How to Change Your Brake Pads

There are few parts on your vehicle that are as important as you and your passengers...the brakes. Needless to say, without brakes you aren’t stopping or slowing down anytime soon.  Having a healthy and well-kept set of brakes will minimize harm for you and your precious cargo.  Over time, the break pads will become worn out.  This article How to Change Brake Pads will provide some simple do-it-yourself projects that could possibly save you a trip to the repair shop.

·         When to Change Brake Pads – The wear indicator is a small piece of metal and it is attached to the brake pad. Eventually, the indicators will contacts the brake rotor whenever the pad is worn down.  When applying the brake, the indicator will grind against the rotor; it will create a squealing noise.  The noise is a clear signal to have your brakes inspected.

·         Preparing to Change Brake Pads – Best idea is to start by placing a block under the wheel to prevent the chance of the car rolling anywhere while working on it.  Next, loosen (but don’t remove) the wheel’s lug nuts.  Then, use your vehicle’s jack to lift the car and securely place on the jack stands.

·         Tools for Changing Brake Pads – The tools aren’t hard to use or find, they are typically found at any auto part or hardware store.  Some tools needed are: A C-clamp, wrench, lug wrench, gloves, dusting mask and safety gloves, and finally new brake pads.

 

Take a look all of the steps by clicking the link: http://bit.ly/IuLlXm

How to Prepare for a Road Trip

Are you planning a road trip for the summer? Don’t you wish you could just hop in the car and go without a plan? Unfortunately that might not be the best idea if you want to make the most out of your trip. Tom and Ray Maliozzi from Cars.com have come up with a list of top 10 tips for road trips (http://bit.ly/Ka9Iqi). These are some of our favorites:

·         Get Your Car Checked Out – You don’t want to risk your car not working in unfamiliar territory because of something that could have been prevented. Plan to have your vehicle thoroughly serviced before your road trip.

·         Build in Rest Days – You’re going on a road trip to have fun, not wear yourself out! When planning your itinerary add a few extra rest days in between driving.  That also means you’ll be easier on your car, which makes it less likely to break down.

·         Bring a Basic Repair Kit – Have a repair kit ready for little things you can fix yourself. This doesn’t have to be anything fancy, a few different sizes of regular and Phillips-head screwdrivers, vice grips, etc.

·         Join a travel club – Joining a travel club like AAA will save you a lot of hassle if you do break down or blow a tire. Also check with Better World Club or an auto club offered by your car’s manufacturer.

·         Check the Air Pressure, Including the Spare – A car has 5 tires, not 4! Before you leave for your trip, check the pressure on your 4 main tires, but on your spare tire as well

·         Don’t forget to have fun! – No matter how much you prepare, unexpected things can still happen. Don’t sweat it too much though. Remember, you’re on vacation!

Read all 10 road trip tips here: http://bit.ly/Ka9Iqi

Did You Know?: Interesting Car Trivia

 

It goes without saying: we love cars. How can we not? Cars are beautiful high-tech wonders. And just as fascinating to us as the cars we drive today is the history behind the cars themselves, especially because buried in the automobile’s past are tons of fun facts.

For example, did you know:

●      Before automobiles were widely used, the New York City Police Department used bicycles to pursue speeding motorists in 1898.

●      The first speeding ticket was issued in 1902.

●      The first Ford cars had Dodge engines.

●      The first gas gauge only appeared in cars in 1922.

●      Most American car horns beep in the key of F.

And that’s just the first five car facts we could think of! Get even more fun car facts by clicking here.

Some DUIs Are Stranger Than Others: An Infographic

Driving under the influence is one of the biggest dangers drivers can face; it’s no secret that consuming drugs or alcohol prior to driving greatly increases the risk of car accidents, highway injuries, and vehicular deaths. Drivers charged with DUIs often face criminal charges as well as deal with the emotional guilt associated with causing the accident.

Because individual states have different laws about driving under the influence, it’s important for drivers to be aware of the laws that exist in their area. For example, did you know that if you are intoxicated and you let another intoxicated person drive your car, both you and the driver can be charged with a DUI in Virginia?

And don’t think it’s just when you’re behind the wheel of a car that you can be charged, either. Check out this infographic to see some of the stranger circumstances people have been in when charged with a DUI – click the image to view a larger version.

“But officer...”

“But officer...”

The two most universal feelings among drivers are the annoyance and dread we feel when a police officer pulls us over. When we’re stopped it’s common to want to try to make an excuse and not get that ticket the officer’s ready to issue. No one wants to pay a fine or deal with the points that may be slapped onto their record.

Sometimes our excuses may be valid, but most of the time the police could probably say them in sync with us. Can you guess which excuses are most commonly heard (and not accepted) by officers of the law? Write a couple ideas down, then click here to find the answers and see which ones you got right!

And then remember: drive safely. We’d prefer that you not be pulled over in the first place!