Winter isn’t necessarily something we really have to put up with in the sunnier parts of the US where most Budget brakes stores are like in Nashville, but that’s not to say it’s something we shouldn’t be aware of. At Budget Brakes, we know only too well that one of our customers might have to make an unexpected trip, and with winter on its way, being aware of what to expect is important for all drivers.
Take a look at our Budget Brakes top winter driving tips below:
1. Drive within your limits. If you can, drive during the day if possible and drive slower than usual. Ice, snow, rain and wind all contribute to dangerous driving that’s even more risky if you’re driving fast.
2. Check your vehicle is properly equipped and is fully maintained. Budget Brakes can check your alignment, braking and steering to make sure that everything’s OK for the drive. Also check that tires are appropriate for the weather. Make sure to check anti-freeze levels and ensure that you have plenty of gas. It’s often the smaller things such as tire pressure that people forget about.
3. Carry an emergency kit. Having a cell phone and a spare blanket to keep you warm are perhaps the two most important pieces of kit you can have, as if your vehicle breaks down in the middle of nowhere, it might be the only warmth available.
If you’re driving anywhere new or taking a long distance road trip – always consider getting your vehicle services beforehand. At Budget Brakes, we can help you with suspension, braking and steering maintenance for your car and truck. With coupons available for just about all our services – drop by and we’ll see what we can do.
Why Perform Four Wheel Alignment – Is it Really Necessary?
Being honest, at Budget Brakes we’ve had to do our fair share of wheel alignments and in most cases while a two-wheel alignment is sufficient, we’ve seen on quite a few occasions just how necessary four-wheel alignments can be. Even though it’s proven to be value for money in terms of safety, many people think that four wheel alignment really is a waste of money. Budget Brakes techs have just performed an unnecessary service, but while we know the customer’s always right – the fact is that our primary goal is your safety.
These days, it’s not just the increasing number of four-wheel drive vehicles that have made four wheel alignments the standard at Budget Brakes, but the fact that numerous safety studies have proven that four wheel alignment is a great deal safer as it ensures that your vehicle is fully set up as according to the auto maker’s specs. While traditionally, it’s always been acceptable to align only the front wheels, the idea was that the rear nearly always stayed aligned. Sadly, as countless studies have proven – that’s not always true.
Today, as a result, many technicians are focusing on four-wheel alignment as their primary service. At Budget brakes, we completely agree because not only is it the safety-conscious thing to do, it’s also more economical for your tires, it’s also the only way to ensure that your wheels are set up according to specifications.
While it does cost a bit more than just a two-wheel alignment, with Budget Brakes coupons, you really can get a deal and have four-wheel alignment performed today. The safety benefits speak for themselves, and you’ll notice an increase in your tire wear almost straight away.
These days, it’s not just the increasing number of four-wheel drive vehicles that have made four wheel alignments the standard at Budget Brakes, but the fact that numerous safety studies have proven that four wheel alignment is a great deal safer as it ensures that your vehicle is fully set up as according to the auto maker’s specs. While traditionally, it’s always been acceptable to align only the front wheels, the idea was that the rear nearly always stayed aligned. Sadly, as countless studies have proven – that’s not always true.
Today, as a result, many technicians are focusing on four-wheel alignment as their primary service. At Budget brakes, we completely agree because not only is it the safety-conscious thing to do, it’s also more economical for your tires, it’s also the only way to ensure that your wheels are set up according to specifications.
While it does cost a bit more than just a two-wheel alignment, with Budget Brakes coupons, you really can get a deal and have four-wheel alignment performed today. The safety benefits speak for themselves, and you’ll notice an increase in your tire wear almost straight away.
Signs of Warped Rotors and How to Avoid Expensive Brake Repairs - Tip from Budget Brakes
Warped rotors are one of those hideously expensive service items that should never really happen if you change pads regularly, but when it does – it can be a bit of a fright when you see the repair bill for a new set of rotors. While it’s common for us at Budget Brakes to see people come in only at the very last stages of brake failure, we also know that if you guys came in a bit sooner – you’d save a small fortune.
