February « 2010 « Brake Buddy's Auto Repair & Maintenance Blog

Archive for February, 2010

Which Type Of Brake Pads Do You Need?

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

Discover the best brake pads for your vehicle.

Some signs that you need to have your brakes checked include squeaking or squealing sounds when braking, the vehicle pulling to the side when braking, the brakes grabbing or vibrating, and the brake pedal feeling easier to push. At your next Phoenix brake check talk with your mechanic about the four main types of brake pads to choose from and which would be best for your car.

Ceramic brake pads are mainly composed of ceramic fibers. They are usually lighter in color from other brake pads. Ceramic brake pads are more expensive but they are cleaner, quieter, and brake better without wearing down the rotors on your car.

Semi-metallic brake pads are 30-65% metal including steel wool, iron powder, and graphite or copper with inorganic fillers. These pads do very well with heat transfer and are also very durable. The downfall to these brake pads are they may not perform as well in colder temperatures, can be a bit noisy, and are not as easy on your rotors.

Non-asbestos organic brake pads are made from fibers like glass, carbons, Kevlar and rubber with filler materials and resins. These pads are quiet and quite soft, but they do not last very long and produce a lot more dust.

The last type of brake pad is the low metallic non-asbestos organic brake pad. These are made from an organic formula with copper or steel which helps with better heat transfer and braking. Because of the added metal they can be a bit noisier and produce more dust.

If you are not sure that you need new brake pads, stop by a Brake Masters location and let us check it for you! Also, before buying new brake pads, talk with your mechanic or the sales staff to choose which brake pad is the correct choice for you and your car at your Albuquerque brake check.

Tags: Brake Pads, Ceramic Brake Pads, Phoenix Brake Check, Semi-metallic Brake Pads
Posted in Brake Repair Tips | 1 Comment »

Tips To Save On Gas

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

8 Easy Ways You Can Save Money on Gasoline.

The cost of driving to work, running errands, and just using your car does not have to be as high. These tips on saving gas may help you reduce your driving costs significantly.

Make sure your car is maintained and tuned correctly and regularly with a Santa Fe car tune up. Cars that are not tuned properly can use up to 25% more gas!
Unless you have a high performance engine, your car absolutely requires it, or your auto manufacturer recommends high octane gas, do not use it. You can save a significant amount of money by using a lower octane gas and your car will run just as well.
Check tire pressure often. For every pound your tires are underinflated, you lose up to 6% on your gas mileage. This is just with one pound, so as that number creeps up, so does the amount of gas you will use. Have this checked at your Las Cruces car tune up.
When it is warm out, gas expands and can overflow if you topped off your tank. When the pump stops pumping gas, you should not force any extra in.
Accelerate gently.
Avoid stopping when possible. Coming to a complete stop and then speeding back up uses far more gas than driving at a steady pace for a longer amount of time.
Maintain a steady speed. Speeding up uses more gas and slowing down and then speeding back up also increases the amount of gas you use.
Follow the speed limit. Driving too fast or slow can cause you to use up to 30% more gas than is necessary.

Follow these tips and start using less gas. You will save money and time by not having to visit the gas stations as frequently.

Tags: Gas Mileage, Increase MPG, Santa Fe Car Tune Up, Saving Gas
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

The Importance Of Brake Flushing

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

Why you need to flush your brakes regularly.

Your car’s owner’s manual may not list that you should have your brakes flushed. This is usually because they recommend when to have your Phoenix brakes check and assume the mechanic will notify you when it is time. This does not mean that it is not actually a very important service.

Brake fluid absorbs water and this is very important because it creates condensation in the brake system and helps reduce corrosion. Eventually though, it will have absorbed all of the fluid it possibly can and will be completely saturated.

When your brake fluid becomes saturated, unabsorbed fluids can start to collect and corrode important parts of your brake system. Also, the water will make seals deteriorate and start to contaminate fluids in the car and the boiling point of the fluid can drop beyond the levels that are recommended. Unfortunately, all of these things can drastically affect the performance of your brakes.

How can you determine when you need to have your brake fluid flushed? As mentioned before, your mechanic should notify you when inspecting your brakes if it is time to flush the fluid. However, you can also expect that around every two years or 30,000 miles, you may want to have your brake fluid flushed.

If you are not familiar with flushing your brake system, then you do not want to do this yourself. Stop by a Brake Masters location and find out if it is time to flush your brake fluids with a Tucson brake check.

Tags: Brake Fluid, Brake Flush, Phoenix Brakes Check, Tucson Brake Check
Posted in Brake Repair Tips, Car Fluids Info | 2 Comments »

Win Free Tickets To See Mariah Carey From Brake Masters

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

Be at the Brake Masters on Ray Road (I 10 at Ray Road exit) today, February 16, 2010 from 4 p.m. to 6 pm as we give away 9 pairs of tickets to see Mariah Carey this Saturday night at the Dodge Theater in Phoenix.

