Did You Know?

BRAKE INSPECTION SERVICE & FLUID FLUSH

HOW OFTEN?

Inspection every 6 months. Brake fluid changes every 3 years or 30,000 miles on all models and at every brake service. * ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR OWNER’S MANUAL

WHY?

The front brakes of most cars do about 65% of the work. Some but not all cars come equipped with “squealers”, or audible wear indicators that let you know when they have reached the end of their service life. The rear brakes are often neglected because they don’t complain when they’re used up. You’ll typically replace the front brakes at about two times the rate of rear brakes, making it easy to forget about them. At every tire rotation or balance, by request, we can inspect the brake linings for wear, remove drums (where applicable) and inspect for leakage and the condition of the hardware (most inspections are free).

With any brake service, I strongly recommend changing the brake fluid. Most new vehicles are equipped with Anti-lock Brake Systems (ABS). Brake fluid is formulated to absorb moisture, which protects against the boiling of the fluid that can lead to brake pedal fade or major brake failure. Brake fluids can reach temperatures in excess of 446 degrees. Over time, the brake fluid becomes contaminated and corrosive to some very expensive parts. In my opinion, it is better to change an inexpensive fluid rather than an expensive part.

WHAT DOES IT COST IF I DO NOT DO IT?

The price of ABS control assemblies, master cylinders, calipers, etc. varies from model to model, so it is hard to give a general estimate. We can say that you could easily incur costs of $1,500 with a typical vehicle, not to mention potential safety issues overtime if old or contaminated fluid is not changed.

DIFFERENTIAL SERVICE & MAINTENANCE

HOW OFTEN?

Every 3 years or 36,000 miles. Sooner depending on vehicle operating conditions and manufacturer recommendations. * ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR OWNER’S MANUAL

WHY?

Rear wheel vehicles are equipped with separate gear cases and lubricants located at the rear axle. If your vehicle has 4-wheel or all wheel “drive”, these gear cases and lubricants are located both in the front and rear. These “drives” are “hypoid” which means that the gears not only rotate against each other, they also wipe across the drive surfaces, creating a shearing force that changes the viscosity of the lubricant. Gear oils are heavy (70 weight or thicker) and many are multi-viscosity just like engine oils (which means the range of thickness of the oil changes with the temperature). A ring and pinion gear set is expensive to buy and expensive to install and requires a highly skilled technician.

In addition to the gear set, there are also bearings in the final drive: two support the drive pinion, two support the case that holds the gear ring and one on each axle nearest the wheel. Because of the forces at work in a final drive, these bearings are installed “pre-loaded” which adds heat and stress to the lubricant that holds them. Additionally, the final drives are vented and can cause condensation or take in water over time, further degrading lubricant performance. Like all lubricants, the common enemies of heat and moisture will cause the oil to lose its ability to protect the gears and bearings. This is a relatively inexpensive service which can save you from costly ring and pinion (differential) replacement.

WHAT DOES IT COST IF I DO NOT DO IT?

A full differential rebuild will run in the vicinity of $1,200 each. If you completely destroy the axle, it can run over $2,800 for the front or $2,500 for the rear axles. A major repair of the transfer case can easily cost $2,000.

POWER STEERING FLUID CHANGES

HOW OFTEN?

Every three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. * ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR OWNER’S MANUAL

WHY?

Fluids are used to lubricate, cool and protect the parts they surround. When a fluid wears out due to the effects of heat or moisture absorption, the characteristics that made it a good lubricant, coolant or protectant no longer exist. Power steering fluids are exposed to pressures of up to a ton-per-square-inch. Additionally, power steering hydraulics are a closed system of relatively small capacity that are in constant recirculation. All the pumping needed to keep the fluid in motion heats the oil and accelerates its breakdown. Like all oils, power steering fluid contains additives that are depleted with use, and once these additives are gone, the fluid won’t maintain seals, or keep the pump and rack system (steering) lubricated properly. This can result in leaks that may shorten power steering pump life or steering gear failures.

This service is another that you might not have been doing on older cars. I recommend it for the same reasons I recommend all periodic fluid changes – I am a big believer in spending a little money on a schedule that you can control, as opposed to spending a lot of money unexpectedly. Modern variable power assist systems and much improved manufacturing techniques mean that while power steering systems are more robust than ever before, they require clean, fresh oils to prevent premature failures.

TIRE MAINTENANCE

HOW OFTEN?

A tire rotation should be done at 6,000-mile intervals (or every other oil change), a wheel alignment and tire balance should be done once a year. These are the maximum recommended intervals…some high performance, all wheel or front wheel drive vehicles and snow tires may require more frequent care. Proper inflation (air pressure) is an absolute necessity and should be checked once per month.

WHY?

SAFETY and reduced operating costs. All tires wear at different rates, depending on wheel location, wear induced by torque, front suspension, steering movements and air pressure. On a right hand turn, the car swings through a short arc and the inside tire has a much tighter radius than the outside tire, causing a “scrub” or sideways skip in the right front. On a left turn, you are sweeping through a much greater overall arc, with less tire scrub on either front tire. Tire scrub will cause a wavy surface in the tread, most noticeable on the tire edges. In short, the wear patterns of a tire will vary dramatically depending on its wheel location, as well as year, make, model, alignment and air pressure. It is this wear, the change in tire shape and weight that necessitates rebalancing. Moving the tires to a different location and rebalancing them periodically, equalizes variations and causes the wear pattern for all tires to remain uniform.

As for alignment, the major angles are caster, camber and toe. An improperly aligned car can destroy a set of tires in just a few thousand miles. A once-a-year check by a trained technician allows a full steering and suspension inspection and adjustments to the front and rear suspension. Springs and rubber bushings settle or shift, steel and nylon parts wear and the ride height changes. These all effect alignment settings.

This service is another that you might not have been doing on older cars. I recommend it for the same reasons I recommend all periodic fluid changes –I am a big believer in spending a little money on a schedule that you can control, as opposed to spending a lot of money unexpectedly. Modern variable power assist systems and much improved manufacturing techniques mean that while power steering systems are more robust than ever before, they require clean, fresh oils to prevent premature failures.

TRANSMISSION SERVICE & FLUID FLUSH

HOW OFTEN?

Every 36 months or 50,000 miles whichever comes first (*most vehicles). The change interval I recommend is moderate, and is based on our observations of vehicles over the years. * ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR OWNER’S MANUAL

WHY?

Unlike engine oil, transmission oils do not become contaminated with combustion byproducts and that is why the service interval is so much longer. Still transmission fluid is subject to tremendous amounts of heat and shear, and will fail over time as the viscosity changes and the additives are used up. The factory recommended intervals vary depending on the amount of city driving you do and whether or not you do any towing. Drain intervals as low as 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first, may apply. Ask us to make sure you are within recommended limits based on your use and manufacture’s recommendations. Transmission oils are specially formulated and contain additives that dramatically prolong seal and clutch material life. There are many types available today and misapplication can cause transmission damage quickly.

WHAT DOES IT COST IF I DO NOT DO IT?

A transmission failure is inconvenient and expensive. The vehicle will be out of service for the better part of a week and total cost of replacement can easily run anywhere from $1000 to over $4,000 depending on the year, make and model of your vehicle.