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Archive for July 2024Smooth Operator (Shocks and Struts)Posted July 28, 2024 4:44 AMFew of us ever drive somewhere without encountering some pretty rough roads, and it's amazing how well our vehicles are able to smooth out the ride. Thank your shocks and struts. The two parts are similar. Some cars have shocks in the rear, and struts in the front. Others have struts all around. A shock absorber uses a cylinder filled with gas or liquid that's connected to your vehicle's frame and axle. When your vehicle encounters an imperfection in the road, the shock dampens the motion. A strut is essentially a shock absorber mounted inside a spring and can support more weight than a shock by itself. Shocks and struts take a lot of punishment and wear out. When they do, your tires are not contacting the road as much as they should, and that can result in a bumpy, unstable ride. Worn-out shocks and struts also transfer the impacts of road imperfections directly to your vehicle's body which can cause further damage to other parts. You can tell when your shocks and struts are wearing out when your vehicle's ride is bouncy, you feel the bumps and body motion a lot more than you used to, or you may see fluid leaking from the areas near the wheels. How often your shocks and struts need replacing depends on what surfaces you drive on, how far they've traveled, and how long they've been on the vehicle. Our technicians can check the condition of your shocks and struts and advise you when they need to be changed. Shocks and struts should always be changed in pairs. Because shocks and struts wear out gradually over a long time and distance, experts recommend you have them checked at least once a year. Plus, if you know you've recently hit something especially hard in the road, you should have your suspension checked just to make sure it's ok. Hans Imports North Kingstown Air Conditioning ServicePosted July 21, 2024 4:43 AMWorking up a sweat is a great thing to do in a gym around North Kingstown, but not in your vehicle. When North Kingstown residents' vehicle AC Systems have a problem, they'll often feel it right away. The question is, how long do you put up with it? You know, the old comfort versus cost dilemma. But a more comfortable drive around RI has a lot of benefits, and keeping the AC System well maintained can help prevent repairs. Hans Imports
Them's the Brakes (Brake Rotor Resurfacing)Posted July 14, 2024 5:42 AMYour vehicle's brakes wear out. It's inevitable. You'll notice it when you step on the brake pedal and feel it harder to stop, or there's vibration when you are braking. Most modern vehicles have disc brakes that each use a brake pad that press on a disc (disc brakes!) called a rotor. The friction between them enables you to stop, and each time you do a little bit of the pad and the rotor wears down. The original brakes on vehicles used a rotor that was thick enough to last through at least two replacements of the pads. But vehicle manufacturers who want to save costs and weight now make them thinner, and sometimes the rotors have to be replaced after the first pad replacement. But not always. Vehicle manufacturers specify a minimum thickness to provide safe braking. Sometimes rather than having to have your rotors replaced, they can be put on a lathe and resurfaced. In other words, the surfaces of the disc can be slightly shaved off so the surface is flat and doesn't wobble. Whenever you bring your vehicle in to have the brakes checked, the technician will measure the thickness of the rotors to see if they can be resurfaced without leaving them too thin for safe braking. If they can, with the right tools and skill, the rotors can be resurfaced. If not, the rotors should be replaced. Discuss the options with your service advisor. Our service center can recommend replacements that are designed to help stop your vehicle as well as or better than the vehicle's original rotors. Either way, keep in mind that keeping your brakes in top condition can supply the margin of safety that may one day save your life or the lives of those around you. Hans Imports Automotive Tips from Hans Imports: Alignment InspectionPosted July 7, 2024 5:44 AMUneven tire wear, the car pulling to one side or a steering wheel that is off-center are signs for North Kingstown drivers that their wheels may be out of alignment. | ||
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Excellent shop. Thorough and honest. I've had all sorts of repairs and routine maintenance done on my older (2006) Subaru. My car is old enough to vote and it runs flawlessly thanks to Omar and his team. Work is consistently high quality. If you care about your vehicle this is the place to bring it.
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Very impressed with Han's Imports. Did a nice job with maintenance on my BMW and my wife's Benz. I also appreciate the thorough check of the rest of the car as part of their 1st look at the cars. I'll be back.
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