Your Car Brakes And Vehicle Braking System: More Than Just Brake Pads.

Brakes are among the many important components of your car. They are not just parts-they are your safety system. No matter what kind of vehicle you drive, there's a lot riding on your car brakes. Understanding what they do will help you take the best care possible, meaning safe driving, and avoiding accidents. In this video, Hillside Tire and Service shows how the different parts of your car's brake system work together for safe driving.

In a disc brake system, think of a bicycle. When you apply the brake handle, it squeezes those small pads around the bike wheel rim, and slows you down. In a car. the wheel is attached to a smooth metal disc, called a rotor, that spins with the axle. Each disc brake has two pads, one on each side. When you press the brake pedal, the pads clamp down on the rotor and slow its rotation.

Brakes Are A System-Not Just Pads
When you step on the brake pedal, you are actually putting into operation 6 different system components:

• Brake Lines
• Brake Master Cylinder
• Brake cables
• Brake calipers
• Brake Sensors
• Brake Fluid System

A complete brake system check is essential when you replace any brake part, and periodic brake system checks is a great way to prevent unnecessary problems from arising later.

Just like bike brake pads, car brake pads wear down over time. Don't wait until you hear those distressing sounds. The brakes are already in very bad shape once you start hearing grinding, clanking or squealing sounds. If the surface is worn down enough the pads won't be able to grip the rotor properly, which makes them less effective.  It can also mean damage to the brake rotors, which can also be an added expense. If the pads become worn down to the point that bare metal is scraping and scratching the rotor's surface, you may end up paying for a new rotor.

Most of your stopping power comes from the front wheels-as much as 85% of the braking is done in the front. That means front brakes are replaced about 4 times as much as your rear brakes. So disc brakes will always need periodic checking and/or replacement. However, you can still use a few tricks to keep your brakes in good condition and extend their usefulness.

• Don't ride the brake pedal, use it only when you need it.
• Try not to keep the brake pedal pressed down when stopped.
• For manual transmissions, instead of braking all the way down from freeway speed, try downshifting instead.

At Hillside Tire and Service, we are your brake experts for all makes and models. Come in to any of our 5 Salt Lake Valley tire stores: Salt Lake City (Cottonwood Heights), West Valley City, West Jordan, Sandy or Draper, and we will check your Braking System-at no charge! See us also for tires (we have tire discounts from manufacturer factory rebate specials going on right now), alignments, oil changes, inspections, emissions, and complete auto repair services.

Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

Here are the basic facts and information you need to know about the TPMS  (Tire Pressure Monitoring System)on your vehicle:
Why TPMS?
The U.S. government mandated the use of TPMS on vehicles as part of the TREAD act. The act was created in response to the Firestone tire tread separation issue of the late 90's, which partly blames underinflated tires as the cause of blowouts (a defect that has killed at least 88 and injured 250 people, most of them in Ford Explorers) . All passenger vehicles under 10,000 pounds gross weight produced after September, 2007, are required to have the system.

What does it do?
Each wheel has a pressure sensor and transmitter located inside which is connected to the valve stem. The system monitors the pressure of the tires (some cars monitor the spare tire as well) and provides the driver a warning if any tire is underinflated.

Special Precautions:
- DO NOT use tire puncture sealant as it could damage the sensor.
- Removal of the OEM tires can damage the sensor. The sensor must be removed prior to dismounting the tire from the rim. There is a specific procedure for doing this and the dealer and tire shops familiar with TPMS systems should be able to do it properly.

The low tire pressure warning light in ON:
- Check the tire pressure using an accurate tire gauge and ensure they are inflated (check the sticker on the drivers side door jamb). The warning light should clear after driving for 5 minutes above 16 miles per hour.

- If the outdoor air temperature drops suddenly, the tire pressure will drop and may trigger the TPMS. Re-adjust the tire pressures.

The low tire pressure warning light blinks for one minute then stays ON:

- If you rotate or change tires, (sometimes even the spare tire), you may get the low tire pressure warning light. The vehicle performance should not be affected while the light is ON, assuming you don't have a flat tire. The light will go off  after driving for 5 minutes above 16 miles per hour.
- It is possible there is a malfunction in the system. Time to book a service appointment with your tire dealer to check things out.

What about tire rotation?
Tire rotation should not affect the sensors. In a worst case, you will get the blinking TPMS and may have to make a trip to automotive tire and repair dealer to clear the code.

