Some vehicles have disc brakes on the front and drum brakes on the rear. A thorough brake inspection will uncover any maintenance or repair issues that need to be addressed to keep you stopping safely. If you are hearing unusual sounds when you brake or if your pedal is too hard to push or has a mushy feel, bring it in for a brake inspection right away. AtKendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center in Woodway we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at254.753.2491 and let us help keep you safely and economically on the road.
Cooling system failure is the most common mechanical failure. The results can range from inconvenient to extremely expensive. You can head off most cooling system problems with regular coolant replacement and cooling system inspections. If you see green, amber or yellow fluid under your vehicle, bring it in for an inspection. At Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center in Woodway we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 254.753.2491 and let us help keep you safely and economically on the road.
It’s easy to take your suspension system for granted, but normal wear and tear can affect your handling and safety. A worn suspension part starts a chain reaction that stresses other parts and causes them – and your tires – to wear prematurely. Let us help you take care of your suspension. At Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center in Woodway we installquality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 254.753.2491 and let us help keep you safely and economically on the road.
You should never open your radiator pressure cap or coolant overflow bottle when your engine is hot. Hot coolant and steam can cause severe burns. Check your owner’s manual, or ask you service advisor about when you should have yourcoolant replaced. At Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center in Woodway we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 254.753.2491 and let us help keep you safely and economically on the road.
Shock absorbers and struts last a long time and wear out pretty slowly for most trucks and other autos in the Hewitt area. They’re easy to take for granted, but your shocks and struts do a very important job so you need to pay attention to them. They keep your tires on the road; and your tires are what connect your vehicle to the road and allow you to safely handle your car through turns, over bumps and even stop in time.
When your shocks and struts are worn, your tires bounce excessively over bumps in our Hewitt roads. Your vehicle will wallow through corners; your front-end will dive when you stop; and your rear-end will squat when you accelerate. All this hurts your ability to control your vehicle. And your ride just isn’t as comfortable.
Worn shocks or struts cause excessive tire wear so you’ll have to replace your tires sooner than you should. Worn shocks and struts also stresses other suspension and steering parts causing them to wear prematurely. Struts are actually a major structural component of the suspension system; there’s a lot riding on them.
Replacing worn shocks and struts saves money in the long run for our local Hewitt drivers – and of course you can’t really put a price on your safety and that of your passengers. We generally recommend replacing shocks and struts at 50,000 miles.
When it’s time for new shocks or struts, we’ve got you covered in Hewitt. We can give you back the ride and handling of a new vehicle. And if you have special needs we can help you there too. We have premium shocks and struts that’ll improve your performance. We can even help you with upgraded, heavy-duty shocks that’ll give you the confidence you need to handle those big towing or hauling jobs.
Experts recommend replacing all four shocks at the same time so that handling is even at each wheel.
If you need new shocks or struts, let us help you take care of this important safety service. You’ll feel better, and you’ll save money on tires and other suspension repairs down the road.
You can find us online at Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center, or you can find us in Woodway, TX 76712 at 6025 Woodway Drive. Or simply give us a call at 254.753.2491.
At Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center in Woodway TX we install quality NAPA replacement parts.
The following Cabin Air Filter video is presented by Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center:
The following Cabin Air Filter animation is presented by Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center:
Let’s talk about cabin air filters. There seems to be some confusion about them in Hewitt that we should be able to clear up. Much of the confusion starts because cabin air filters are relatively new. Not all vehicles in Hewitt have them, so some people confuse their cabin air filter with the engine air filter.
Every vehicle in TX has an engine air filter that cleans the air going into the engine, but not all have a cabin air filter that cleans the air going into the passenger compartment. Easy to get mixed up.
The cabin air filter cleans out dust, pollen, spores and other pollutants. To give a point of comparison, a grain of sand is about 200 microns across. A cabin air filter can stop particles that are just 3 microns in size. It really does make the passenger cabin a much more pleasant environment.
When the cabin air filter gets dirty, you just need to replace it. Your owner’s manual may have a recommended interval for changing it. If not we can inspect it. You know, it’s ironic that many people who don’t realize they even have a cabin air filter first find out they do when it starts to get smelly.
Some cabin air filters are very easy to access when it’s time to replace them. Others, not so much. We may have to get behind the dashboard and it takes some time.
