During a storm, cars and trucks are safest in a covered garage, or away from trees that might topple over, but many vehicles are damaged after a storm, when drivers try to navigate deep puddles of standing water.
The damage caused by a flooded vehicle is not always immediately apparent.
If your vehicle has been damaged by flooding, you should not start the engine. That could cause more damage. The best thing is not to drive the car at all and call a mechanic and have the vehicle towed in for an inspection.
There are hidden dangers water can cause to your vehicles brakes:
If you have driven through deep water, we advise you to have your break system checked. Water can cause damage to hot brake rotors, causing warping, which will result in a rough stopping vehicle. Water can also seep into your brake lines and cause braking system failure.
Brakes may become significantly “looser” (for lack of a technical term). In other words, if before the rain you had to depress your hand brake one inch for the bike to slow down, after the rain you have to depress it two inches. Plus, even at max depression, the bike does not stop as quickly as it did before the rains.
You may experience squealing, delayed braking time, an odd smell when braking or just a generally sluggish brake system. Warped brakes (indicated by a veering when braking or a shaking steering wheel when braking) may also be part of the damage.
The only way to diagnose and repair water-damaged brakes is to have them assesses by a professional.
Click here to get in touch with us today for a brake assessment!
