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Dear Start My Car,
It’s easy to caught up in the negative. South Africa is in a recession, progress has been slow and the Corona virus is making the whole world nervous. At Start My Car, however, we believe that optimism is a strategy. It is not something that we are born with, it is not something that we stumble on. It is a decision and it is something that we need to choose. I hope you join us in doing so.
The article below is a fun piece that appeared in Business Insider. We chose to not talk about the negative. I hope that you enjoy it.
Please remember to have a look at our offerings and our amazing deals. We want to be one of the “good things” in your world.
As always, be in touch and be safe.
Regards,
Baruch.
Here’s what you can you get on your number plate in SA – for up to R150,000
A personalised number plate can cost you a fortune in South Africa, if you are buying it on auction as part of a collection, in the roaring second-hand trade in such licence plates.
New, purchased from the authorities rather than a previous owner, custom number plate prices vary wildly between provinces. And the costs can vary within provinces too. In the Western Cape and Gauteng, the less you want on your plate, the more you are going to pay, unlike the flat rates charged by other parts of South Africa.
Here's what you will pay for a customer licence plate in each province.
The most expensive personalised registration numbers (PRN’s) are found in the Western Cape, because it charges more for lower digit plates, which are more popular.
The most expensive plates in the Western Cape are single digit CAA plates (1 – CAA), that go for up to R150,000. Double digit CAA plates cost R75,000, and triple digit CAA plates cost R8,000. CAA plates are only customisable in terms of their digits; no other characters are allowed.
The most expensive WP personalised plate one can buy has a single alpha or numeric character, for R10,000 (1 – WP). Two characters cost R6,000, three characters cost R4,000, and others to a maximum of seven letters or numbers cost R1,750.
Gauteng has the second most expensive personalised plates, but charges much less for its low-character plates. In GP three characters cost R5,950 and between four to seven characters cost R3,450
Other provinces don't charge per character.
In all other provinces, PRN’s come at flat rates, rather than on a per-character basis.
Here is what they charge:
• Eastern Cape: R4,850.
• Mpumalanga: R4,700
• KwaZulu-Natal: R3,500
• Limpopo: R3,200.
• Free State: R3,000
• North West: R2,800
• Northern Cap: R2,530
Personalised number plates can of course only be registered once – meaning there is only one and it cannot be replicated. This means there is a big second-hand market for personalised plates. The most valuable plate collection in SA, GP numbers 1 to 8, sold in 2016 for R1,890.000.
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Brakes:
The Key Components and How They Work
The brakes of a vehicle are an essential component to the safety of both the driver and the passengers. While brakes are quite reliable the system does require routine maintenance and problems can develop as a car ages. Let’s explore how the brake system works:
How brakes work
The brake system in most modern vehicles is disc and drum system. While four-wheel disc brakes are becoming more common, the majority of vehicles on our roads utilise a front-disc/rear-drum brake setup. Disc and drum brakes are both based on a hydraulic pressure system. Braking starts with a mechanical force — your foot pressing the brake pedal.
When the break pedal is depressed, a piston compresses the brake fluid inside the master cylinder, which creates hydraulic pressure to generate a much bigger force than that of the small effort of pressing down the pedal.
The pressure is then transferred via the brake fluid through the brake line and then through the brake hoses that connect the lines with the brake assemblies at each wheel.
Wheel cylinders convert that hydraulic pressure back to mechanical force. Brake friction material is pushed against the brake disc or drum, slowing or stopping your vehicle.
The difference between disc and drum systems can be seen in the above diagram.
On a disc system, a disc is attached to the hub of the wheel. When you step on the brakes, pressurised brake fluid pushes against the pistons inside the calliper, forcing the brake pads against the disc. As the brake pads press against both sides of the disc, the friction stops the wheel’s rotationOn a drum system, a drum is attached to the hub of the wheel. Instead of a calliper that clamps brake pads against a disc, a drum brake system has a wheel cylinder with pistons that push brake shoes out against the inside of a spinning drum. This contact slows and stops the rotation of the brake drum and the wheel.
Modern brake systems are extremely reliable but there are numerous parts and some of them require routine maintenance and replacement.
Maintenance
Due to the heat generated by the braking system, plenty can go wrong. The act of braking converts kinetic (moving) energy of the vehicle into thermal energy (heat), subjecting many parts to very high temperatures.
This means a lot of wear and tear even in normal conditions. Some brake components will need to be replaced over the life of a vehicle. There’s no set interval for this since it depends on your driving style, climate and road conditions.
Starting from the brake pedal, Let’s examine the critical componets of the brake system:
Master Cylinder
Failing master cylinders can leak internally. In this case, you may get a low or fading pedal without visible fluid loss. Regular fluid maintenance is important for prolonging cylinder life. Any leak in the master cylinder, the brake fluid reservoir, the wheel cylinders, lines or hoses will reduce the hydraulic pressure that’s created when brakes are activated.
Brake fluid
The brake system should be checked regularly for leaks and fluid should be replaced every few years according to your manufacturers recommendations or when the brakes are serviced. Along with moisture, it’s also very common for impurities like rust, road grit or brake dust to get into the fluid, causing internal damage to parts and reducing braking performance.
Seals
These rubber rings keep the hydraulic fluid from leaking and protect it from moisture and contaminants. They also cause the piston to return to its off position so the brake pads disengage properly when you release the brake pedal. If this doesn’t happen, you could experience brake drag and premature wear and the vehicle may pull to one side when you brake.
Brake Lines
Brake lines are steel tubes that connect the master cylinder to the brake hoses. A spongy brake pedal could mean air has gotten into a line.
Hoses
Brake hoses carry the hydraulic pressure from the brake lines to the wheel cylinders and callipers. The rubber brake hoses flex, allowing the wheel cylinders and callipers to move up and down with the wheels in relation to the vehicle's frame. If the rubber wears out, your vehicle may pull to one side during braking or you may even get fluid loss and brake failure.
Discs
Discs wear down over time, which can decrease their reliability. Discs are also prone to uneven wear and warping. Because the disc is no longer flat, the brake pads contact the brake disc at uneven intervals.The symptoms of warped discs is vibration through the break pedal and noises which can range from a lower pitched groaning hum to a rhythmic thumping.
Friction material
Disc brake pads slow the discs through friction and they wear with normal use. Eventually, they become too thin to function properly. Same thing for drum brake shoes. The friction material on the shoe gets worn out and braking is compromised.
Dust Boots
Brake components are constantly exposed to road debris and brake dust. The dust boot prevents grime from entering the calliper piston. If it fails and can’t do its job, piston damage can occur, causing brake drag, pulls and premature wear.
Wheel Cylinders
The wheel cylinders of a car are made from metal and rubber. The high heat and constant use that these cylinders get are usually the biggest reason why they will need to be replaced. Signs of a failing wheel cylinder include: Leaking fluid from the cylinders, excessive noise from the rear brakes and the brake pedal which goes all the way to the floor.
Spring Kits
The shoe fitment springs lose tension due to the heating and cooling cycle while braking, or get damaged when removing them during a shoe change.
In Summary
When it comes to vehicle safety, the quality of your car’s braking system plays a crucial part. Your car’s braking system is one of its most important safety features and well-maintained brakes can be the difference between avoiding an accident and a potential tragedy.
At StartMyCar, your safety is our utmost concern. That is why we have a comprehensive range of all the brake components described above! Visit our website or get in contact and we would be delighted to assist!
