Longview Auto & Tire

Brake pads and brake shoes are equally vital to the safety of your vehicle. They each have separate functions, and yet they are both just as important to your brakes. Having them inspected for wear and tear is vital to the life of your braking system. With that said, what is the difference between brake pads and brake shoes? The first major difference is in the way they help your car stop. Brake shoes stop your vehicle by pushing outward. They are a major part of the drum system where they are inside rather than outside. This allows them to make that outward motion to stop your vehicle when you press slowly on the brakes. Friction then happens, resulting in your car coming to a smooth, complete stop without much ado. Brake pads, on the other hand, work from the outside going in. They sit on the outside of your wheels and are part of a disc rotor braking system, and they work together with the caliper to press together to stop your car at a safe distance. While brake shoes are a part ... read more

What Noise Does A Failing Transmission Make? Your car should not be making funny sounds as you drive. It is good to know what different sounds mean about the health of your vehicle. Some of the noises are an indication that the transmission is failing. When the transmission makes noises, it indicates a severe problem that the car requires the attention of an experienced mechanic. Here are some of the noises that come from a failing transmission system. Whining You may notice a whining sound coming from the engines as you drive the vehicle. Unfortunately, whining does not point to a particular problem with the transmission as different issues may produce the sound. However, you may narrow down to the exact cause by doing the following: • Try to engage the reverse gear. If the whining gets higher with the revere, it means that the fluid line of the transmission has been clogged. In most cases, a clogged fluid line points to a more significant is ... read more

It's a hot day outside and you must get out of the house. You're eager to get out in the car and get the air conditioner (A/C) blowing so you don't melt in the sun. You jump in, and you feel the cold air; you quickly notice an unpleasant smell along with the cold air and have no clue what's happening! Unbeknown to some, there are smells that can creep in your cars A/C. Here's what you need to know and what it can mean for your car. There's a chance that you're smelling something that's in the air around your car that's just filtering through you're A/C. In this case, driving away will resolve the problem. If you happen to smell gas, mold/mildew, vinegar, or burning you should be concerned. Gasoline Smell: Your car has a cabin air filter… it will do a good job filtering out a lot of harmful materials, but stronger smells like gas it may not get. If your car is leaking gas, there is a chance that gas will get sucked into y ... read more

When you press your brake pedal, what happens? Either your car glides to a nice, smooth stop, or you jitter, vibrate, and squeak along to a halt, accompanied by the acrid smell of burning rubber. It can feel pretty catastrophic but is actually a fairly common scenario and usually indicates warped brake rotors. So what exactly is a brake rotor, and how does it become warped? Using the word "warped" is a bit misleading since uneven wear on the rotor is the actual culprit behind these problems. The rotor is an iron disc connected to the hub of your car's tire. When you press the brake pedal, brake pads clamp down onto the large surface area of the rotor and create friction, which resists the spin of the wheel and enables your car to slow down or stop. As you can imagine, this braking process creates a large amount of heat. This heat causes uneven wearing in two different ways. In one situation, the brake pads overheat. The grippy material comprising the pads becomes too so ... read more

Winter Presents the most challenging months for drivers. It is a season that takes a toll on vehicles and drivers, from salt damages, low tire pressures, frozen fuel lines, among others. It is a season that tests vehicle endurance in harsh conditions. Most drivers choose their car models on their ability to maintain functionality during winter. Today, we outline essential car care tips that will empower your vehicle to survive winter drives. Get Winter Tires Winter tires are recommended in icy and snowy places. They provide better traction when turning or stopping on cold pavements. If you are taking along winter drive, consider changing your regular tires to winter tires to enhance vehicle endurance on the road. Check Tire Pressure Regularly During winter, tires can wear down prematurely due to low pressure. With every 10-degree drop, the car tires lose pressure, which affects traction on the road. Before heading out, always check for any underinflated tires on the road. Inspect ... read more