Brakes: Some Interesting Facts!

Judging by the number of near-rear-endings we witness on our morning commutes, the typical attitude toward brake service appears to be, "Brakes: Don't let them stop you!" Why is that? Monitoring your braking system's health is one of the most vital aspects of car ownership.

If you are looking for Brake Repair Billings MT than your search can be over now with our Precision Auto Repair Services Billings MT shop. Also find Brake Replacement Billings MT to have safe driving.

To help you understand a little more about the importance of brakes, here are a few quick facts that may be of interest:

    * The power generated by the braking system of a modest family car can exceed 500bhp (brake horse power), outstripping the engine output of virtually everything on the road.

    * The first production car with hydraulic brakes (i.e., using pipes and fluid rather than cables) was the 1920 Duesenberg, an American luxury car with a "straight eight" engine. Chrysler brought the now universal feature to mass-produced cars in 1924.

    * The legendary Dunlop-developed disc brakes that helped Jaguar win the Le Mans 24-Hour race in 1953 were referred to as "plate brakes." The term "discs" came later.

    * Formula One racing is where the most advanced brakes are found. During 1997, German driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen recorded a force of 5.99G under braking, around six times the braking performance of a conventional road car. This meant that Heinz-Harald's 65kg body momentarily weighed nearly 390kg. To achieve this deceleration he had to push the brake pedal of his Williams-Renault with a pressure of 150kg.

    * The 1967 Porsche 911S was the first production car to feature ventilated disc brake rotors. Now common, these rotors have cooling channels running between the two friction surfaces to give better cooling and therefore better resistance to brake fade during heavy applications.

    * Modern braking components need exceptional wear resistance, heat resistance and exceptional stopping capabilities. Under extreme conditions their operating temperatures can average nearly 350°C.

    * Harmful agents such as asbestos, lead and cadmium have been removed from modern brake pads. Today's friction materials are mixtures of fibers, fillers, lubricants and a binder resin. Designed for cast iron rotors, these are generally too aggressive for lightweight alloys. Less aggressive linings have been developed, but practical aluminum or composite discs for everyday road cars remain in the experimental stage.

    * To improve noise suppression, smoothness and stopping performance, the mass of disc brake rotors has increased over recent years.

    * Disc brake rotors were once considered one of the simplest parts of a car to manufacture. However, with today's sophisticated electronically monitored brake systems, tolerances need to be extraordinarily tight because the slightest shudder can confuse the car's anti-lock braking system.

Properly working brakes are essential to vehicle safety and reliability. Have a brake service at least once a year to keep them working as efficiently and effectively as originally desinged. You need to be confident that your vehicle will come to a complete and precise stop.

Looking for a quality brake service? Contact the ASE Certified Technicians at Precision Automotive by calling (406) 248-2838, or go on-line to www.pricesprecisionauto.com for more information. Our Tech-Net professional auto shop in Billings, MT, also services vehicle owners in the areas of Shepherd and Laurel, MT.

Advice from an Auto Repair Shop: 8 Ways to Reduce Driving Stress!

Getting stressed out when behind the wheel can turn a daily commute or a fun-filled road trip into a dangerous affair. Take the advice from an auto repair shop on some ways you can reduce stress while driving. Don't find yourself needing major auto repair because of a stress-related accident.

If you are looking for Air Conditioning Repair Billings MT than your search can be over now with our Precision Auto Repair Billings MT shop. Also find Car Maintenance Billings MT services to have safe driving.

Because it is easy to let the little things throughout the day create a stressful and unpleasant drive, here are eight tips from an auto repair shop that can help reduce driving-related stress:

1. Go Zen – Make your car a calming oasis for a long daily commute or an extended road trip--an air freshener with essential oils, a massaging seat cover, or subdued music. Remove items that might distract you, such as a water bottle rolling around in the back seat; and a ringing phone (put it in driving mode, or silence it altogether).
2. Give Yourself Extra Time – Allow yourself extra time to get where you're going, including a 'getting lost' buffer for new destinations. If you are running late, remember that getting into an accident or getting pulled over is considerably worse than being late!
3. Know Your Route -- With smart phones and in-dash navigation, it's easy to start your trip without a second thought. But checking the route in advance means you get a jump on any major construction or traffic delays.
4. Keep Snacks On Hand -- Being stuck in a car and being hungry can cause irritable and stressful behavior. Keep non-perishable snacks, like energy bars or nuts, in the car for emergency situations.
5. Entertain the Kids -- Bored children are noisy children. Minimize in-car fighting or grumpy behavior by having games, videos, or other entertainment methods on hand.
6. Be Prepared -- Try to prepare for things that make you nervous, like parallel parking, reversing, or turning, and you'll find that you'll be much less stressed out when you encounter them in real-life driving situations.
7. Use Technology -- Safety systems, like rearview cameras and blind spot warning systems, can take the pressure out of stressful driving situations.
8. Recognize Stress -- If you start to recognize the symptoms of stress, such as a death-grip on the wheel or hunched over the wheel, deliberately relax your hands and fingers, and try leaning back. If necessary, pullover for a minute and relax.

Remember that your life or the lives of others could be at risk if you are stressed while driving.

Looking for a professional auto repair shop? Contact the ASE Certified Technicians at Precision Automotive today by calling (406) 248-2838, or go on-line to www.pricesprecisionauto.com for more information about their auto repair services. Our Tech-Net professional auto center in Billings, MT, also services vehicle owners in the areas of Shepherd and Laurel, MT.

Exhaust System: The Muffler tells all!

Is your car starting to perform poorly, barely getting you to work and back? Or is your muffler announcing your entrance to the neighborhood? You may have a leak in your vehicle's exhaust system. Here are three main indicators of problems:

The "check engine" light on the dashboard lights up;

The engine runs poorly

The engine idles rough;

Loud noises come from the muffler. 

If you are looking for quality Exhaust Systems Billings MT than your search can be over now with our Precision Auto Center Billings MT shop. Also find Engine Service Billings MT mechanic to solve your car problems.

If you are a "Do-It-Yourselfer," you may be able to determine if there is a leak in your vehicle's exhaust system, and also pinpoint the location and source of the leak. Here are a few tips that will help save you time and money at an auto shop:

• First, make sure the engine is cool while you look under the hood. Small leaks get smaller because metal expands as it heats up. This makes them difficult to detect.
• Force the exhaust through any leaks by temporarily covering the muffler. Start at the engine and follow the exhaust system all the way to the end, feeling for hot air escaping through the pipe, especially at the connectors, common areas for leaks. Be sure not to touch the hot muffler.
• Remove the plastic engine cover to inspect the exhaust manifold for cracking or warping. This problem is especially common in older cars.
• It is common (again especially in older cars) for the gasket connecting the manifold to the cylinder head to crack. You may feel hot air escaping from the gasket as well as a strong smell of fumes.
• Check the pipes or muffler for rust. Areas weakened by rust often cause leaks. It is easy to fix if it is just surface. It will be a more extensive repair if the rust goes all the way through the metal.
• If you are not comfortable performing these tests yourself, take your vehicle to an auto shop. Many will run tests free of charge in order to recommend the appropriate service.

Need an inspection of your exhaust system? For answers to your questions about your vehicle's exhaust system, contact the ASE Certified Technicians at Precision Automotive today by calling (406) 248-2838, or go on-line to www.pricesprecisionauto.com for more information. Our Tech-Net professional auto center in Billings, MT, also services vehicle owners in the areas of Shepherd and Laurel, MT.