MOViN 97.5 and Brake Masters have these hard-to-get tickets and we’re giving them away free. Be at our store on Ray Road and I 10 (5110 East Ray Road) and you could see Mariah Carey free.

Ask about our manager’s specials while you are there and get your oil changed as well!

Tags: free mariah carey tickets, mariah carey, ray road store
Posted in Arizona Store Info | Comments Off

Don’t Miss Out On This Great Drive-Away Special – 4 Free Inspections And An Oil Change For Only $24.95

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

Come out today, February 16^th from 12-2pm, to the Brake Masters Tucson location on Speedway and Pantano. 107.5 KHIT will be doing a remote broadcast to promote our incredible drive-away special!

Today, at our location on Speedway and Pantano in Tucson, AZ, 107.5 KHIT will be joining us for a remote broadcast from 12-2pm! They are coming out to help promote the incredible drive-away specials we are currently offering.

The unbeatable special we are offering includes four (4) additional services with the purchase of a $24.95 oil change! In addition to the oil change, you will receive:

Free Alignment Check
Free Warning Light Check
Free A/C Check
Free Brake Check

Don’t miss out on this great special! Stop by a Brake Masters location today to have your vehicle’s oil changed and drive away with not only that, but 4 other important inspections, all performed for only $24.95!

Tags: giveaway, oil change, Tucson Oil Change
Posted in Arizona Store Info | Comments Off

Do You Need A New Clutch?

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

How to know when you need a new clutch for your vehicle.

If you drive a manual vehicle, every time you drive it, you put wear and tear on the clutch. You put the most wear on the clutch when you start driving from a fully stopped position. So, depending on if you do the majority of your driving on the freeway or on surface streets affects how long your clutch will last. Unlike other parts of your car, you cannot base the lifetime of the clutch on a particular number of miles or the age of the clutch. It varies with each different car and how it is driven. What is important to remember above all is all clutches eventually wear out and it is important to know when you may need a new one. Here are a few ways to tell if you need to replace your clutch.

Next time you are shifting, pay close attention to what you feel in the gear shifter. If you do not feel a lot of resistance or it is much easier to shift than usual, this may be a bad sign. It is not conclusive though, so consider trying other tests as well or taking it in to your mechanic.

While you are driving, pay attention to your RPMs. If you see a large jump in the RPMs but do not feel a lot of acceleration, your clutch might be going bad. You can also listen closely as you are driving, if you are having to increase your RPMs and give it much more gas to make your car go speeds it used to easily reach, this may not be a good sign.

Go to your mechanic for a Phoenix car tune up. If your car is not driving like it used to and you are unsure if your clutch may be going bad, the only guaranteed way to check your clutch is to remove it and check it.

Remember, no matter how you drive, you will be putting wear on your clutch. Pay attention to how your car is driving and if you are at all concerned with whether or not your clutch is going bad, stop in for a Tucson car tune up at a Brake Masters location near you and we will check it out!

Tags: Clutch Problems, Gear Shifter, Manual Transmission, Phoenix Car Tune Up, Tucson Car Tune Up
Posted in Car Repair | 4 Comments »

Extend the Life of Your Vehicle

Friday, February 12th, 2010

Some simple ways you can add years onto the life of your vehicle.

Purchasing a car is a significant investment for most people. To help your vehicle retain value and continue to operate well, you must remember to properly maintain your car with a regular Las Cruces car tune up. Here are a few tips to help keep your car running both safe and smooth for a long time to come.

Stay On Top of Your Maintenance Schedule

Reading your owner’s manual may not be exciting, but it might save you a lot of money in the long run. Read through your owner’s manual and develop a calendar of when particular services need to be performed on your vehicle. This includes a Phoenix oil change, tire rotation and replacement, checking your brakes, fluids, filters, etc. By staying on top of maintenance you will hopefully avoid major problems in the long run. You will be glad you spent a little time developing a schedule in the long run.

Find a Trustworthy, Reliable Mechanic

If you are not knowledgeable when it comes to car maintenance, make sure you go to a repair shop you trust. You will want to ask family, friends and check online reviews to determine which place is best for you. Some companies specialize in working on particular types cars and therefore are familiar with the upkeep and typical issues that arise with that vehicle. If you can find one of these, check their references and consider working with them. Above all, make sure you work with someone whom you trust to offer you fair prices and honest, reliable work.

Check Out Anything Unusual Right Away

If your car is not driving correctly or if you hear it making a funny sound, get to your mechanic as soon as possible. If you wait, the problem may get worse and end up costing a lot more money to fix and it may not be safe to drive.

Remember that you made an investment in your vehicle and in order to retain the value of your car, you need to maintain it properly.

Tags: Car Maintenance, Extend Vehicle Life, Trustworthy Auto Mechanic
Posted in Car Repair | Comments Off

How Does Wheel Alignment Affect Your Vehicle

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

The straight facts on wheel alignment and why it’s important.