There are two types of TPMS systems: Direct TPMS and Indirect TPMS.

Direct TPMS
Direct TPMS delivers real time tire pressure information to the driver of the vehicle - either via a gauge or a simple low pressure warning light. These systems employ physical pressure sensors inside each tire and a means of sending that information from inside the tire to the vehicle instrument cluster.

Indirect TPMS
Indirect TPMS measures the air pressure indirectly by monitoring individual wheel speeds and other signals available in the vehicle. Most indirect TPMS uses the fact that an under-inflated tire has a slightly smaller diameter than a correctly inflated tire and therefore has to rotate more times to cover a specific distance to detect under-inflation. Such TPMS can detect under-inflation in up to three tires simultaneously, but not in all four since the operating principle of these systems is to compare the different wheel speeds and if all four tires lose the same amount of air the relative change will be zero. 

Newer developments of indirect TPMS can also detect simultaneous under-inflation in all four tires thanks to vibration analysis of individual wheels or analysis of load shift effects during acceleration and/or cornering.

Indirect TPMS is cheap and easy to implement, since most modern vehicles already have wheel speed sensors for anti-lock braking systems and electronic stability control systems. The disadvantage is that they rely on the user resetting the system by pushing a "Calibration Button" when the tires are changed or re-inflated - forgetting to perform this initialization leads to potentially dangerous false or missing alerts. Another disadvantage of indirect TPMS is that if the Calibration Reset Button is pressed when one or more tires are under-inflated then the system accepts this under-inflation as normal and the driver will be unaware of potentially dangerous tire pressures.

At Hillside Tire and Service, we are your TPMS experts for all makes and models. Come in to any of our 5 Salt Lake Valley tire stores: Salt Lake City (Cottonwood Heights), West Valley City, West Jordan, Sandy or Draper for tires, alignments, brakes, and complete auto repair services.

We have tire discounts from manufacturer factory rebate specials going on right now. We also offer wheels, alignments, brakes, oil changes and complete auto repair services.

Tire Care and Tire Maintenance

 Tire Maintenance

Here are some good tire care and maintenance tips to extend the life and mileage of your tires, and get the best value and safety from your set of tires.

Check tires once each month for wear:

It’s a good idea to check your tires once a month for visible damage and excess wear. Here are two ways to tell if your tires are worn out:

1. Look for wear bars
Narrow bands may appear in the grooves across the tire’s tread. See the wear bars? When the wear bars are even with the tread depth, only 2/32” of tread remains,1 replace the tire.

2. The penny trick
Place a penny in the most shallow tread groove with Lincoln’s head down. See the top of his head? The tire should be replaced.

If the tread is worn below 2/32 of an inch, water can’t be channeled away from the tread. This can cause hydroplaning at high speeds. Snow traction is also reduced as well.
 

Air Pressure
The Benefits of Proper Inflation
With the right amount of air pressure, you will achieve optimum tire performance. This means your tires wear longer, save fuel and help prevent accidents. The "right amount" of air is the pressure specified by the vehicle manufacturer, which may be different on the front than the rear tires on your particular model car or light truck. The correct air pressure is shown on the tire placard (or sticker) attached to the vehicle door edge, doorpost, glove box door or fuel door. If your vehicle doesn't have a placard, check the owner's manual. Please feel free to stop by Quick Lube, and we would be happy to check your tire pressure for you-free of charge.

 
Tire Rotation Tips 
Regular rotation helps extend the life of your tires, saving time and money in the long run. For rotation, each tire and wheel is removed from your vehicle and moved to a different position. This ensures that all of the tires wear evenly and last longer. If no period is specified in your vehicle owners manual, tires should be rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles. If you have a full-size spare, it should be included in the rotation process.
  
 
 

Tire Balancing Tips
Balancing compensates for the weight of the tire and wheel assembly after the tire is mounted. A wheel is out of balance when one area is heavier or lighter than the rest. This can cause eccentric treadwear and
vibration, plus increase the stress on the front-end parts, causing them to wear prematurely .

Wheel Alignment
A vehicle is said to be properly aligned when all suspension and steering components are sound and when the tire and wheel assemblies are running straight and true. Proper alignment is necessary for even tread wear and precise steering. Uneven front-or rear-tire wear, or changes in your vehicle's handling or steering response (i.e. pulling to one side) can indicate misalignment. 

