Important Undercar Maintenance to Keep Your Drive Smooth and Efficient

Undercarriage? Why do I need to worry about my undercarriage? Out of site, out of mind, right? Wrong. Your undercarriage plays an important role in your vehicle’s overall performance. Your brakes, exhaust, suspension, and steering system are just a few of the vital parts housed underneath your vehicle. These things are constantly exposed to bad road conditions, potholes, extreme weather and other wear and tear that can be really hard on your vehicle. Keeping an eye on these things and having regular maintenance checks can help save you money and time – keeping your undercarriage in better condition long term.

Tires – coming in direct contact with the road, your vehicle’s tires experience a great amount of wear. Your tires can last longer when balanced, rotated, and aligned from time to time.

Exhaust – your vehicle’s exhaust system guides exhaust fumes away from the engine. A properly functioning exhaust system is better for you, your car, and the environment. A malfunctioning exhaust or muffler can allow gases to seep into the interior of your car, and often grows louder as the problem worsens.

Alignment – When the wheel alignment of your vehicle is off, your ability to drive safely is compromised. Common signs of an alignment problem include your car pulling to one side or a shaky steering wheel.

Shocks and Struts –your suspension system connects your vehicle to its wheels and plays a big role in how smooth your ride is; each part, from the tires to ball joints, is important. Some parts, like the shocks, struts, and coil springs wear faster than others and needs to be inspected regularly and sometimes replaced. Properly working shocks reduce the effect of traveling over rough ground. Struts work a bit differently than shocks in that they provide structural support for your car’s suspension.

Chassis – the chassis is your car’s internal (bottom) framework; it supports the body of your vehicle as well as other parts; like the wheels, engine, transmission, driveshaft, differential, and suspension.

Differential – The differential allows the outer drive wheel to rotate faster than the inner drive wheel during a turn. This allows for smooth, accurate motion and steering.

Anti-lock Brakes – Anti-lock brakes prevent wheel lock-up by monitoring and maintaining optimal brake pressure during an emergency stop.

Contact Dave’s Muffler in Kenosha to keep your vehicle running smoothly today!