When you drive your vehicle do you feel that the ride is tired, bouncy and loud? Maybe your vehicle does not feel like it is handling like it used to when she was new?

Here at Ferrel's Garage we hear about how our customers feel that their vehicle just does not ride like it used to. Their vehicle is lacking the firm ride and handling it used to have. The handling and ride quality is even more noticeable after comparing to a ride in a newer vehicle with less then 40,000 miles on it. These comments tend to always refer to tired, weak and/or leaking struts and shocks. 

I have complied a small list of information on struts and shocks and their importance to a vehicle and ride quality. 

• Struts

Help control body and tire movement: vehicle bounce, roll and sway.

• Struts help maintain consistent handling and braking by keeping the tire firm to the road.
• Struts also help reduce uneven tire wear and premature failure of suspension joints and bushings.

I have attached a picture of a shock from a customer's vehicle that had a noise over bumps complaint. This vehicle had roughly 80,000 miles on it. After road testing the vehicle, duplicating the customer's complaint, lifting the vehicle and performing a visual inspection, we found the rear shocks leaking and able to be compressed with minimal effort. The rear shocks compressed so easily because there was not much fluid left inside.  With the customer's approval we installed new rear shocks. After installing the new rear shocks the noise was eliminated and the ride quality from the back of the vehicle was greatly  improved. 

The most comments I hear about a new vehicle is how much firmer, better handling and how it takes bumps when compared to an older car. These comments are the same that I receive after new struts and shocks are installed.  coincidence?

Although new struts and shocks can be a costly adventure, they are a wonderful investment to make in a vehicle if you plan on keeping your vehicle for many years. 

Winter has finally come to Rochester. Snow, slush, salt and ice cover our roads. If you have tires that are low on tread, then you more than likely have already experienced poor traction due to the winter road conditions. Tires need to have good tread in order to gain traction by pushing away water, snow and slush.

I would like to say that although some all season tires say they are all season,  they are just not designed to handle all of winter's road conditions. I say this because we have replaced several almost brand new sets of tires because customers could not get around town and up their driveway with good traction,  confidence and peace of mind.

A tire that is an "all-season plus" traditionally has the mountain and snow flake symbol which designates that the tire is designed to handle winter conditions. I have attached a picture of the symbol. 

If your slipping, sliding and want your tires checked, then stop by the garage.  We would be happy to check your tires for you.

Hello everyone,  writing  this post because I feel the need to show the effects of corrosion from dissimilar metals.  At the shop here we are finding many corrosion issues causing vehicle failures.  This issue is going to become allot more common as vehicles are being made from lighter metals such as aluminum followed by components of different metals that are attached. Attached here is a picture of a fuel pump driver module that has failed from corrosion.  The module failed because of corrosion due to salt and aluminum mounted to a steel frame.  Unfortunately many vehicles are being produced this way.  

We burn waste oil.  If you have old oil from changing your lawn mower, car,  tractor, snowmobile, then bring it down and help keep us warm.  We won't charge you for taking your old oil. 

Hello everyone,  it is bitterly cold outside in Rochester. This week again is supposed to be single digits and negative digits.

I decided to do a quick post on wiper blades. Regular all season wiper blades are just not holding up to the cold, ice and snow.  All season wiper blades have openings between the blade and arm that collects snow and ice. If they are not pulled off and cleaned before being used, then they break and tare. The attached photo is just an example of what I have been seeing multiple times a day.

I also attached a picture of a winter wiper blade since they have a heavy duty rubber sleeve that covers the whole arm to help keep them from breaking. They tend not to break from pushing the snow.

Remember to clean your windshield, pull those blades up and clean them before use!

Clint Ferrel

Hello on a cold, temperature dropping and snowy day. 

Here at Ferrel's Garage we have been having an increased amount of phone calls about vehicles not starting, turning over slowly and just plain turn the key and nothing but the sound of a quick click. All symptoms of a weak or dead battery.

You maybe asking, so why does a battery fail in such cold weather?  The answer is that the chemical process inside the battery to get the electrical current going is reduced and causes a slower reaction. The capability of a battery is reduced over time as the chemicals inside breakdown.  Therefore an older and weaker battery will have less capability and less current produced in cold temperatures, which can not be enough to start the engine of the vehicle. A new battery will be able to have more current and amps, allowing the engine to start.

I would like to take this time to also stress the importance of a good battery in newer vehicles. The conception that the alternator charges  the battery and powers the car is not true anymore.  The sole purpose of the alternator is to maintain the battery. The battery of a vehicle is the electrical heart of the car. It powers and maintains all the fun electrical gadgets, options, body control modules and engine computers of the car. So when the heart gets weak,  the alternator works overtime and becomes stressed out.  Eventually it becomes so stressed out from being over worked it quits. (This may sound familiar to you if you think of your own personal job.) You can help prevent replacing an alternator by replacing the battery once it has become weak and/or old. 

If you have questions about your battery or batteries in general, then please give us a call at 585-454-5649.

- Clint Ferrel

Hello everyone! We just wanted to let you know that for the month of June we are participating in Monroe's driving SAFETY promotion.  This promotion allows you to get a $20, or $30 prepaid card when you purchase qualifying Monroe, Rancho shocks and struts.

Here is a break down of which purchases will get you which prepaid card.