Many vehicles today are equipped with rear suspensions that can be adjusted for alignment. Your vehicle may need a "front-end" alignment or a "four-wheel" alignment, depending on the symptoms you are experiencing. The moderate cost of or a having your vehicle aligned can more than pay for itself in tire mileage, performance and comfort.

Proper Repair  There is a good chance that your tire can be repaired if:
1. The tire has not been driven on when flat
2. The damage is only on the tread section of your tire
3. The puncture is less than 1/4". 

Come in to any of our 5 Salt Lake Valley tire stores: Salt Lake City (Cottonwood Heights), West Valley City, West Jordan, Sandy or Draper for tires, alignments, brakes, and complete auto repair services.
We have oil change specials and oil change coupons for full service lube and oil changes. We also offer tires, wheels, alignments, brakes, and complete auto repair services.

Proper Tire Care Extends Life Of Your Tires: Hillside Tire & Auto Repair Service; Salt Lake City

Proper tire care extends the mileage and performance of your car tires. Watch this tire care video, as Hillside Tire show you how regularly checking tire air pressure, balancing and rotation, and alignments all help get the best value for your vehicle tire.

Check out the latest tire discount coupon specials at our tire stores.

Come in to any of our 5 Salt Lake Valley tire stores: Salt Lake City(Cottonwood Heights), West Valley City, West Jordan, Sandy or Draper for tires, alignments, brakes, and complete auto repair services.

Truck Lift Kits: Do Not Go Cheap On Price-Follow The Experts In Suspension Lifts

Need Lift Kits For Your Truck? Do not go cheap-it will affect your truck's performance-for the worst! In this video, Albert at Hillside Tire and Service shows how to properly lift a truck, using appropriate lift kits and suspension modifications.

Come to the lift and suspension experts at Hillside Tire and Service. Our technicians have extensive truck lift modification experience-they have their own trucks to show you! Get truck lifts done the right way-the first time, and keep your truck’s performance in tact!

We want to be your auto and truck repair service provider for years to come!

Come in to any of our 5 Salt Lake Valley locations: Salt Lake City(Cottonwood Heights), West Valley City, West Jordan, Sandy or Draper for lift kits, suspension modifications, tires, alignments, brakes, and complete auto repair services.

Auto Air Conditioning: 3 Reasons Why Your A/C Fails

Have you been suffering in your car because of a broken air conditioner? Your car's air conditioning system is failing for one of 3 main reasons:
1. Your Freon is low.
2. Your Freon is leaking out; or
3. There is an A/C component malfunctioning.
Understanding your car's air conditioning system will help you understand what it takes to fix the failing A/C in your vehicle.
The major components that may fail are:

• Freon: the refrigerant, which carries the heat. Low freon is the number one cause of air conditioning malfunction;

• the compressor, which compresses and circulates the refrigerant in the system;

• the condenser, which changes the phase of the freon from gas to liquid, and expels heat removed from the car;

• the expansion valve- a nozzle to drop the pressure of the refrigerant liquid, meter its flow, and atomize it;

• the evaporator, which transfers heat to the freon from the air blown across it, cooling your car;

• the receiver/dryer-a filter for the freon, removing moisture and other contaminants;

• switches, fuses, wires, fan belts (on older cars), or seals inside the compressor, can break or fail as well.

While a complete discussion of every specific model and component would be  a "War and Peace" novel , this should give you a start on figuring out what the problem might be, and either fixing it yourself, or talking intelligently to someone you can pay to fix it.

Let the experts at Hillside Tire and Auto Service diagnose, repair and service your car's air conditioning. We want to be your vehicle repair service provider for years to come! Come in to any of our 5 Salt Lake Valley locations: Salt Lake City(Cottonwood Heights), West Valley City, West Jordan, Sandy or Draper for tires, alignments, brakes, and complete auto repair services.

"Check Engine" Light On Diagnosis At No Charge: Hillside Tire Auto Repair Service Salt Lake City

Check Engine” Light on in your car? Not sure if it means trouble? Let Hillside Tire perform a FREE Check Engine Light computer scan of your car or truck. We have the diagnostic tools and equipment for any make or model. We’ll tell you why it’s on, and what to do to fix it-all at NO CHARGE! Why? We want to be your auto repair service provider for years to come! 

Come in to any of our 5 Salt Lake Valley locations: Salt Lake City(Cottonwood Heights), West Valley City, West Jordan, Sandy or Draper for tires, alignments, brakes, and complete auto repair services.