Warped rotors really are a common sight at Budget Brakes, and the signs are vibration in the steering wheel when you brake, a pulsating brake pedal and increased stopping distances. Truthfully, it happens because either the pads haven’t been changed regularly, as the result of aggressive braking or finally because of hot brake pad material sticking to the rotor. When it gets too bad, the only solution is to replace them.
The good news is that if the problem is rotor wear and not material adhesion, it’s possible to switch rotors just as you do tires. This might help to save on expensive repair bills, but at Budget Brakes – the recommendation when it comes to brakes is to always replace with new as even if you do switch rotors, the old rotors will wear brake pads quicker.
To prevent warped rotors, the secret is to drive carefully, take advantage of engine braking and to avoid applying your brakes when they are hot and your vehicle is stationary. If you’re suffering from what you think is warped rotors, drop in at Budget Brakes, where we specialize in brakes, suspension and wheel alignment.
Warped rotors really are a common sight at Budget Brakes, and the signs are vibration in the steering wheel when you brake, a pulsating brake pedal and increased stopping distances. Truthfully, it happens because either the pads haven’t been changed regularly, as the result of aggressive braking or finally because of hot brake pad material sticking to the rotor. When it gets too bad, the only solution is to replace them.
The good news is that if the problem is rotor wear and not material adhesion, it’s possible to switch rotors just as you do tires. This might help to save on expensive repair bills, but at Budget Brakes – the recommendation when it comes to brakes is to always replace with new as even if you do switch rotors, the old rotors will wear brake pads quicker.
To prevent warped rotors, the secret is to drive carefully, take advantage of engine braking and to avoid applying your brakes when they are hot and your vehicle is stationary. If you’re suffering from what you think is warped rotors, drop in at Budget Brakes, where we specialize in brakes, suspension and wheel alignment.
Troubleshooting Suspension Problems with Budget Brakes
When your cars not driving quite like it should, often the problem lies within the suspension or the tires. Usually, there are some symptoms, and if you know about many of the more common symptoms that we see at Budget Brakes, you should be able to spot the problems before they turn into disasters. You’ll also be able to save a small fortune. We’ve taken a look at some of the problems we’ve recently encountered at Budget Brakes:
Car pulls to one side is actually a pretty common problem, and something that we see all too often when people head to stores other than Budget Brakes. 9 times out of 10 it’s all related to alignment. If you had it performed elsewhere, while it might be within tolerances, it could still need fine tuning or a full, four-wheel alignment at budget brakes. Other causes include a bad tire, or even a stuck brake (caliper).
Bouncy / Soft Suspension is a sign that your shocks / struts have problems. Often, we see this at Budget Brakes when customers bring in vehicles with aftermarket / performance parts that are made in China. A quick way to check is to push a corner of the car down and if it doesn’t ‘settle’ i.e. bounces a few times, you need to get your struts replaced at Budget Brakes.
Loose / Noisy Steering can be down to your power steering. Not so common, but every now and again a customer calls into Budget Brakes with one of these cases. If your steering feels weird – while it could be a problem with the suspension, it may be an issue with your power steering. Check the power steering tank is full, and if the problem persists, drop by Budget Brakes and we’ll see what we can do.
Car pulls to one side is actually a pretty common problem, and something that we see all too often when people head to stores other than Budget Brakes. 9 times out of 10 it’s all related to alignment. If you had it performed elsewhere, while it might be within tolerances, it could still need fine tuning or a full, four-wheel alignment at budget brakes. Other causes include a bad tire, or even a stuck brake (caliper).
Bouncy / Soft Suspension is a sign that your shocks / struts have problems. Often, we see this at Budget Brakes when customers bring in vehicles with aftermarket / performance parts that are made in China. A quick way to check is to push a corner of the car down and if it doesn’t ‘settle’ i.e. bounces a few times, you need to get your struts replaced at Budget Brakes.
Loose / Noisy Steering can be down to your power steering. Not so common, but every now and again a customer calls into Budget Brakes with one of these cases. If your steering feels weird – while it could be a problem with the suspension, it may be an issue with your power steering. Check the power steering tank is full, and if the problem persists, drop by Budget Brakes and we’ll see what we can do.
