A variety of vehicle repairs have spiked in the recent lockdown, including coil springs, rear brake shoes and battery replacements.
Recent data by ClickMechanic found that coil spring replacements repairs have seen a 104% jump, rear brake shoes repairs increased by 86% and battery replacements grew by 33%.
This increase has largely been attributed to the combination of vehicles being parked up for a longer duration of time due to the lockdown restrictions and the unusually colder temperatures that have been seen over recent weeks.
ClickMechanic’s data has indicated that an increase in rear shoes sticking on and thus needing to be replaced is a result of vehicles being left idle for an extended period of time. Common symptoms some motorists have experienced include:
- The hand brake does not work properly
- A squealing or scraping from a rear wheel during braking
- The car pulls to the right or left under braking
- The car becomes unstable under braking
Furthermore, coil springs have been found to be more vulnerable to damage during winter months and colder weather. In most instances, it might be impossible to notice a broken coil spring unless the vehicle is lifted during a service, however, in some cases, a driver can notice something is amiss with the suspension when:
- The vehicle is noticeably lower on one side.
- There is uneven steering, or even veering off to one side.
- There are rattles and knocks when going over uneven road surfaces.
Owing to the lockdown and colder weather, many cars have not been used as regularly which has led to a host of complications – including repairs many UK motorists might not have anticipated.
Andrew Jervis, CEO of ClickMechanic, which analysed its repair records to highlight the findings, said: “If you think something is amiss or wrong with your car, especially if you’ve not driven it for some time, don’t wait for your next MOT or service. You should at very least carry out any essential safety checks but ideally, you should get a professional mechanic to inspect the vehicle to ensure it’s safe to drive and possibly prevent further damage.”
