We’ve put together a list of 10 things that could be damaging your vehicle – and you might not even realise you’re doing them.
10. Dragging the brakes downhill
Dragging the brakes is lousy practice that will likely add increased wear and tear on brake pads and discs.
This will lead to needing to replace them more frequently, which will add an unnecessarily-increased expense to your driving.
When travelling downhill, it is best to engage a low gear, apply light some light braking, and then release the pedal to allow the brakes to cool.
Apply the brakes when required, before repeating the process until you’ve reached the foot of the hill.
9. Resting your hand on the gearstick
Your driving instructor probably told you to keep both hands on the wheel at all times, but many of us develop bad habits as soon as the ‘L’ plates are consigned to the bin.
One of these might include resting your hand on the gearstick.
But did you know this can be bad for the transmission?
The gearstick is connected to a selector fork, which is designed to make contact with a rotating collar for a short amount of time.
If you rest your hand on the gearstick, you risk applying pressure to the selector fork, causing premature wear.
Some owner’s manuals specifically advise against resting your hand on the gearstick, it's worth checking yours to see if that's the case.
About the Author
