Let’s Talk about Your Vehicle’s Shoes

There are more makes and models of cars on the road today than ever before. Regardless of their size, shape, or manufacturer, one thing every car, truck, and SUV has in common is that they all have “shoes.” 

By shoes, we mean the tires, brakes, shocks, and struts. These are very important items that not only stop your vehicle but keep it safe and comfortable as you are driving. 

When it comes to safety, perhaps nothing is more important than your car’s shoes. 

Let’s spend a few minutes discussing what these vital parts do and why you should care. 

All About Brakes 

Everyone wants to have a good set of brakes, and the most obvious part of the braking system is the brake pads and/or shoes. 

Nearly all modern cars today use brake pads and rotors, but if you have an older vehicle, it might have disc brake pads on the front and what is called drum brakes on the rear. 

If you have ever looked inside a rim and seen what appears to be a bright, shiny metal disc, you were looking at the brake rotor, sometimes called the brake disc. 

When you step on the brake pedal, the brake calipers, which hold the pads in place, press the brake pads against the rotor, making your vehicle stop. 

The brake pads are the first thing to wear and depending on your driving conditions and habits, a good set of brake pads should last between 25,000 and 65,000 miles. 

Over time, the brake rotor will develop wear and grooves. To remove these grooves, the rotor is removed and “turned”, which means that a very fine layer of metal is removed to make the disc smooth again. This not only makes your brake pedal feel more stable, but it reduces noise and makes the pads wear more evenly. 

After the disc has been turned once or twice, it often needs to be replaced because it has become too thin. 

It’s always a good idea to have your trusted mechanic at Hong Kong Auto Service inspect the brakes every time the wheels are off, such as when you change from winter to summer tires. 

Time for Tire Talk

Our cars rely on tires more than most people realize. This is even more true with an electric vehicle. 

While many drivers believe that long tread life is the most important thing to consider when shopping for tires, the truth is that tires that have long tread warranties are often much less flexible, so they don’t grip the road as well. 

High traction tires improve performance by gripping the road well when you make fast turns, but this grip also causes them to wear out faster. 

The type of tire you need will depend on your driving habits and the type of car/truck/SUV you own. 

Trucks and SUVs will need heavier tires due to the weight of the vehicle itself and the loads that they carry. 

If you aren’t sure about the condition of your tires or what type of tire you may need, speak to the experts at Hong Kong Auto Service. We can help you pick the right type of tires and at a price that will work for your pocketbook. 

Real Talk about Shocks and Struts

It seems as though everyone, even new drivers, knows about the importance of good tires and brakes, but when was the last time you thought about the shocks and/or struts on your vehicle? 

These parts are essential for not only comfortable driving but to keep your family safe while driving. Shocks and struts are some of the main pieces that connect the chassis of your vehicle to the frame. 

If you’ve ever seen a car from the rear bouncing madly, as if it were dancing, you were looking at very worn-out shocks or struts. 

Many cars today use struts on the front of the vehicle and shocks on the rear, but it’s not unusual to see vehicles with struts both in front and back or older cars that have shocks all the way around. 

Struts and shocks keep your vehicle balanced and stable. You can expect most struts to last about 75-100,000 miles and shocks can last about half of that. 

It’s always a good idea to have these items inspected, however, since road debris or even hitting a large pothole can cause damage. 

If your vehicle bottoms out when you back out of a driveway, if it dips in the front when braking, or if the car feels as if it’s swaying back and forth as you drive, it’s time to let the professionals at Hong Kong Auto Service inspect your vehicle’s shocks and/or struts. 

Keeping It All Aligned

If you’ve ever been told that your car needed a front-end alignment (often simply referred to as an alignment) you may have said yes, even though you weren’t sure what that was. 

In order to let your car make turns, there are a great many suspension parts that make up the front suspension. All these parts need to be in good repair and properly aligned so that the car drives straight and the tires wear evenly. 

 Every time you hit a pothole, run over something in the road or hit a curb, you can knock the front end out of alignment. 

If your steering wheel doesn’t stay straight or if it doesn’t return to you with no effort when making a turn, if your tires are worn out on the inside or the outside but the rest of the tread is fine, or if your steering wheel vibrates or moves when you hit a bump, chances are that the front end needs to be realigned. 

Sometimes, in order to properly keep the front end aligned, certain suspension parts may need to be replaced. Also, when you buy new tires, most mechanics will recommend that you have the front end aligned so that it won’t ruin your expensive new tire investment. 

The Bottom Line

If you aren’t sure about your vehicle’s shoes, now would be a great time to have them inspected at Hong Kong Auto Service. 

Our ASE-certified mechanics will be happy to inspect your vehicle and explain what, if any, repairs need to be made and why. 

You can trust the professionals at Hong Kong Auto Service. We live in your neighborhood, and we’ve been proudly helping our customers keep their cars safely on the road for nearly 25 years!

We understand how important your vehicle is to your busy life, which is why we offer shuttle rides and loaner cars! 

At Hong Kong Auto Service, we also offer a 3-year, 36,000-mile warranty on nearly every repair. Ask us for details. 

Call us today for an appointment and show your ride some love by having its shoes inspected today!