A clean cabin air filter keeps out smog, allergens and other harmful pollutants. If it’s time, get it changed right away.
Everyone likes to save money on gas. But cheap no-brand gas may not contain enough detergent additives to keep yourfuel system clean. Major brand gas may cost a few cents more per gallon, but it can help prevent expensive fuel system repairs down the road. At Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center in Woodway we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 254.753.2491 and let us help keep you safely and economically on the road.
They say timing is everything. That’s doubly true when it comes to your timing belt. First, your timing belt keeps your valves operating in time with your engine so that it runs properly. Second, if you replace your timing belt on schedule, you’ll likely avoid the downtime and expense that can result from a broken or slipping timing belt. At Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center in Woodway we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 254.753.2491 and let us help keep you safely and economically on the road.
The following Drum Brakes video is presented by Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center:
The following Drum Brakes animation is presented by Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center:
Brakes that work properly are essential to your safety as you drive and stop on our Woodway streets. You want to carefully maintain your brakes. In vehicles equipped with drum brakes, the brake components are housed inside a drum that rotates with the wheel. When you step on the brake pedal, brake shoes push out against the inside of the drum, slowing the wheel.
Now brake shoes just wear away with use from rubbing on the drum as you brake. When it’s time to replace brake shoes, it’s a straight-forward repair.
If you hear squealing or grinding when braking, have your Woodway service advisor check them out. He’ll have a technician perform a thorough brake inspection to see what needs to be done. He’ll check for signs of brake problems and go over other brake components to see that they’re working properly.
He can tell you if it’s time to replace the brake shoes or if there are other issues with your brakes that should be addressed. Some people in our Woodway community ignore the warning signs and keep driving long after the shoes are completely worn out. When that happens, metal brake components will grind against the drum, damaging it enough that it has to be resurfaced or replaced.
When you push on your brake pedal, the wheel cylinder is activated and it pushes the shoes against the drum to slow the vehicle. This cylinder, and various springs within the brake, can wear out affecting your ability to stop. The worn components can be easily replaced.
The new brake shoes we put on your truck or other vehicle will restore your brakes to manufacturers’ specifications. Or, we can install upgraded parts to increase your stopping power and reduce brake noise and brake dust. We have several options to meet your braking requirements and your budget.
Taking care of your brakes keeps them working safely – and you could prevent premature brake repairs down the road.
At Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center in Woodway TX we install quality NAPA replacement parts.
The following Power Brakes video is presented by Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center:
The following Power Brakes animation is presented by Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center:
Basically, the power brake system helps you provide braking power so that you don’t have to do all the work with your brake pedal.
The brakes themselves are applied at the wheel using hydraulic pressure. When we step on the brake pedal, we create pressure in the power booster that’s multiplied by vacuum from the engine. The resulting pressure pushes brake fluidthrough the master cylinder into tubes and hoses that run to the brake at each wheel.
When there’s a problem, it’s usually a fluid leak somewhere along the line. It could be at a fitting or a hose, or even an internal leak in the master cylinder. A leak gives the pressurized fluid somewhere to go other than to the brakes, so stopping power is hurt. Lose enough fluid and you can’t stop at all. Of course that’s extremely dangerous.
If you notice any decrease in stopping power or if your pedal seems mushy, you could have a problem. There are some preventive maintenance items for the power brake system that will help them last longer.
Obviously you’d want to make sure your brake fluid is filled to the recommended level. Low fluid in the master cylinder could indicate a leak or worn brake material. Master cylinder leaks are usually just because it’s worn out but, leaks in the brake lines and connectors can be minimized by replacing the brake fluid from time to time. Brake fluid has additives that protect against corrosion that can damage brake components.
Brake fluid also attracts moisture which can lead to rust – not a good thing for expensive anti-lock brake components. Also, significant amounts of water in the brake fluid can affect stopping power because the water has a much lower boiling point than brake fluid. In the high temperature environment of the brake system, the water can vaporize – and steam doesn’t do a very good job of providing hydraulic pressure.
A final word – make sure you use the recommended type of brake fluid. There are several kinds and using the wrong one can lead to total brake failure. Your Hewitt service advisor at Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center can help you. Just give us a call at 254.753.2491.
At Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center in Woodway TX we install quality NAPA replacement parts.
