Baldwinsville Auto Repair

  Have you ever heard your car squeaking or creaking as you drive down the road? Or maybe you’ve noticed that your car is pulling to one side, or the steering wheel isn’t quite centered. If so, you might have an issue with your ball joints. But what are ball joints? Let's discuss what ball joints are on a car and why they’re important to your vehicle’s performance and safety. Ball joints are part of your car’s suspension system, which is responsible for absorbing shock and providing a smooth ride. They’re found on the front suspension of all vehicles. They connect the steering knuckle to the control arm. Ball joints are basically a pivot point that allows the wheels to turn and move up and down as you drive over bumps and uneven surfaces.   Ball joints are important because they allow your car to absorb shock and maintain proper wheel alignment. If the ball joints are worn or damaged, your car’s handling and ride qual ... read more

  Ever wondered how we can smoothly steer a car around corners with just a turn of the steering wheel? Well, it's all thanks to a cool thing called a "rack and pinion." Let's dive in and learn about this nifty mechanism that makes driving so much easier. What is a Rack and Pinion? Imagine you're turning the steering wheel of a car. Inside, there's a clever setup called a rack and pinion. Picture a toothed bar (the rack) and a toothed rod (the pinion) meshing together. When you turn the wheel, it spins the pinion, and that makes the rack move side to side. That's what helps steer the car. How Does It Work? Think of it like this: you've got a pizza cutter (the pinion) rolling along a slice of pizza (the rack). As you turn the handle (like the steering wheel), the blade (the pinion) moves side to side across the pizza slice ( ... read more

    For car owners, power steering is an absolute must. It makes driving easier and safer. And also provides extra control when maneuvering tight corners or reversing into a space. But what exactly is power steering and how does it work? Let’s look at the basics of power steering, its benefits, and why it's essential for any car owner.     What Is Power Steering? Power steering is a system that uses hydraulic pressure to aid in the turning of a vehicle’s wheels. This pressure is generated by a pump that is powered by the engine. Which then forces fluid through hoses to the steering gear assembly. This assembly turns the wheels in response to driver input from the steering wheel. In essence, power steering makes turning your car much easier than it would be otherwise. Without power steering, drivers would have to put considerable effort into turni ... read more

    You’ve probably heard of serpentine belts before, but do you know what they actually do? Serpentine belts are an important part of your car's engine. And can drastically impact its performance. Let’s take a look at the purpose of a serpentine belt and why it’s so crucial for your car.   The Basics of Serpentine Belts A serpentine belt is a long, flexible belt that wraps around several components in the engine, such as: The crankshaft pulley Alternator pulley Power steering pump   The belt is driven by the crankshaft pulley, which connects to the engine’s main crankshaft. As the crankshaft spins, it turns the belt, which in turn drives all the other components in the engine.     What Are The Benefits of a Serpentine Belt? The serpentine belt drives many components at once instead of needing separate belts for each com ... read more

    Making the decision to repair or replace your car can be tough. On the one hand, you don’t want to sink too much money into an old car – but on the other, you don’t want to spend more than you have to. Before making any decisions, weighing each option’s pros and cons is important. Let’s break it down for customers looking for guidance.   Assessing Your Car’s Condition The first thing to do before deciding whether to fix or get rid of your car is to assess its condition. If your car is newer and still under warranty, many repairs may be covered by the manufacturer. And that makes it easier to decide whether to keep it or not. If it’s an older model, other things need to be taken into account. Consider how much money you have already invested in repairs versus how much longer you think the car will last if fixed again. Inv ... read more

  Owning a car can be a great joy, but it is also important to understand the basics of vehicle maintenance. One component that is often overlooked is the tie rod. This plays an important role in your car’s steering system. Learn more about what a tie rod is and why it is so important for both safety and performance. What Is a Tie Rod? A tie rod is a metal bar that connects two parts of your vehicle’s steering system together. It helps to keep your wheels aligned. And ensures that the movement of one wheel is transferred to the other wheel. This keeps you driving straight or turning in the direction you want. The tie rod also helps to absorb some of the impacts from bumps in the road. Or sudden shifts in weight as passengers get into or out of the ... read more