Cheap Towing Bakersfield
Tire Repair Bakersfield CA
This last post wraps up our topic on how to stay safe while on the road by implementing steps in keeping your vehicle in great shape. Julie Sussman, et al (Dare To Repair Your Car) does a great job in summarizing the essential information on this topic. Here's an excerpt below. As always you count on our tow truck Bakersfield to rescue you!
There are three things you can do to ensure that a rotation is done correctly every time: (I) have it serviced by a reputable mechanic; (2) know the rotation pattern that's right for your car (located in the car owner's manual); and (3) use chalk to mark on the sidewalls the current location of each tire before the wheels are rotated.
DIY
Using the chalk, mark FR for front right, FL for front left, RR for right rear, and LR for left rear. Check the markings on each tire after the rotation is done to see if the mechanic used the correct rotation pattern for your car; if not, talk to the service manager about the problem.
Balancing Tires
Balancing tires is not a DIY project. In fact, a highly sensitive machine is used to calculate if the weight is evenly distributed across each tire, and if not, where and how much weight is needed. If a tire's weight is spread unevenly, the tread will not wear properly, causing the car to vibrate.
What It Is
If you're told that a tire needs to be balanced, it means that it is heavier in one part than another. To fix the problem, the mechanic will add some weights to the wheel. Tires come balanced on new cars, and really only need to be balanced again if you buy new tires, or if you notice your car is vibrating.
Common Problems
If the front of your car shakes at a certain speed (typically between 50 and 70 mph), it could mean that one or more tires need to be balanced. If you feel the vibration in the driver's seat, the rear tires may need to be balanced. If the front of the car vibrates at any speed, then one of the tires may be out-of-round, which means that it needs to be replaced, or there is an alignment problem.
Aligning Wheels
Driving a car that’s out of alignment is like using a grocery cart that has one evil wheel that won’t let you push it straight. You can go get a different cart, but with a car, it’s much more practical to get the tires aligned.
What It Is
Proper alignment of wheels requires positioning them so that they're each lined up in the same direction, are perpendicular to the ground, and are parallel to each other and to the center of the car.
Your car is either going to require a front-wheel alignment or a 4-wheel alignment. The difference is exactly what you would assume it is – either just the two front wheels are aligned or all four wheels are aligned. It seems that it is just common sense to have all of them aligned, but some cars do not have adjustable rear-alignment settings. Most cars, as well as 4-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive vehicles, can have a 4-wheel alignment. If you're not sure, refer to the car owner's manual or contact the dealership or car manufacturer.
Common Problems
Sometimes it's really obvious when your car's wheels need to be aligned, like when the car pulls to one side or starts to shimmy while you're driving. A less-obvious sign that you won't notice unless you're looking for it is uneven treadwear. To check for uneven wear, use the treadwear test (see "Testing the Tire's Tread," page 116). If you notice either or both of these patterns of wear on your tires, these are signs that your car's wheels need an alignment.
You don't need to wait for any problems to arise to get an alignment. A good preventive maintenance tip is to have the wheels aligned every 12,000 miles or after the tires are rotated. And be sure to have them aligned immediately after hitting a pothole or running over a curb.
If a tire is vibrating, and it's not flat, it could be that the wheel is not aligned, the Lire is not properly balanced, or the wheel is bent. You need to get the problem fixed immediately."
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