Times-Advocate, 1996-04-24, Page 145
Times -Advocate, April 24,1996 Page 1
CAW AZ/A.5CW
Bargain brake service is
not total brake service
Car own-
ers are of-
ten tempted
to take ad-
-vantage of
"S49.95
specials" or
other low-priced offers when their
auto's brakes need repair. Such spe-
cials may look good, but they
won't sound good when the brakes
are back to squealing or pulling a
few months down the road.
Auto technicians say that's be-
cause the specials generally don't
include a complete examination of
what can go wrong with the brakes.
Most times, says Ned Lineback,
senior training specialist for Wag-
ner Brake, car owners will get what
is called a "hang and turn" - putting
on new brake pads and turning the
rotors to give them a flat, clean
braking surface.
"Some shops will call the adver-
tised special an 'eight -point' brake
job," he says. "Usually the clue in
the ads is that there is much use of
the word 'inspect,' rather than 're-
place' or 'rebuild.' When you get a
complete brake job, you'll find that
the calipers may have been rebuilt,
wheel cylinders replaced, new
hardware installed and bearings
packed or replaced, in addition to
the service that is usually included
in the 'hang and turn' jobs."
Another thing to keep in mind,
says Lineback: The advertised price
is often for one axle and not alt four
wheels. Settling for the inspection
of just the front or rear axle may
not cover. problems occurring else-
where in the brake system.
Car owners should insist on com-
plete brake service for their vehi-
cles, says Lineback. "Getting the
brake fluid flushed and replaced is
cheap insurance compared to get-
ting a $1,000 -plus modulator put on
an anti-lock brake system," he says.
"S nneti.mns..the service peop,.
are ilirlt eblllyk , : , , .
•
service because they've had to
compete with 'hang and turn' pric-
es, but a good mechanic will tell
you what needs to be replaced and
why."
Fred Radae, Wagner Brake train-
ing specialist, says there is no regu-
lar time frame or mileage interval
at which thorough brake service
should be performed. "If you go to
a reputable shop, they'll usually in-
spect your brakes free .of charge,"
he says. "Most people don't come
in until there is an unusual noise or
braking action, which can turn out
to be more expensive than catching
problems before they happen."
Radae lists the following top sev-
en brake -problem symptoms:
1. Grinding noises can be signs
of worn pads or shoe linings. Delay
in replacing pads or shoes can dam-
age expensive drums and rotors, re-
quiring their replacement.
2. Brake squeal may also be a
sign of dragging shoes or pads,
which can result in poor gas mite -
age, premature wear of linings and
damage to drums or rotors.
3. Brake chatter and pedal pul-
sadon can indicate a warped rotor
or drum surface.
4. `Bottoming out" of your ped-
al can indicate a fluid teak or mas-
ter cylinder problem.
5. Unreliable and inconsistent
stopping or grabbing brakes are
often signs of a leaking caliper,
master cylinder or wheel cylinder.
If this goes on unrepaired, it could
cause at least a partial failure of the
braking system.
6. A soft pedal or excessive ped-
al effort can mean any one of sev-
eral problems, including a leak in
the hydraulic system, low fluid lev-
el or a failed brake booster. Your
car should be taken to a profession-
al mechanic for a Total Brake Ser-
vice inspection and an explanation
of necessary services and repairs.
7. Excessive pad wear could be
the result of the wrong friction ma-
terial grade for your vehicle or type
of driving. Towing or heavy haul-
ing wears pads out faster than nor-
mal driving. This also applies to
driving in hilly or mountainous are-
as and making quick or sudden
stops. A premium -quality pad or
shoe should be installed for these
conditions.
Restore fuel infection to 100%
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) is a
not-for-profit trade organization with approximately
12,000 professional automotive service businesses
throughout the United States and several other
countries. Members may be identified by the
distinctive red, white and blue ASA sign.
(NAPS) --Here's some good news for motorists. A
fuel -injector cleaner was developed that cleans,
lubricates, conditions and restores any type of fuel
injection system to 100 -percent operating efficiency.
Unlike many types of car maintenance, cleaning your
fuel injection system is an easy, inexpensive way to
maintain engine performance.
The combination of hotter -running engines, higher -
octane gasolines containing cleaners and detergents
and environmental conditions produces carbon
deposits throughout the fuel injection system. These
deposits restrict the proper fuel flow and lead to
decreased performance.
Engine performance can be improved by following
three easy steps:
1. Pour half a bottle of concentrated Blaster Fuel
Injector Cleaner into the gas tank.
2. Fill the tank with gas.
3. Drive away.
Within two -to -four miles of highway driving, your
fuel system will be restored to 100 -percent operating
efficiency! A unique formulation eliminates the
carbon deposits to restore proper fuel injection flow
rates. The product is safe to use on all types of fuel
injected engines.
