safety – Mike’s Brake & Alignment Shop

Tag: safety

Emergency Brakes 101

In a car, there are two brake systems: the primary brakes and the emergency brakes (secondary). Primary brakes use hydraulic pressure to slow down a car while the emergency brakes is completely independent and is instead engaged by levers or cables. If your primary brakes ever fail, this functions as a backup plan to stop your car, hence the name “emergency”. However, many drivers believe that it’s exactly that and only to be used in dire situations. The reality is that you should be using your emergency brakes much more often than you do now. Continue reading to learn more about its functions.

Types of Emergency Brakes

Depending on the model and make of the vehicle, it may have a different type of emergency brake than others. Here are the four main types of emergency parking brakes:

Center lever – Found in most vehicles, the center lever is located next to the driver’s seat.
Pedal – This is a small pedal positioned on the floor next to the gas, brake, and clutch pedals.
Push button – Usually located with the other console controls and is typically an electronic system.
Stick lever – This is found in many older vehicles and is commonly located under the instrument panel.

When Should I Use It?

Your primary brakes are designed to slow your car to a stop, while the emergency brake is designed to hold your car in place. When your primary brakes fail or when you’re trying to stop before a collision, engaging your emergency brakes can help you regain control of your car in extreme situations.

While parking brakes are often referred to as “emergency”, it’s actually recommended to use them for regular parking. Using them while parking on hills is a standard practice, but you should also use them while parking on flat land. It gives your parked car added stability and decreases the chances of it from rolling when hit.

It’s also very beneficial to use them every once in a while because it prevents rust from forming and negatively affecting their performance when it counts. Not to mention, it actually takes a lot of stress off of your transmission and parking pawl. The parking pawl is a hammer-shaped pin that locks up your transmission when you put your car into park. If you think about it, this parking pawl is the only thing stopping your car from rolling away while you’re parked. Engaging your emergency parking brake is a good added measure.

How to Use It

A common mistake that people make is putting their car into park before engaging the emergency brake. The correct order is to first come to a complete stop with your primary brakes, set your emergency brake, and then put your car into park before turning off the engine. When you engage your emergency brake, the discs inside your rear wheels expand and squeeze against the inner wheel. This keeps your tires from spinning and prevents your car from rolling away. Always remember to release it before you start driving again because driving with it on can damage your car.

Conclusion

Your emergency brakes can be handy in even ordinary situations. However, if you find yourself experiencing any issues or notice anything concerning with your brakes, it’s time to rely on the professionals. At Mike’s Brake & Alignment Shop, we care about your vehicle’s safety and are here to provide a reliable and affordable service. Call 817-834-2725 today for a free estimate!

Most Common Hazards While Driving in the Snow

December 27, 2019 / admin / 0 Comments

While it is always important to be confident in your driving skills, especially through difficult weather, it is important to understand the dangers that can come with it. With the world throwing any type of rain or shine at us however it sees fit, there is nothing more vital than knowing how to handle the changing seasons when driving on the road. There is no better example of a weather hazard than those that come up when it snows. Read further to learn about the most common hazards that can arise when it snows and how to avoid them.

Dying Battery From the Cold:

A more indirect effect of snow, the extreme cold and insulation created by your hood can result in the draining of your battery. Cold naturally drains the energy out of any battery over time and considering how important they are for a car to run properly, it is important to keep this in mind and take steps to prevent it. The easiest ways to prevent your battery from losing its charge are to get the battery checked before the cold season comes to ensure it is not already low and trying to keep your car parked in some kind of enclosure or garage at all times when it’s not running. Another helpful tip is to give your car some time to warm up after you turn it on before using any accessories; using the radio or heater as soon as the engine is on may not give the battery enough time to recharge from the drain the cold has called, meaning it could stall.

No Traction on Wheels:

It seems like an obvious bit of advice, but it needs to be said again because of how important it truly is to ensure you keep control of your car while you drive. Snow causes an incredible amount of difficulty for your tires to gain traction on the road, which means that as soon as you relax on the wheel for even a minute, you could end up losing control if even the slightest change of terrain occurs. The most dangerous and common concern when it comes to snow is actually not even the snow itself, it’s the ice it may be covering that you wouldn’t notice. Hidden ice on the road is often referred to as “black ice” due to its extremely dangerous nature and the inability you would have to control your car if you drive over it too fast. Ways of counteracting this lack of traction is to constantly keep both hands firmly on the wheel, don’t take turns too sharply and never drive your car too fast when there are snowy or icy conditions.

