Spring Car Check: Suspension, Brakes and Tyres

Winter might be on its way out, but it leaves its mark on your car. Potholes, road salt underneath, rusty brake discs and worn-out wiper blades. A spring car check is your chance to see how your car has coped with it all. Especially if you've got a long journey coming up.

What should we check on the suspension?

Winter potholes are brutal on your suspension. That's why we check the suspension arms, bushes, track rod ends and shock absorbers. If your car pulls to one side or the steering wheel sits off-centre, we'll check the wheel alignment too. Don't wait until your tyres have worn unevenly. By then, you'll be paying for something you could have caught earlier.

How have your brakes survived the winter?

Road salt and moisture leave rust on the brake discs, and sometimes the rear brake callipers start sticking. We check the pads, discs, hoses and brake pipes. If your brake fluid is two years old, we change it. No cutting corners here, my friend. We're talking about your brakes.

When should you swap your winter tyres for summer tyres?

Fit your summer tyres when temperatures are consistently above 7°C.
Check the tread and the manufacturing date. Don't just look at how much tread is left.
Give your winter tyres a good wash and store them in tyre bags somewhere dry and dark.

What else should you check underneath and around the car?

Give the underside of your car a thorough wash to get rid of all that winter road salt.
Check for any oil or coolant leaks.
Swap your winter screenwash for summer screenwash.
If your wiper blades are leaving streaks on the windscreen, replace them.

Checking the suspension on a vehicle lift at Das Auto Service

Is your air conditioning ready for summer?

Don't wait until the first really hot day to discover your air conditioning isn't cooling properly. Before summer, we replace the cabin filter and check the air conditioning system. If it hasn't been serviced for a long time, we clean the evaporator too.

If your car pulls to one side when you brake after winter, please don't put off getting it checked. You could have a sticking brake calliper. That can overheat the brake disc and increase your stopping distance. Don't leave it until later. I'm telling you this because your safety matters.

A tip from Kris Mladenov: Wash the underside of your car as soon as they stop spreading salt on the roads. That salt isn't going to disappear on its own. Leave it on the chassis through spring and it'll keep causing rust.

If you want peace of mind about what winter has done to your car, bring it in for a spring check at Das Auto Service. We'll get it up on the lift and show you exactly what it looks like underneath. That way, you'll know what needs attention before you set off on your next journey.