Car Care Tips Blog

Are you experiencing braking problems? You may be just minutes away from an accident if your vehicle fails to stop when and where you expect it to. Properly working brakes are an absolute must for safe driving! Drivers should be aware of when their brake pads and rotors begin to fail or lose their effectiveness.

There are several factors that can determine the average lifetime of brake rotors and pads:

• What is your style of driving? Don’t be an aggressive driver who is constantly stomping down hard on the brakes, such as in stop-and-go town traffic.
• How much does the vehicle plus passengers/cargo weigh? The stopping power of brakes is calculated on the weight of the vehicle plus the passenger limits, so overloading your vehicle will significantly diminish the effectiveness of your brakes.
• What is the quality of the brake pads and rotors? The quality of the components that make up the braking system impacts how fast they wear out.
• What is the purpose of your vehicle? If you pull heavy loads such as heavy trailers, drive mostly in mountainous terrain, or make frequent stop-and-go trips, the braking components will wear more quickly because the brakes have to be applied harder and more frequently than on level roads.

Do you know how to tell when it’s time for an oil change? Even though oil changes are a simple service, if not performed on a regular basis, your vehicle will end up showing signs of neglect. Fresh, clean oil optimizes your vehicle’s performance by lubricating parts and keeping the engine clean and healthy.

How often do you need to get your oil changed? It’s definitely time for an oil change if your car starts to exhibit one or more of these five warning signs:

Shocks (called car struts in some vehicles), wear down slowly over time as the miles add up. Like all other automobile parts and systems, shocks and struts have a specific maintenance schedule. Auto repair experts say that generally they should be replaced between every 50,000 to 100,000 miles, depending on how much wear and tear they have received.

What keeps your vehicle balanced and connected to the road? It’s the shocks or car struts! All the different components that make up the steering and suspension systems play a big role in keeping your ride smooth and safe. They also . . .

• Help maintain consistent handling and braking
• Keep your tires in contact with the road
• Control spring and suspension movements
• Reduce vehicle roll, bounce, sway, brake dive and acceleration squat
• Prolong the life of other parts in the suspension
• Prevent gradual deterioration of ride quality