October 25th, 2009 by engineering magazines
Its Monday again and the weekend is over. How was this weekend for you and did you drive a lot? Was it a smooth drive or you faced some problems with the brakes of your car. You must have felt the change if you have followed the DIY tips to change your car’s brake pads.
Brake system form an essential part of an automotive engine. Regular maintenance and check of car brakes is very important in order to ensure your safety on road. There are a number of problems that you might have faced with car brakes. Lets discuss some of the common ones.
Wear of the Brakes – One of the most common problem is the wear of car brakes. This is obvious and natural coz auto brakes are frequently used and do a lot of work. The brake pads of your car are consequently working hard as well. This leads to the wear of the brakes.
Squeaking or Grinding – Excessive usage of brake pads leads to their wearing down. You might notice brake problems like squealing or increased stopping distance. Most of the cars have brake pads with a thin metal tab. When you brake pads wears down, this tab vibrates against the rotor which might damage it.
Sounds of Wear Indicators – At times, the dust of brakes can be the reason behind some kind of sound or squeaking. This is a minor problem with the brake system and you can easy do without it by cleaning the dust. Using a brake cleaner spray is an easy way to do so.
Rotors Might Warp – Often, you yourself must have felt the problem of facing warped rotor or heard you neighbour facing this problem with his new car. Warping of rotor is a common problem which might happen because of overheating. The other reason for warped rotors can be incorrect tightening of the wheel.
Thin Rotor Wrap Easily – I have heard a number of car users facing warped rotors problem with their new cars. This is so because the he new cars have thin rotors that get warped easily. This problem can be rectified by repairing the rotors or by replacing them. Please ensure that you consult an experienced car mechanic before doing so. It is also important that you should understand how brake system work.
Loose Lug Nuts After Repair – This is crucial and can be dangerous also. If you have got your car brakes repaired and the lug nuts are not tightened, it can damage your car brakes. Ensure that the nuts are tightened evenly so that the rotor doesn’t warp. It is important that the care repair mechanic uses a torque wrench.
These were some of the common problems that you often face with your car brakes. A little care and few preventive measures will help you avoid these problems easily. We’ll find out few preventive measures and DIY tips to keep the car brakes and the entire automotive brake system of our car functioning at its best.
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July 8th, 2009 by engineering magazines
Your car may be one of the possessions that you rely on every day; to get to and from work, to collect your weekly grocery shopping or just to visit friends and family.
Keeping it in tip-top condition should therefore be high on your priority list so you avoid inconvenient breakdowns or problems.
Keeping your car in check also makes it safer for you and your passengers when you’re out and about. When it comes to selling your car in the future you may also find that a well kept vehicle will sell for a higher price, so there are numerous benefits to carrying out a spot of regular car maintenance.
When it comes to safety you need to make sure your tyre threads aren’t wearing too thin, so periodically check their thickness – there are specific tools you can purchase to help you do this. In Britain it is a legal requirement to have a tyre thread thickness of at least 1.6mm so use this as a guide.
Rotation is another useful tyre maintenance tip. Uneven tyre treads can result in uneven braking and poor handling. To avoid this simply start rotating your tyres; especially on front wheel drive cars where the front tyres wear faster. You should also check your tyres on a weekly basis for any wear, tears or bulges – and don’t forget to include the spare tyre as you never know when you might need it.
Engine oil is another safety essential that needs to be regularly maintained. If you were to run out of engine oil it would probably mean the end of your engine and a very costly bill to pay before your car was back on the road again. Keeping engine oil levels topped up should be one of your main priorities when it comes to car maintenance.
To check the oil level of your car, make sure the car has fully cooled down and always have the engine switched off. Locate the engine oil dipstick, remove it and wipe it clean in order to get an accurate reading. If levels are running low then get yourself to the nearest garage and top-up immediately.
It is also an idea to keep your car as clean as possible – especially during the winter months when salt is used on the roads – to help protect the paintwork. You can invest in all sorts of car cleaning tools from alloy cleaner to wax polish that won’t leave unwanted scratches behind.
What’s more, if you are trying to keep an eye on your budget then parking your car in a garage can protect it from any natural elements that could cause damage, whilst also helping to lower the cost of your car insurance cover at the same time.
As you can see, taking care of your car does not have to be a chore and from doing so there is potentially a lot to be gained.
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May 29th, 2009 by engineering magazines
Apart from safety in driving, the other important factor is to maintenance of the
car properly.
You must have to follow the rules of the maintenance to keep the car according to the owner’s manual given with the booklet incase you are buying new car.
Here are the tips to keep your car in ever-ready condition:1. The first thing is you need to change in engine oil at certain mileage according to guideline of the car owner’s manual.
2. The second thing is change in the engine oil according to the car owner’s manual. It is better you can use the branded engine oil for your car and always use same brand for your car. If you replace engine oil by you, you must have to use dipstick to know the level of oil. You must have to wait till oil pour down. It is better you must have to check the oil level and once your oil tank get full close the tank with oil filler cap.
3. Use of transmission fluid is very important. It is important to use the transmission fluid from the same company. Set the transmission at P level and start engine. You must have to diagnoses your engine condition as well as fluid condition. You must have to replace the fluid if it black.
4. You must have to keep a coolant level of your engine. It is show as full or Low. If you find Full than it will be all right but if you find low than you must have to make it full. If your car marks no overflow tank or often get full than you must have to check it in the service station. Please not the low coolant level will damage engine.
5. You must have to regularly check the air pressure on the air station or you can buy tire pressure gauge to measure the air pressure. Please refer the owner manual to gauge the tire pressure. It is also essential to balance your tire at wheel balancing center and align the tire properly. Improper alignment causes increased tire and suspension units wear and poor handling. Improper alignment may cause accident.
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Tags: Auto Brakes, Automotive Maintenance, Brake Pads, Car Brakes, Car Users, Diy Tips, Excessive Usage, Leads, Lot, Metal Tab, New Car, New Cars, Reason, Rotor, S Brake, Stopping Distance, Thin Metal, Warp, Warped Rotors, Wheel