• Purchase 4 qualifying Monroe, or Rancho Shocks and get a $20 Prepaid Card

• Purchase 2 qualifying Monroe Shocks and 2 qualifying Monroe Struts and get a $30 Prepaid Card

• Purchase 4 qualifying Monroe Struts and get a $30 Prepaid Card
• Purchase 4 qualifying Monroe Quick-Strut Replacement Assemblies and get a $30 Prepaid Card 

This promotion is a mail-in deal just like the previous promotions we participated in back in March, April, and May. This means you will need to mail in a copy of your service receipt, as well as the promotional form. We will give you both of these once the repairs to your vehicle are complete. Mail both of these things to:
Monroe driving SAFETY Consumer Offer, P.O. Box 342140, Memphis, TN 38184.

Be sure to have your submission postmarked by August 1, 2014. This promotion is only valid for repairs and purchases made in June 2014. This offer does not apply when repairs, or purchases are being made under warranty. Please, allow 8-10 weeks for processing. Your prepaid card will be mailed back to you.

Greetings everyone! We are excited to let you know that for the months of April and May we will be participating in the Walker Exhaust Extravaganza. This promotion allows you to receive either a $50 prepaid Visa card, or $100 prepaid Visa card when you purchase qualifying Walker mufflers, exhaust assemblies, and direct-fit catalytic converters with the repair of your vehicle.

Here is a break down of which purchases will get you which prepaid Visa card.

• Purchase 1 Walker Direct-Fit, or Walker CalCat Direct-Fit Catalytic Converter and get a $50 Visa Prepaid Card

• Purchase 1 Walker Quiet-Flow SS Muffler, or Welded Assembly and get a $50 Visa Prepaid Card

• Purchase both a qualifying Walker Muffler, or Welded Assembly and a qualifying Catalytic Converter and get a $100 Visa Prepaid Card

After your qualifying purchase has been made, complete the redemption form and attach your copy of the repair invoice to it. Then Mail both forms to Walker Exhaust Extravaganza Consumer Offer, Dept. #TN14-1103, P.O. Box 472, Scottsdale, AZ 85252-0472. Don't delay in mailing in your forms. They need to be postmarked no later than June 30, 2014!

    Greetings everyone! We are super excited to share with you today that for the months of March and April we are participating in Monroe's "Everything Get's Old" Promotion. What this sales event means to you is that you receive a prepaid Visa card of up to $120 when you purchase qualifying Monroe shocks and struts with the repair of your vehicle.

• Here's how it works:
  
  • Purchase 4 qualifying Monroe or Rancho Shocks and get a $30 Visa Prepaid Card
  • Purchase 2 qualifying Monroe Shocks and 2 qualifying Monroe Struts and get a $60 Visa Prepaid Card
  • Purchase 2 qualifying Monroe Shocks and 2 qualifying Monroe Quick-Strut Replacement Assemblies, or 2 qualifying Monroe Struts and 2 qualifying Monroe Quick-Strut Replacement Assemblies, or 4 qualifying Monroe Struts and get a $90 Visa Prepaid Card
  • Purchase 4 qualifying Monroe Quick-Strut Replacement Assemblies and get a $120 Visa Prepaid Card Value

    After we have finished performing the necessary repairs on your vehicle. Simply fill out the promotional form and submit your copy of the repair invoice from us to: Everything Gets Old Consumer Offer, P.O. Box 342140, Memphis, TN 38184. You can also submit your information online at www.tenneco-promotions.com. However, if you submit your information online you will still need to mail your copy of the repair invoice from us along with your confirmation page from the online submission to the above mentioned address. Once the good folks at Tenneco receive your paperwork and all the required information, you will receive your prepaid card in the mail within 8-10 weeks.

This promotion can be redeemed once per household, can not be combined with any other offers, and last until April 30, 2014. 

Hello,

I decided I would take sometime tonight to write about the importance of getting your suspension and steering components lubricated regularly. Before I begin writing I would like to define the term regularly. "Regularly" will equal each oil change.

Unfortunately almost all vehicles that are at least 10 years old came from the factory with steering and suspension components that did not come with grease fittings. Why you may ask? So parts will wear out quicker. Being able to lubricate components with new and fresh grease regularly allows for longer life of components. Almost all aftermarket replacement pieces for bushings, steering & suspension components all contain grease fittings. Therefore I must tip my hat to aftermarket companies such as Moog, since their parts allow for regular lubrication, longer life and ultimately a happier customer.

Below is great example of what can happen to a part that is not lubricated regularly. Customer's complaint was noise when turning and going over bumps. The upper ball joint was extremely loose & surprisingly had not broken! The ball joint displayed below had never had regular lubrication and as a result the metal ball worn metal on metal contact with the joint. The best comparison I  can equate this to is a knee, hip or shoulder socket on the human body that no longer has any ligaments or Bursae as a buffer. As a result the ball grinds into the socket creating pain, noise in the case of a car. If this ball joint had been lubricated regularly, then it may have lasted a much longer life.

At Ferrel's Garage Inc. we lubricate any components with fittings regularly as part of our service to the customer. If someone else or another company is doing your oil changes, then please make sure that they lubricate any parts that can be lubricated. Lastly, if a part has worn out and is in need of a replacement, then consider one with a grease fitting if it is available. You, your wallet & your bank account will be happier in the long run.