Replacing Wheel Bearings at Budget Brakes
Often, when having your brakes checked or wheels aligned, at Budget Brakes we’ll take the time to have a quick look for some easy to spot ‘problems’ that aren’t always visible when your cars not in the shop. At Budget Brakes, we pride ourselves on helping you out as much as we can by letting you know if we see anything that you might need to replace. As a result, we offer a lot more than just brakes and alignments – we can help you with almost anything related to your cars steering / braking or suspension.
From servicing struts / shocks to replacing and resealing wheel bearings, we have the equipment and experience at Budget Brakes to deliver a service that helps your car run as it should. Wheel bearing replacement is perhaps the most common service that you don’t ever hear about until you need it, and it’s something that we perform all the time. After all – bearings should be replaced around every 45000 kilometers.
Bearings are perhaps the most annoying service item in the world. The bearings themselves cost just a few dollars, but it can take hours to get to them. Luckily, at Budget Brakes, we can check and maintain your bearings as we perform the maintenance on the rest of your vehicle. That way you save not just on brake maintenance, but the little things that would cost you a small fortune anywhere else.
From servicing struts / shocks to replacing and resealing wheel bearings, we have the equipment and experience at Budget Brakes to deliver a service that helps your car run as it should. Wheel bearing replacement is perhaps the most common service that you don’t ever hear about until you need it, and it’s something that we perform all the time. After all – bearings should be replaced around every 45000 kilometers.
Bearings are perhaps the most annoying service item in the world. The bearings themselves cost just a few dollars, but it can take hours to get to them. Luckily, at Budget Brakes, we can check and maintain your bearings as we perform the maintenance on the rest of your vehicle. That way you save not just on brake maintenance, but the little things that would cost you a small fortune anywhere else.
Braking Techniques 101 – Progressive Braking; a Tip from Budget Brakes
Braking sounds like an easy enough technique to master, but at Budget Brakes, we know only too well how easy it is to rely on ABS. With more and more people simply jamming the brake pedal to slow down, we at Budget Brakes want to help with some braking tips that’ll not only help you improve performance, but save money when it comes to helping extend the life of your brakes and suspension.
At Budget Brakes, we’re keen believers in “progressive braking”. It’s a really easy technique to master, and it’ll not only help you become more aware of braking, but it will also help other drivers around you know what you’re doing and prevent accidents too.
Progressive braking is as easy as it sounds. Instead of simply pushing the brake pedal as quickly as possible, the aim is to start with a very gentle push on the brake pedal until you feel the brakes engage. Keep your foot there and pause for a second then, counting as you brake, gradually build up pressure until you reach your desired speed or stop. Easing off the brakes should be the same process, but in reverse.
Combined with reading the road, progressive braking can save you a fortune on your Budget Brakes service bill. The benefits of progressive braking are that it pre-loads the suspension, warns other road users early and it helps your brakes last longer – meaning fewer trips to Budget Brakes for new pads.
With promotions happening all the time, at Budget Brakes we are always ready to take a quick look at your vehicle. If you think you have braking problems and want us to take a look at your brakes – come by and we’ll see what we can do.
At Budget Brakes, we’re keen believers in “progressive braking”. It’s a really easy technique to master, and it’ll not only help you become more aware of braking, but it will also help other drivers around you know what you’re doing and prevent accidents too.
Progressive braking is as easy as it sounds. Instead of simply pushing the brake pedal as quickly as possible, the aim is to start with a very gentle push on the brake pedal until you feel the brakes engage. Keep your foot there and pause for a second then, counting as you brake, gradually build up pressure until you reach your desired speed or stop. Easing off the brakes should be the same process, but in reverse.
Combined with reading the road, progressive braking can save you a fortune on your Budget Brakes service bill. The benefits of progressive braking are that it pre-loads the suspension, warns other road users early and it helps your brakes last longer – meaning fewer trips to Budget Brakes for new pads.
With promotions happening all the time, at Budget Brakes we are always ready to take a quick look at your vehicle. If you think you have braking problems and want us to take a look at your brakes – come by and we’ll see what we can do.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
