when pulling away after releasing your handbrake it could be an indication that the brakes have not been removed entirely from the wheels. It could then start to squeal, please seek the expertise of your local independent garage.

Problem – A Tight Feeling Handbrake

If your handbrake feels tight, then this could indicate an issue with the wiring. This could become an issue if you need to quickly apply your handbrake such as in an emergency.

Problem – Lack of Resistance When Accelerating

It goes without saying that if your handbrake is not creating any friction, i.e. if you are trying to use it to pull away whilst stationary on a hill for example, you cannot rely on it to stop your car in an emergency. Have you ever tried to pull away whilst stationary on a steep hill with no handbrake? You risk rolling back into the car behind you – especially if they are close to you. You really need to take your Volvo or Toyota into your local independent garage for investigation. Happy Safe Motoring Folks!

Here at ACC UK Ltd, Winners of The Motor Trader Independent Garage of The Year 2015, 2019 & 2020, The IGA Big Awards 2022, The Inspire Customer Service Excellence 2016 Award, The Eagle Radio Customer Focus 2017 Business Award, The Workshop Magazine Workshop Manager of the Year 2017 Award, The LiveWire Excellence In Vehicle Servicing 2019 Award and The Aftermarket Excellence Award for Best Website 2019, The Eagle Radio Biz Award – Entrepreneur of the Year 2020 & the SME News Magazine Most Trusted Car Servicing Provider 2020, we pride ourselves on offering an outstanding customer experience for a fraction of the cost of a dealership. Give us a call and let us quote you for your next service or repair on your Volvo or Toyota. We service all areas around Farnborough, Fleet, Aldershot, Farnham, Guildford, Frimley, Camberley, Hook, Sandhurst, Crowthorne, Yateley, Hampshire and Surrey. We offer free collection and drop off services. We also have a fleet of courtesy cars to allow you to get on with your schedule whilst your Volvo or Toyota is with us. Happy Motoring from all at ACC UK Ltd – Independent Volvo & Toyota servicing, repair and MOT specialists based in the heart of Farnborough, Hampshire.