AUTONET TV

(Ball Joint Replacement)

Every day that goes by, our bodies get a little more wear and tear on them.  Our vehicles have the same issue.  The older we get and the farther we travel, certain parts start showing some wear.  

Think of your hips. There are parts of our vehicles that are similar to them; just like hips allow your legs to pivot in several directions, your vehicle has similar parts called ball joints, and they connect your vehicle’s wheels to the suspension, allowing them to move together.  These ball joints get a good workout every time the vehicle is moving, especially on bumpy roads.  

Usually, these joints are well lubricated with grease, so they’ll work smoothly and quietly. They’re surrounded by a rubber sleeve called a boot, but that can wear out with age or exposure to moisture or debris.  When the rubber breaks, the grease can leak out, and damage accelerates.

When the ball joints start wearing out, you may start to hear clunking sounds that come from the corners of your vehicle.  You might hear it more clearly when you are turning a corner or going over a bump.  Over time, it might get worse.  Other signs are sloppy steering, vibrations when you’re moving and uneven tire wear.
If a ball joint gets extremely worn, it’s possible you can lose control of your vehicle, a dangerous situation indeed.

If you notice any of these symptoms, bring it to us so a technician can diagnose the problem.  If they determine you need a new ball joint, the technician will check the condition of all the suspension components.  We usually recommend if one of a pair of ball joints goes bad, the other is likely quite worn as well and should be replaced, too. In no time, you’ll be back on the road with an updated agile suspension that feels young again.  

Franklin Auto Service
32725 Franklin Rd
Franklin, MI 48025
248-626-2080
http://www.franklinautoservice.net

Don?t Be Hosed (Radiator Hose Replacement)

If you are like most drivers, you don’t worry too much about what shape your radiator hoses are in.  But they are a vital part of your coolant system, helping carry engine coolant from the hot engine to where it is cooled off in the radiator.  

When the cooling system has a problem, you will likely see your vehicle’s temperature gauge showing you it’s running at a higher temperature than it usually does. Or maybe the low coolant light has come on.  If either of these happens, it’s important that you not drive too long since a hot, running vehicle can suffer expensive damage quickly.

Radiator hoses can be damaged by being subjected to temperature extremes, both hot and cold. In addition to the temperature gauge climbing or low coolant light illuminating, there are other clues that may tell you your vehicle is leaking fluid.  You may notice a green, yellow, brown or purple fluid pooled on the ground around your vehicle.  

At any of these signs, it’s time to bring your vehicle in for service soon.  A technician can inspect hoses for leaks, deformities and other problems, as well as looking for cracks and wear.  They’ll also check the condition of the water pump, since problems with it can be another reason coolant will leak out from under your vehicle.

It is better to periodically have your hoses checked rather than waiting until they fail.  How often you should have yours replaced depends a lot on what vehicle you own, and in what conditions it is driven. Rubber degrades not only by temperature but also by what materials it comes in contact with.  For example, oil leaking on a radiator hose can prematurely cause that hose to fail. Age is another factor.  

We recommend you have one of our technicians inspect your cooling system regularly so you don’t get “hosed” by a failure at an inconvenient time.

Franklin Auto Service
32725 Franklin Rd
Franklin, MI 48025
248-626-2080
http://www.franklinautoservice.net

Go Big or Go Home: Upsize Your Wheels at Franklin Auto Service

A lot of us Franklin drivers like our vehicles to reflect our personalities. We're picky about color and body style. We'll customize anything from floor mats to window tints to license plates. One popular way for MI motorists to customize a vehicle is to get new wheels.

Wheels come in thousands of designs. Custom wheels can add personality, style or sass to a vehicle. Many of these customizations involve getting a bigger wheel.

Fifteen or 16-inch wheels used to be the factory standard, but today, because a lot of Franklin drivers like the look of larger wheels, many vehicles are available with 17 or 18-inch wheels. Optional wheel packages of 20 inches or more are also available in Franklin.

If you want to upsize the wheels on your current vehicle, however, you should know it's not a do-it-yourself project. There are factors involved in ensuring your wheel change doesn't jeopardize the safety of your vehicle.

First of all, you need to understand rolling diameter. The rolling diameter is the overall height of a tire. If you increase the rolling diameter of your tires when you upsize your wheels, you may have to modify your suspension to make sure the larger tires fit in the space and don't rub in turns or over bumps. If that's more work than you're willing to do or pay for, then you need to maintain rolling diameter when you change your wheels.

It's not as hard as it sounds. Imagine a doughnut. That doughnut represents rolling diameter, so you can't make the doughnut bigger. However, you can increase the size of the doughnut hole. That gives you a bigger wheel. Tires with reduced sidewall on larger wheels will preserve your rolling diameter.