Poor Visibility:

There is one constant when it comes to driving a car, if you can’t see where you are going, you can’t drive. One of the largest obstacles a person faces in any kind of bad weather is the issues that arise with visibility. Rain and snow can cause serious issues when it comes to seeing the road in front of you, which means you always need to have an increased sense of vigilance as well as taking steps to lessen the effects. Keeping your heater on the windshield setting while you drive helps to keep new ice from forming or snow from sticking on the windshield while still keeping you warm. Keeping a scraper in your car is also very important to help get the ice buildup off of your windows before you even drive it, because with the air being so cold, it would take way too long for it to melt on its own when you drive. Only use your windshield wipers if there is true snowfall, because the friction of the wipers on the windshield with the cold of the outside air could also cause the window to fog up slightly, further reducing visibility.

Conclusion:

There are plenty of different ways in which you can prevent yourself from danger while driving in the snow, but the most important thing is that you always employ these tips and never get comfortable. The ice and snow are constant hazards which require constant vigilance, so always take them seriously. When it comes to preparing yourself with the best tires and alignment for that upcoming cold season, there is no place better to go than Mike’s Brake & Alignment Shop, so come on in and let’s tackle this winter together.

The Process of State Inspections for Vehicles

May 14, 2018 / admin / 0 Comments

Aside from having auto insurance, many states around our country require you to go through their version of a state inspection to ensure the safety and performance of your vehicle on the road. Their intended goal is to keep drivers, their passengers, and everything around you safe.

As you can imagine, since a state inspection is designed to check every aspect of a vehicle, not everyone is able to pass this test. Fortunately, you should be able to avoid this situation entirely by following a few simple guidelines before you bring your vehicle to our shop to be inspected. With that in mind, here are some of the fundamental aspects of a state inspection.

How to Make Sure Your Vehicle Passes a State Inspection

First things first, you need to make sure that your vehicle’s headlights, signal lights, and brake lights all function properly. Check to make sure none of the bulbs are loose since this may cause a problem. You also want to check the quality of your wiper blades and ascertain whether they have any tears.

Going to the side, take a look at the depth of the tread in your tires; the tread must be 2/32^ndsof an inch or greater with nothing punctured into the tires themselves. The easy way to find this out is by following the penny test – place a penny between the tread ribs of your tire with Lincoln’s head on the coin pointed down.

If the top of his head disappears between the ribs (or the raised portion of tread that spans the circumference of the tire), your tread is above 2/32nds of an inch. If you can see his entire head, you may need to have your tires replaced. Speaking of which, all your tires must be equipped with their required lug nuts fastened on.

Now that we have the exterior out of the way, let’s take a look under the hood – literally. You will want to check to make sure your vehicle has the proper amount of power steering fluid and brake fluid. If you don’t know how to find this, take a look at your vehicle’s owner manual.

If the fluids are underneath the minimum mark on the fluid containers, you won’t pass the state inspection. The same can be said about the exhaust system – it must be fully intact without any signs of a leak. If you believe that there could be any leaks here or with the fluid levels, bring your vehicle to a professional mechanic to have it checked out.

Finally, the windows. You must be certain the tinting on your windows falls within the acceptable range as enforced by the Department of Public Safety which states how much percentage of light must be able to pass through the vehicle. The place you have your state inspection at will be able to tell you whether you pass or not.

What Happens When You Don’t Have State Inspections

For those who drive in a state that requires state inspections, it goes without saying that complying with the laws will help you avoid being charged a fine while also ensuring you are driving legally. If you happened to be stopped by a law enforcement officer for any type of violation on the road, you could get a ticket for a lapsed state inspection. This is also required if you plan on buying, selling, or registering your vehicle in a state that requires an up-to-date inspection.

The game goes if you park in the street or travel in an urban area where the expectations regarding state inspections are just as great as the heavy fine you’ll receive. Much like vehicle tags, state inspection stickers vary in color on a periodic basis depending on the state, so it’s easy to spot if you have an out-of-date sticker.

By and large, the reason these annual inspections are enforced is it’s a general assumption that people won’t do anything unless they have to. Without them, there’s a good chance people would be driving around all over the road in what can be described as safety hazards on wheels. In essence, state inspections help keep drivers safe from others and from themselves!

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