AUTONET TV
Archive for February 2021Give it the Boot (Ball Joint Boot Replacement)Posted February 28, 2021 11:05 AMYour vehicle may be wearing boots right now and you might not even know it. They're called ball joint boots. They're actually protective, flexible things that protect parts of your suspension (called ball joints) from all the hazards the road can fling at them. If one of those ball joint boots fails and you don't get it replaced, the ball joints themselves could wind up failing, a repair that can be even more expensive. Ball joint boots not only keep things like rocks, salt, water and dirt out of your ball joints, they also help the ball joints keep their lubrication inside and working properly. To do that, the boots have to be made of a flexible material, sometimes rubber, sometimes a synthetic. They do take a beating, exposed to temperature extremes and debris, and eventually they can tear or crack just because of their age. Unless someone is keeping an eye on your ball joint boots, you may never know there's a problem. That's why when you regularly take your vehicle in to a repair facility for other things like oil changes and routine maintenance, a technician will inspect the ball joint boots to make sure they're still in top shape. If they're not, your service advisor will let you know. Take care of that soon and you may avoid having to replace the ball joints themselves or other suspension parts which may be much more expensive. Often it's best to replace boots on both sides of the vehicle since they frequently wear at about the same rate. If you want to make a fashion statement, some ball joint boots come in various colors other than run-of-the-mill black. And some aftermarket boots are made of a more durable material than the original equipment that came on your vehicle. Some drivers get a real "kick" out of flashy ball joint boots! McLearen Shell McLearen Shell Often Asked About Premium vs. Regular GasPosted February 21, 2021 8:15 AMHerndon residents often ask the question: "Will using premium gas make my car run better?" The answer is simple. But first, let's talk about what exactly premium gasoline is. For help identifying the type of gasoline your engine needs, come by McLearen Shell in Herndon. McLearen Shell Timing Belt Replacement in HerndonPosted February 14, 2021 11:34 AMToday we want to talk to Herndon drivers about timing belts. They're something that many drivers don't know much about and yet your vehicle won't run if it's broken – and it could cause many thousands of dollars damage if it does break. A broken timing belt is usually a tale of woe. Even though timing belt replacement is scheduled in the owner's manual, it's not the kind of thing that most Herndon area auto owners remember because it's not well understood. Contact McLearen Shell to learn more about your car's timing belt 3043 Centreville Road Sometimes Herndon drivers can go quite a while without a failure, but we've seen them happen within a couple of oil changes of being due. It's not worth the risk. Shake It up in Herndon!: Why Wheel BalancingPosted February 7, 2021 8:08 AMOur vehicles are not massage chairs. While we may enjoy a good vibration in an overstuffed recliner, we generally want as smooth a ride as possible in our vehicles. One way to achieve this is to keep a vehicle's wheels in balance. When a tire is mounted onto a wheel, it is usually out of balance. This means that as the wheel spins, there is a slight wobble to the path of the tire. For best handling performance and safety on the road, Herndon drivers want to minimize this wobble as much as possible. So we balance our tires. To balance a tire, your technician at McLearen Shell spins it on a machine or drum to determine where it is off-balance. He then attaches weights that counter-balance the uneven weight. Most people in Herndon are surprised at how much balancing improves the smoothness of their ride. High-quality tires generally hold their balance well. But over time, wear and tear take their toll and tires can become unbalanced. Herndon drivers can tell when a front tire is unbalanced if they feel a vibration in the steering wheel. If a back tire is unbalanced, you'll feel a vibration in your seat. You may not notice these vibrations until they get fairly serious — or until someone else drives your vehicle — because they usually develop slowly. If a vibration starts abruptly, it usually means you've lost a balancing weight. The average tire rotates at about 850 revolutions per minute at 60 mph/97 kmh. When a tire is out of balance, it actually hops down the road, rather than rolling. So at 60 mph/97 kph, it is slamming into the pavement 14 times a second. That's what creates the vibration. When tires are out of balance, they wear out more quickly. The lack of balance also causes extra wear on shocks, struts, steering components and suspension parts. Getting a balance job at McLearen Shell in Herndon can prevent repair bills and even an accident. It will improve the safety of your vehicle as well as its handling performance. When you change your rims or get a flat repaired at McLearen Shell, you'll need to get your tires balanced as well. When you rotate your tires, you may want to have them balanced, too. Some Herndon vehicle owners, however, only balance their wheels every other rotation. You can check your owner's manual to see what is recommended for your vehicle. Balancing your tires is part of preventive maintenance. It keeps your vehicle in good repair and prevents damage to many of its components. So practice good vehicle care and make it a point to keep your tires balanced. It's quality auto advice from McLearen Shell. Massage chairs may vibrate away our worries, but unbalanced tires will just rattle Herndon drivers' nerves. McLearen Shell
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Reviews
Excellent work. Josh always does all the maintenance for my Porsche, VW Taureg, and Subi Outback. I can always count on him doing what is needed and never trying to upcharge me for work that is not needed. Jack, 11/30/2021 |
Took our Acura RDX in for brake service today. The staff at McLearen Shell did an excellent job, replacing the front discs & rotors. They advised that the rear pads still had 50% material remaining. Have had a variety of automobiles serviced at this service station over the last 25 years and there service remains outstanding and very reasonably priced. Highly recommended. Rob Saunders, 04/21/2022 |
Great team at McLearen Shell, have regularly changed out brakes, bulbs, oil, valve cover gasket, spark plugs, etc. on a 1998 Gen 4 Camry LE for the past three years. Trustworthy, professional and they know these older still-running vehicles. Always respectful to Ladies interested in vehicle mechanical function and maintenance as well Margaret, 06/16/2021 |