Rolling diameter is important because your wheels and tires still need to fit inside the wheel well. Also, your speedometer, odometer and anti-lock brakes are all programmed to work with a specific rolling diameter. You'll throw off the readings on your speedometer and odometer if you change your rolling diameter. And for your anti-lock brakes to work properly, your rolling diameter has to be within 3% of factory recommendations. While some Franklin drivers who upsize may not be concerned about meter readings, throwing off the brake system is a serious safety hazard.

Further, many vehicles in Franklin are now equipped with electronically controlled suspensions. Changing the rolling diameter will negatively affect this system as well, which can lead to a less smooth ride and lower handling performance as well as safety concerns.

Your friendly and knowledgeable Franklin Auto Service tire professional may be able to reprogram your vehicle's computer to adjust for a larger (or smaller) rolling diameter.

So to maintain rolling diameter, you'll need tires with a shorter sidewall. These tires will be designed to give the sidewalls the strength they need to maintain ride quality. Consider that doughnut again. As the wheel (the doughnut hole) gets bigger, the sidewall of the tire (the width of remaining doughnut) gets shorter. That means the tire holds less air. The sidewalls have to be made stiffer to compensate for the decreased air capacity.

To improve their strength, the shorter tires will also be slightly wider than your previous tires. But this means you'll have a larger contact patch, or, in other words, a larger area of tire making contact with the road. This can actually increase your handling performance and decrease braking distances. Many MI auto buffs customize their wheels just for this reason—they want the improved performance rather than looks or style. If you drive a truck or an SUV around Franklin, you might be interested in the extra control an upsized wheel can provide.

Now, that larger contact patch still has to fit inside your wheel well without rubbing when cornering or when bouncing over bumps or potholes on Franklin roads. This is termed fitment, and you may need a few adjustments so your new wheels will fit properly. You may need spacers so that your brakes will fit inside the new wheels, as well.

Franklin Auto Service tire professionals are experts at mounting, adjusting and customizing wheels. They can give you a lot of good auto advice about wheels and tires and how they affect driving performance and car care. They can help you select wheels and tires that will suit your driving needs and habits.

For example, if you drive off-road around Franklin, you should consider a higher profile tire. This type of tire will protect your rims from damage while you're bouncing over rocks. Or, if you tow a trailer or haul heavy loads around MI, you'll want a tire with a load rating equal to your demands. Your friendly and knowledgeable Franklin Auto Service tire professional can help you with these types of concerns.

Once you've got your new wheels, have your service advisor at Franklin Auto Service see if you need an alignment. You don't want those new wheels and your higher performance compromised by poor alignment. Get the most out of your investment by getting the work done right at Franklin Auto Service in Franklin.

Last but not least, remember tire pressure. With larger wheels, your new tires will hold less air and they'll need slightly higher pressure. You'll need to stay on top of preventive maintenance and keep them properly inflated. Be sure to check their pressure at least once a week. If you don't keep your tires at their correct pressure, they will wear out really fast. It will also affect your braking and handling performance.

So smile and show off your vehicle around MI. Make it all yours. Bumper stickers, vanity license plates, custom wheels — strut your stuff!

Franklin Auto Service
32725 Franklin Rd
Franklin, MI 48025
248-626-2080
http://www.franklinautoservice.net

If the Shoe Fits (Brake Shoe Replacement [Rear])

When it comes to brakes on your vehicle, we all know how important it is to keep them working well because they are vital safety equipment.  After all, if you can’t slow down and stop, you can’t drive safely.  

While many vehicles use what are called disc brakes, there’s another type of brakes that are used on the rear wheels of vehicles that have something called drum brakes.  Drum brakes were the original type that were invented in the early twentieth century.  The term drum comes from the part of the brakes that is a housing connected to your wheel.  Inside there are parts called brake shoes that press against the drum when you step on the pedal, and the friction slows and stops your vehicle.  

Signs your brake shoes might need replacing are your rear brakes make noise when you step on the pedal and they vibrate when you brake.  Another sign of bad brake shoes is that your hand brake stops working.  If you notice one or both problems in your vehicle, it’s time to bring it in so a technician can inspect your brake system.  It can be unsafe to drive a vehicle with worn out brake shoes.

There are two brake shoes in each brake, and since they both work each time you stop, when they need replacing, they should be done in pairs. When we replace your brake shoes, we will also inspect other components and parts of your brake system, including your emergency brake cable.  We will also lubricate another part called the backing plate. 

Let us keep your brakes operating as they were designed to. When it comes to safe driving, stopping is as important as going.

Franklin Auto Service
32725 Franklin Rd
Franklin, MI 48025
248-626-2080
http://www.franklinautoservice.net