London is the capital of England, the largest city in England and the United Kingdom, and is termed to be one of the most important cities in the world, yet the city of London, with boundaries closely based on its original medieval limits, is an area only 1.12 square miles.

London exerts a powerful impact on art and culture, tourism, innovation and industry; it’s also one of the most expensive places to visit or to live.

Greater London, the ceremonial county within the London region, has a population of over 8.8million, covers 606 square miles, and is organised into 33 local districts and also the 32 London boroughs. Its famous points of interest, attractions to visit and historical landmarks are too many to list; it is the home of UK Parliament and the Royal Family, as well as to cultures speaking over 300 languages and the busiest city airport system in the world, seeing its also the most visited city in the world (as measured by international arrivals).

The most popular cars in Central London

Given their worldwide popularity, multipurpose appeal and agility to make light work of cutting through the London traffic, it’s no great surprise to hear that the VW Golf is estimated to be the most popular car in London, according to data provided between 2012 to 2018 by ownership and postcode.

Close on its heels—and in order of popularity—are the Mercedes A-Class, the new Audi A3, BMW 3 Series and the F-Type Jaguar Convertible. Needless to say, Western Central London is one of the more affluent areas of Greater London.

Vehicle numbers in London

There are approximately 4.4 million licensed vehicles in the Greater London area, with some of the most popular models including the Nissan Qashqai, Ford Fiesta and the Kia Sportage.

Find a Fixter garage in London today

There are a total of 124 Fixter garages in the London area, all ready and waiting to provide you with a fantastic quote for your car service, MOT and a wide range of vehicle repairs.

Fixter garages service the following postcodes and more, in and around the London area:

• EC & WC: Central London
• N & NW: North and North West London
• E: East London
• SE & SW: South East and South West London

How do rear brake discs work?

The brake disc is a metal plate mounted on the wheel hub that is clamped between 2 rear brake pads when braking is applied; this causes friction and slows the vehicle down.

How often should brake discs need replacing?

As a rough guide, your** brake discs** should last between 50k and 70k miles, but there are many variables that could affect this, including driver behaviour, the weight you carry and the speed you travel.

The law, vehicle regulations and your MOT

Nearly 20% of MOT failures are caused by faulty brakes. Incorrect brake function, damaged or excessively worn discs or pads are considered unsafe for your vehicle performance and will cause your car to fail its MOT.

What happens when we replace your rear brake discs?

• Our efficient and fully qualified mechanics will inspect the brake system for signs of wear, damage and breakage.
• They will establish which brake discs need to be replaced and fit new ones as necessary.
• You will be advised if any of the brake pads need to be replaced for the best operation and health of your vehicle.
• Once the brake discs have been replaced, our mechanics will test them thoroughly to ensure the correct operation of the new parts, and make any adjustments required for premium performance.

What causes rear brake discs to stop working correctly?

Rear brake discs wear out over time from continual use. The friction applied by the brake pads, and the intense heat generated, will eventually deform the disc, causing it to become thinner and less effective when performing its job.

Extended use can also cause rear brake discs to crack, rendering them ineffective. Scars and rust on the disc can be caused by debris thrown from the road and poor weather conditions; this is also effective in reducing the operation of your brake discs.

Symptoms of malfunctioning rear brakes

Braking causes unusual noises

Loud screeching or grinding noises from your brakes is an indication that there is a problem with either your brake discs or pads.

When your car pulls to one side under braking

If only one brake is working correctly, it can cause your car to pull in the direction of the functioning brake.

The car vibrates under braking

Your brake pads or discs could be warped if the pedal vibrates when you press down on it.

The brake disc shows signs of damage

Look through the wheel for a visual check—if the disc’s surface isn’t smooth, or it displays cracks, grooves, spots or a blue colourisation, then the disc is quite likely damaged.

Your brake warning light on the dashboard is illuminated

If any of your dashboard warning lights are illuminated, the sensor that detects problems or worn out parts and components has identified an issue and activated the system.