Nick's Auto Advice Newsletter -  August 2010
 

		Current News - Repair and Consumer News and Views
		Nick's Tip of the Month -  Get The Facts on Shocks and Struts
		Just For Fun - Car Games
		Just For Fun - Video
		$$ Special of the Month $$

Get The Facts on Shocks and Struts

» Shocks and struts are two of the most important safety features on your vehicle: both work to reduce the bounce of a car as it travels down the road. Excessive bouncing can make it difficult to turn and stop, which means that it will be difficult to drive your car safely. You wouldn’t drive with squealing brakes or bald tires, and you should consider worn shocks in the same way.

» You should have your shocks checked out by a professional after your first 50,000 miles, and every 12,000 miles after that. Any time you have your brakes checked, have the shop look over your suspension as well. At a minimum, you should have your shocks examined at least once a year.

» Some common signs that your shocks might need replacing include excessive bounce, front end dip when stopping, steering wheel vibration, uneven wear on tires and wheels, or noticeable drift in the wind.

» A shock absorber is a unit in which spring & bump stopper are arranged concentric (rather coaxial) with the damper to save space required for separate installation of each.

Under normal conditions, shocks & struts wear out gradually. However, many factors can affect how much wear is actually occurring and at what rate it is occurring. For example, 2 people buy the same vehicle new off the dealer lot . . . one lives in the city close to the office, and drives mostly on straight roads. The other lives in the country, 45 miles from the office and must travel 10 of those miles on a winding, often muddy gravel road. Because shocks operate in extremely hostile under-vehicle environment, where anything from gravel to ice, and snow to grit can affect the life of the product, it is a good bet that driver #2 will need to replace his shocks long before driver #1. The piston rod can easily be nicked or damaged by flying gravel allowing grit and dirt to damage the piston seal. When this occurs, fluid begins to leak from the piston seal and eventually the shock will lose its ability to function properly.

Worn shocks and struts not only affect the ride comfort and control of your vehicle, but can affect its braking effectiveness, too.

» Here is a good self test to check for signs of worn shocks or struts:

» Do you experience excessive bounce (3 or more bounces) when crossing an intersection or dip?

» When stopping quickly, does your vehicle rock back and forth several times?

» While applying your brakes firmly at higher speeds, does your vehicle have a tendency to drift left or right?

» When changing lanes quickly does your vehicle rock or sway from side to side?

» On a tight curve like a freeway ramp, does your vehicle lean and sway giving it an uneasy and disconnected feeling?

» Many components contribute to the handling

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New to this newsletter? Check out our previous newsletters and coupons! You can also request an appointment for your vehicle ONLINE! Hope you find this month's newsletter fun and helpful!   We hope you enjoyed this newsletter and found the tips helpful. Please call us with any questions or concerns about your vehicle at 203-366-4775. You can email me directly at nick@nicksautomotive.com or request an appointment here. If you have a billing question you can email Tara at tara@nicksautomotive.com We'll be waiting to hear from you! Servicing Your Car Care Needs Nick Gramigna

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