Experts report the cleaner keeps feed ports and tips
clean, in balance and clog -free. Traditional fuel
injector cleaners contain harmful alcohols (ethanol
and methanol) that evaporate, leaving the injector tips
dry and vulnerable to increasing temperatures.
Blaster Fuel Injector Cleaner does not contain
Sharing the
road with
motorcycles
Learning to
share the
road with
motorcycles
can help put
automobile
drivers on the road to safety.
Here are some tips that can
help drivers prevent accidents:
• Keep a conscious eye out
for motorcycles in traffic, espe-
cially when crossing an inter-
section.
• Give the motorcyclist the
whole lane even though the
motorcycle only takes up a por-
tion of a lane. Motorcyclists
may ride in the left, center or
right portions of the lane to
avoid oil or potholes, or to be
seen.
It's important to remember
that motorcyclists have the
same rights on the highway as
other vehicle operators. Please
v safel
QIie Ycui Cai PliaI
• Air Conditioning
• Undercoating
• General Repairs
• Tune-ups
• Brakes • Tires
MON ROE=
SHOCK ABSORBERS
BUY 3 GET ONE FREE
TR JIlER ITCH
Wirff r1r1rnliMpii
KYLE'S SHELL SERVICE
78 London Rd. Hensall. Ontario
r ,1 " ?`12-2832
Vic Romps! from Exeter Toyota inspects a disc brake on a
Camry. Your vehicle's brakes should be Inspected every
12,000 kms.
Preserve car value, useenuin
�' a parts
Do imita-
tion "crash
parts" real-
ly provide
the value
and quality
to vehicle
owners that some insurance compa-
nies claim?
A recent study by Alliance of
American Insurers (AAI) may mis-
lead consumers about automotive
repair costs and the quality of crash
parts used to repair their vehicles.
"Crash parts" are the exterior sheet
metal and plastic components, such
as bumpers, fenders, hoods and
doors, most frequently damaged in
accidents.
The AAI study claims that com-
pletely rebuilding a Ford Taurus
would cost $62,000 if each Ford
part was purchased separately. AAI
therefore concludes that the cost of
genuine crash parts - those made by
vehicle manufacturers - is too high.
In an effort to reduce insurance in-
dustry costs, AAI encourages the
use of imitation crash parts - unau-
thorized copies of vehicle manufac-
turer parts.
The insurance industry specifical-
ly promotes the use of imitation
parts endorsed by the Certified Au-
tomotive Parts Association
(CAPA), which was created and is
subsidized by insurers to put an ap-
proval "seal" on imitations.
Even if imitation crash parts were
used, the cost of rebuilding any ve-
hicle - or any complex mechanical
item - would be higher than the ve-
hicle's
hicle's suggested retail price be-
' cause of the nun a ous efficiencies
made As an possible the
time the
AAI used a Ford vehicle in the
study, Ford calculated that the total
price for a washing machine was
7.6 times t)igher than the washer's
price, compared to 3.9 times for all may not be covered by your vehi-
parts for the vehicle in question, cle's original warranty.
Annual surveys have consistently
found that the majority of consu-
mers prefer genuine crash parts,
and are even willing to pay more
for them. Body shops prefer to use
genuine parts because of their su-
perior fit and finish. The body shop
surveys also reveal that if insurance
companies didn't pressure body
shops to use imitations, their use
would drop 60 percent.
As a vehicle owner, it's up to you
whether imitation crash pants pro-
vide the value you need when it
comes to collision repair. Protect
your interests by being involved in
the collision repair process, and ask
whether genuine or imitation parts
have been specified. Imitation parts
may be identified on your repair es-
timates by the terms "like kind and
quality," "economy," "aftermarket"
or "quality replacement" parts.
If you choose to have imitation
parts installed on your vehicle, or if
you learn after the fact that imita-
It is also important to note that
imitation parts are not always avail-
able for every vehicle. Interesting-
ly, when AAI prepared its study of
the Ford Taurus, no CAPA-
certified parts existed for the vehi-
cle.
Use of imitation crash parts
might actually cost consumers
more in the long run. Poor fit, sub-
standard finish, compromised struc-
tural integrity and insufficient cor-
rosion resistance could reduce re-
sale value.
In addition, imitation parts are
not covered by vehicle manufactur-
er warranties. When Ford genuine
crash parts are used, Ford's warran-
ties remain in effect. Warranties for
imitation crash parts are generally
less comprehensive. Some cover
costs for replacement parts only,
and exclude labour charges. Some
require that repairs be made at the
same shop that completed the origi-
nal repair. Others limit the cover-
age term to five years. And, if imi- Iron parts were used, immediately
tation parts are installed, secondary report any problems with the parts
damage to other areas of your car to Your insurance agent.
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