Show Me, Tell Me: The Brakes

"Tell me how you would check that the brakes are working properly before you start a journey"

There are two parts to this answer. The brakes are hydraulic, which means that oil is pushed through narrow pipes, and it is this oil that forces the brake pads against the discs. If the oil, or brake fluid, is allowed to run low, air may get into it, which would make the fluid elastic, and the brakes less effective; the first part of the answer then is that the brake pedal must feel firm when pressed.

The second part looks at whether the individual brakes are all working properly. If the brake on one wheel failed, the car would slow down more on the opposite side, instead of stopping in a straight line as it is supposed to.

The answer to the question therefore is, "The brakes should not feel spongy or slack, and when you operate them with the car moving slowly, the car should not pull to one side."