All of the elements that determine whether or not your car drives straight are called the alignment. Wheel alignment involves three main measurements. These are caster, camber, and toe. There are standards for each of these measurements and it is best that they are as close to these as possible. With most new cars, you only need to be concerned with adjustments for the toe. That being said, if you are not familiar with wheel alignment, it is best to have this job done by a technician at your next El Paso car tune up.

Caster is the tilt of the steering axis either forward or backward. Caster affects your directional control when steering, but it will not affect the wear on tires. You will especially feel if the caster on your car needs to be corrected when turning.

Camber is the tilting of the wheels in their vertical position when looking at them from the front of the car. If the camber is not correct, the wheels will wear faster on either the inside or outside depending on if they are tilted positively or negatively.

Toe refers to how much the wheels are turned either out or in from a straight ahead position. Toe ensures that the wheels roll parallel. If toe is adjusted improperly you will again face tire wear and also steering instability.

These are just the absolute basics on wheel alignment. What you need to remember above all is that tires are expensive and in order to keep yours from wearing out prematurely, you need to have your alignment checked at least every 10,000 miles. Not only will your car be easier to drive, but you will save yourself money by extending the life of your tires. Make sure your alignment is check at your next Las Cruces car tune up.

Tags: Camber, Caster, Vehicle Alignment, Wheel Alignment
Posted in Tires | 29 Comments »

How To Check Your Tire Pressure

Friday, February 5th, 2010

Learn the right way to check your tire pressure.

Maintaining the proper amount of pressure in your tires will save you both time and money on maintenance and gas.

Checking your tire pressure is something you need to do quite often. Ideally, you should check your tire pressure every month and anytime they appear to be a bit low. Also, any time you intend to drive more than normal (such as on a road trip) you should check your tire pressure prior to leaving and make sure they have the proper amount of air. They should also be checked next time you get a Phoenix car tune up.

The first thing you need in order to check the tire pressure is a tire pressure gauge. You can purchase a tire pressure gauge at any car parts store or most gas stations. Next, it is important to know the amount of pressure your tires should have. This information can be found either in the owner’s manual of your car, or some cars have this information on the driver’s side door jamb. Now that you have this information, you are ready to check your tire pressure.

Begin by unscrewing the cap on the tire air valve and press the tire pressure gauge on it. Keep the tire pressure gauge held firmly against the air valve so all of the air is released into the gauge. Immediately upon pressing the gauge down on the valve, the gauge will read the tire pressure.

If the tires are filled to the correct amount, you simply need to remove the gauge and screw the cap back onto the air valve. If the number is low, you will need to put more air into your tires. Make sure not to overfill your tires!

When your tires have the right amount of air pressure, they wear longer and you will save fuel. So, next time you are getting your Albuquerque car tune up, remember this is good not only for your car, but also for your wallet. You will spend less on gas and repairs.

Tags: Albuquerque Car Tune Up, Tire Air Valve, Tire Pressure
Posted in Tires | 4 Comments »

Synthetic Or Conventional Oil?

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

Find out if you should be using conventional or synthetic oil in your car.

Before synthetic oil was created, people argued about which brand and weight of oil to choose. Now that synthetic oil is also available, you have even more options to sort through to discover which type of oil truly is best for your engine. In order to make the best decision, it is important to know the difference between synthetic and conventional oil before you get your next Tucson oil change.

Conventional oil is rated according to an SAE system. This system allows you to determine the type of oil you will need to use based on the environmental conditions where you live and drive. For instance, a type of conventional oil may be listed as 10W30. The number before the W indicated the viscosity of the oil. The lower the number, the better it is for colder temperatures and the higher the number is, the better it is for hotter temperatures.

Synthetic oil was initially made for military jets and vehicles and was designed to not break down as quickly. Also, it is made to withstand all temperature extremes, both hot and cold. Synthetic oil also has more additives that are meant to protect your engine for a longer amount of time before you have to change it. So, if you drive in extreme conditions, it may be best to use synthetic oil.

Another factor you must consider when choosing is the cost. Synthetic oil can cost up to three or four times as much as conventional oil. However, unlike conventional oil, you can go far longer without an oil change as long as you are changing your oil filter regularly. Remember though, that just because you do not have to have your oil changed as often does not mean you do not need to have to rest of your car checked and maintained regularly.

With regular, everyday driving in average conditions, conventional oil may be best for you. However, if you drive in extreme conditions, be it weather, a lot of short driving (2-20 miles) daily, or any other cause, synthetic may be the best decision for you. Talk with your car maintenance specialists before your next Phoenix oil change if you are still unsure and they will help you determine the best option for you and your car.

Tags: Conventional Oil, Synthetic Oil, Tucson Oil Change
Posted in Oil Change Tips | Comments Off