Tangent and Albany Auto Repair

While many vehicle owners are diligent about regular oil changes and tire rotations, the often-overlooked ball joints play a crucial role in the overall safety and performance of your vehicle's suspension system. In this blog post, we'll explore why changing your ball joints is not just a maintenance suggestion but a fundamental aspect of ensuring the safety and longevity of your vehicle. 1. **Steering Precision and Responsiveness:** Ball joints are pivotal components of your vehicle's steering system, connecting the steering knuckles to the control arms. As you turn the steering wheel, the ball joints allow for smooth and controlled movement. Over time, these joints can wear out due to constant movement and exposure to road debris. Changing your ball joints ensures that your steering remains precise, responsive, and free of any unnerving clunks or vibrations. 2. **Enhanced Tire Wear and Alignment:** Worn-out ball joints can lead to improper wheel alignment, causing une ... read more

Experiencing vibrations or shakes while driving can be disconcerting, raising concerns about your vehicle's performance and safety.  1. **Wheel and Tire Imbalances:**    One of the most frequent reasons for a car to shake is imbalances in the wheels and tires. Uneven distribution of weight or tire wear can lead to vibrations, especially at higher speeds. Regular tire rotations and wheel balancing can help prevent this issue. Tire rotations should be done every 5,000 miles.  2. **Wheel Misalignment:**    Misaligned wheels can cause uneven tire wear and result in vibrations. If your car consistently pulls to one side, it's a sign of potential wheel misalignment. Aligning the wheels properly can eliminate shakes and improve overall handling. We recommend an annual alignment for you vehicle. Pot holes and other hazards can cause your alignment to be misaligned.  3. **Worn or Unbalanced Tires:**    Tires with uneven wear or those that ... read more

What is a rack and pinion? Your rack and pinion is one of your steering components. Inside the rack and pinon, it has a pinion gear that is round. This connects to the steering column shaft. It also has a rack gear which is flat. The pinion gear stays stationary. It moves the rack gear back and forth as you turn your steering wheel. From there it connects to the tie rods that are connected to the knuckle at your wheel. This allows you to turn your vehicle. Give us a call and let us take care of you. Happy Adventures, Heather   Our specials can be found here - Specials - J & H Automotive, Inc Ready to make an appointment … Appointments - J & H Automotive, Inc Want to know more … About Us - J & H ... read more

When you're turning and your car jerks it could be an issue with your axle or suspension. Any time that your vehicle is making a weird noise or has started to drive differently it's best to have it looked at for your safety.  Give us a call or request an appointment on our website at www.jhautomotiveinc.com/appointments Happy Adventures, Heather

Kingpins are on larger vehicles, they hold the knuckle to the straight axle or I-beam. On smaller vehicles will have ball joints instead of the kingpin. When they wear out it will have excess play in the steering.  If you're having excess movement in your steering then it may be time to have it checked out.  Happy Adventures,  Heather

I know today is black Friday and that itself has become a national holiday, but with all of that please remember to shop at the local stores in your town. They are small businesses trying to provide for there families, they work long hours with very little reward other than to know they are making a difference in the lives of the people who they employ and to there children. We are a small business too and sometimes people forget.  Please remember to shop small and support that local family who is doing their best to make a difference. Happy Adventures,  Heather

When your steering wheel is not straight it can be an issue with your alignment. Not all roads are maintained the same and some can have pot holes. If you hit one of those just right it can cause the tire alignment to be off making your steering wheel off center and your steering and suspension could be misaligned causing uneven tire wear and poor handling.  Give us a call to set up an appointment and we will do an alignment check for you. We recommend that you have an alignment performed on your vehicle every 12 months and each time you purchase new tires.  Happy Adventures Heather