If you know us at B Squared you know we have a lot of fun with a bit of business on the side. This blog is so that you can see what we are up to funny or not and the ridiculous situations that we get ourselves into. This also will include my new adventure in networking. So ENJOY!
Can you drive straight? Is it hard to drive straight? If you ignore this problem, its not going to go away. This problem can get worse overtime, it can wear out your tires quickly, and your vehicle becomes unsafe. This situation is not good. Since your car is probably out of alignment these issues can lead to hundreds of dollars to replace your tires and suspension repair. Its recommended that you get an alignment check every 6 months or 6,000 miles.
If you have uneven wear on your tires, off center steering wheel while driving, your vehicle is swaying, drifting, your vehicle is pulling to the right or left, there is vibration, or noise is coming from your tires, you want to get your vehicle checked out. You might need service to your vehicles alignment, steering, drivetrain or suspension system.
If you're like most of us, you want your car to handle well. That's the job of your suspension system.
There are different types of suspension systems, but they all work on the same basic principles. First, there are the springs, which bear the weight of the car. The most common springs are coil or leaf - although we see air springs and torsion bars more often. The springs do most of the work.
But if all you had were springs, your vehicle would be bouncing around like a bobble head. That's where the shocks come in. They control the rebound of the springs and smooth out the up and down motions. They also keep the tires on the road, and you in control. Some cars use struts. Struts are a combination of shocks and springs, together in a more compact system.
Shocks wear out slowly over time, so it's hard to notice when they get badly worn. One way to tell is to look for an uneven, cupping wear on your tires. If the shock or strut is leaking fluid, it needs to be replaced. If your car feels floaty in turns or if the front end dips a lot when you stop, it is time to get your shocks checked. Your owners' manual will tell you when your shocks should be changed - it's usually between 15,000 and 30,000 miles or 24,000 and 50,000 kilometers .
When you replace a shock, be sure to replace all four. Then your car will have an even suspension and will handle much better. Talk with your service advisor about how you drive. No, not your traffic violations, but how often you carry heavy loads, tow a trailer or drive in rough terrain. If you do a bunch of that, you'll need a heavy duty shock.
Regular shocks use hydraulic fluid and air as their dampening system. Premium quality shocks and struts use compressed nitrogen gas instead of air. Gas shocks don't get air bubbles that affect the performance of regular shocks. If you do a lot of high performance driving, off-roading or just want added comfort and control, think about getting premium gas shocks or struts.
Replacing your struts may take your car out of alignment, so be sure to get an alignment at the same time. So, to smooth out the bumps on the road of life, change your shocks and struts when they need it.
