Getting preventative maintenance done regularly is a major part of vehicle ownership and, in all reality, saving yourself a great deal of money overall. As winter approached us, many of us were seemingly just trying to get through the season. This mindset can sometimes leave important jobs untouched for several months.
Winter conditions tend to be harsher on your vehicle due to extreme temperature change, road conditions, and extra wear and tear on operating parts. Coming into a new season now is the best time to catch up all maintenance.
Let’s look at the top three areas of maintenance to continue with this spring.
1. Brakes
From when you’ve last had your brakes serviced, there is a certain grace period where you may only have to replace your brake pads. Leaving them un-serviced for too long, however, can lead to more costly repairs such as rotors, calipers and possibly brake lines and brake boosters-- depending on your service history. Make sure to take your vehicle into a trusted technician to ensure all brake components are functioning accordingly.
2. Suspension
Less than optimal snow removal creates very uneven and rough conditions, consistently stressing on all parts of your suspension. A simple fix left untreated, such as shocks or springs, can cause extra stress on ball joints and bushings. Suspension wear and tear, usually spanning over a longer period, may less likely be noticed due to the slow wear of the parts. With someone looking at the suspension they will be able to tell you if you need to replace any parts to ensure a smooth and comfortable ride. You will be able to notice a huge difference if your suspension parts have been worn down.
3. Tires
Whether you are getting your tires changed over or not, it’s still encouraged to take your vehicle in for an inspection. A specialized technician can more so understand what your tire is showing, such as uneven wear patterns and possible cracks and gashes. Though this may not be noticed during everyday driving- these problems can start to throw your alignment off, or even worse, complete malfunction of your tire.
