The owner of this 2000 Peugeot 306 1.6 Automatic had been in the garage only a few weeks earlier for a puncture repair. At that time, I warned her that the front brake pads were getting very low and they would need replacing in the next few days.

The Peugeot was used daily, and the owner ignored my warning until she began to hear a light grinding noise when applying the brakes. She phoned me to book in for the brake pads to be fitted.

Unfortunately, that ship had sailed and the point at which just a set of brake pads could be fitted had passed. Metal to metal contact had taken place, causing the annoying grinding sound but had designated the brake discs as only good for the scrap metal pile.

The moral of this story is, of course, a stich in time saves nine. It also would have saved a few euros for the owner.

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