Timing Belt Replacement And Repair: What You Need To Know

There are so many belts in a car engine, it is hard to keep up with them all. One of the most important belts in the engine is the timing belt. This news video on timing belts from 2006 shows how critical replacing a timing belt is to your car's engine operation. Without this belt operating properly, it can throw off the entire operation of the engine. The timing belt's purpose is to turn the camshafts exactly half as fast as the crankshaft.

Earlier cars and trucks had chains instead of a belt. The chain is preferred by many owners because it seldom needs to be replaced. The only problem with the chain is the noise it creates. For this reason, many manufacturers design the belt, and ask you to replace it periodically.

Since your timing belt is hidden within the engine, the labor costs just to “check” it are unreasonable. That is why it is just better to change them regularly, before they break. How often timing belts need to be replaced will depend on the type of engine. Some belts will only turn one camshaft, while others may turn as many as four. The more camshafts the belt has to move, the quicker it will wear out. The standard school of thought is: for vehicles before 1998, replace your timing belts around 90,000 miles (45 seconds into the video, the engine has 93,000 miles, and look at the timing belt damage). For vehicles after 1998, replace the belt is recommended around 105,000 miles.

Many people like to put this off beyond this time period because of the expense involved. This is a mistake, because not replacing the timing belt can lead to several other mechanical nightmares, which will cost far more to repair. Broken timing belts, because they operate the camshaft, can create further damage to engine valves.

Signs of a bad timing belt include a change in the engine's performance. This includes such things as stalls, backfires or running roughly with a lot of vibration. Squealing noises and smoke are two other obvious signs you may be having a problemwith a timing belt in your engine. Let us inspect your car to determine the causes.

Some enginetiming belts operate the water pump as well. Our offer to replace your water pump does not mean we are trying to take you for a lot of money. It is generally a precautionary measure. With the belt off, replacing the pump is very simple, there are no added labor costs. You actually save on the labor, since the water pump has to be removed anyway.. Just ask us what the history is on the water pump in your model car. If the water pump generally does not fail, it is a procedure you can do without.

Replacing the timing belt is one of those precautionary measures to take. Pay a little now, to save a lot later. We will gladly inform you of the specific timing belt replacement for your vehicle.

At Hillside Tire and Service, we are your experts for all makes and models of auto repair in Salt Lake City. 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 get to know us, like Bill Gephardt does,  through our auto repair service specials (see coupons). We also 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.

Brake Noises: Grinds, Squeals, Groans, Hard Brake, Soft Brake-What Do They Mean?

Your brakes are more than just brake pads-they are your safety system when you drive. Just like making sure you are strapped in on a roller coaster ride, you want to make sure your brakes are functioning properly. The following is a guide to symptoms and possible causes of common brake problems, all of which can be repaired and fixed, to keep you driving safely on the road:

Hard Pedal
Requires extreme pressure to make brake function. Can indicate power brake trouble, restricted hydraulic lines, frozen calipers or wheel cylinders, or damaged brake linings.
Low Pedal
Pedal nearly touches floorboard before brakes function. May activate your brake warning light. Problems may require a simple adjustment, possible air in the brake fluid lines (requiring flush procedure) or leaks in the brake hydraulic system. Needs to be checked.
Pull
Car pulls to one side when brakes are applied. May be an under inflated tire, misadjusted brakes or brakes are in need of repair.
Grabs
"Touchy" brakes that grab with the least pressure. May indicate a problem as simple as grease or oil contaminated lining - or  a loose or broken component in the system
 Squeal
Brakes should operate with a minimal amount of noise. Some noise is normal but excessive squeal, screech, grinding, groaning, chatter, clatter or bang means your brakes need attention.
Vibration
Brake pedal, steering wheel or entire vehicle shakes, vibrates or pulsates when brake is applied. May indicate need to resurface disc brake rotors - or signal a loose component in the steering or , suspension system, or a tire related issue. This needs to be checked.
Drag
Sticking brakes, hot wheels or engine that seems to have lost power. Brakes may be failing to release; the condition can reverse itself, leaving you with no brakes at all.
Brake Light Is On
Emergency brake is on, low brake fluid, a serious drop in hydraulic pressure, or one of the brake sensors is malfunctioning. Your brakes may be need to be checked.

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! Get to know us, like Bill Gephardt does,  through our auto repair service specials (see coupons). 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.

 

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.