AUTONET TV

Keep It Rolling Right

Keeping your tires rotated regularly is one of the simplest yet most important maintenance services you can perform on your vehicle. It is where each tire is moved to a different position: front to back, side to side. That rotation helps to ensure your tires wear evenly, which directly impacts safety, performance and long‑term cost.

Front and rear tires experience different loads and stress. Front tires handle steering, braking and most of the vehicle’s weight during stops, causing them to wear faster. If the front tires are not rotated, uneven wear can lead to reduced traction, longer stopping distances and a less stable driving experience. Rotating your tires helps balance out these forces, giving all four tires a more consistent grip on the road.

Another benefit of even tire wear is it improves fuel efficiency. When tires wear unevenly, they create more rolling resistance and make the engine work harder, resulting in lower mileage. A simple rotation can help maintain optimal efficiency and save you money at the pump.

When your tires are regularly rotated, it extends their life. You know what a new set of tires can set you back, and rotation helps you get the maximum mileage out of them. It also allows technicians to inspect your tires regularly for damage, punctures or alignment issues before they become serious problems.

Many manufacturers recommend you keep your tires rotated about every 5,000 to 7,500 miles/8,000 to 12,000 km.  Think of it this way.  Tire rotation is a small service with big benefits. It enhances safety, improves handling, boosts fuel economy and protects your tire investment.

Westmoreland Transmissions
2001 E LOOP 820 S STE 19A
FORT WORTH, TX 76112
817.466.7295
www.westmorelandtransmissions.com

Wobbly in Turns? Your Sway Bar May Be to Blame

When you take a corner in your vehicle, it’s supposed to feel controlled and stable.  But you might notice one day that your vehicle feels like it is unstable, or even like it’s floating.  It can be a scary sensation that gets your attention.  If you feel that as you change lanes or when turning a corner, it’s important that you not ignore it because the culprit may be your vehicle’s sway bar.

Another term for it is an anti-roll bar, and helps keep your vehicle balanced while you take a turn.  The sway bar connects your suspension’s left and right sides, helping to distribute its weight evenly.  When it’s working the way it’s supposed to, those turns feel predictable and rock-solid.  But when there’s a problem, you’ll notice your handling isn’t as reliable as it used to be. 
 
One of the most common issues involves worn sway bar links or bushings. A sway bar link is a small rod that connects the sway bar to the vehicle’s suspension.  A bushing is what secures the sway bar to the vehicle’s frame or subframe. Keep driving on rough roads and they’ll begin to wear out.  Your vehicle might lean in turns, “clunk” when you hit a bump or your steering will feel loose.

Don’t ignore these symptoms.  While you might think you can put up with an uncomfortable ride, failing sway bars can increase stopping distances.  Plus, you might find it harder to keep your vehicle under control on a slippery road. You might be wearing out other parts of your suspension, too, which can lead to expensive repairs down the road.

Bring your vehicle to us so a technician can inspect the sway bar, links and bushings. When the problem spots are found and fixed, you’ll get back your solid, precise handling, turn corners with confidence and enjoy the safe handling you remember.

Westmoreland Transmissions
2001 E LOOP 820 S STE 19A
FORT WORTH, TX 76112
817.466.7295
www.westmorelandtransmissions.com

Westmoreland Transmissions Tire Safety: Washington vs. Lincoln

Welcome to the Westmoreland Transmissions automotive blog. Today, let's talk about the effect of tire wear.

Let's focus on stopping in wet FORT WORTH conditions. In order for a tire to have good contact with the road, it has to move the water out of the way. If it can't move the water, the tire will actually ride on top of a thin film of water.

That's called hydroplaning. If it's really bad, FORT WORTH drivers can actually spin out of control - endangering themselves and the other drivers around them. At best, you won't stop as fast.

So how does a tire move water? It has channels for water to flow through. Look at your vehicle tire and you'll see channels: channels that run around the tire and channels that flow across the tire. They're designed to direct water away from the tire so it can contact the road better.

And the deeper the channel, the more water it can move. A brand new Westmoreland Transmissions tire has very deep channels and can easily move a lot of water. As the tire wears down, the channels become shallower and can move less water. When it wears down enough, it can seriously affect your ability to stop your vehicle on wet FORT WORTH roads.

So that's why it's so important for FORT WORTH drivers to replace their vehicle tires when they get worn. Consumer Reports and other advocate groups call for a standard of 3/32 of an inch and they have the studies to prove it.

At Westmoreland Transmissions, we want our customers to know that the deeper recommended tread depth makes a big difference. Stopping distances are cut dramatically on wet FORT WORTH streets. A safe stop from TX speeds with 4/32 of an inch of tread would result in a crash with worn out tires.

There's an easy way to tell when a tire's worn to 4/32 of an inch.

Just insert a quarter into the tread. Put it in upside down. If the tread doesn't cover George Washington's hairline, it's time to replace your vehicle tires. With a Canadian quarter, the tread should cover the numbers in the year stamp.

Many FORT WORTH residents have heard of this technique using a penny and Abe Lincoln's head - the old method. That measure gives you 2/32 of an inch – half the suggested amount. Of course, vehicle tires are a major purchase. Most of us in FORT WORTH want to get as many miles out of them as we can. But there's a real safety trade-off. It's your choice.

Westmoreland Transmissions
2001 E LOOP 820 S STE 19A
FORT WORTH, TX 76112
817.466.7295
www.westmorelandtransmissions.com

That Clunk Isn’t Normal: Why Your U-Joints Need Lubrication (Lubricate U-Joints)

If you’ve noticed a clunk when shifting from park to drive, accelerating from a stop or letting off on your accelerator, it may be your vehicle warning you about dry or failing U-joints. Those are small, critical components in your drivetrain that allow the driveshaft to flex as your suspension moves, transferring power smoothly from the transmission to the wheels. 

They take a licking every time your vehicle is on the road since they’re always moving and bearing a heavy load.  The key to keeping U-joints healthy is making sure they’re lubricated.

If they’re not, they’ll be at the mercy of their main nemesis: friction.  Bearings inside then begin to wear, which can cause a lot of play in the joint.  That play is what makes the clunk you can hear and feel.  If they don’t get lubricated, a dry U-joint can overheat, seize or even fail completely.  That can lead to damage to other systems, such as your driveshaft, differential or driveshaft. 

Another sign you may have a U-joint that’s failing is vibration at highway speeds. The more wear it gets, the less smoothly your driveshaft rotates. You may hear a stutter or hum when you go faster. Your driveshaft may even come loose, leaving you in a very unsafe situation.

U-joints that can be serviced have grease fittings.  We recommend you have us lubricate yours at regular intervals.  That’s especially important on trucks, SUVs and if you tow with your vehicle. 

If it’s been a while since your drivetrain has been inspected and you notice clunking noises or vibrations, have one of our technicians check your U-joints. Taking care of the issue early can prevent other costly repairs and keep you on the road safely and smoothly.

Westmoreland Transmissions
2001 E LOOP 820 S STE 19A
FORT WORTH, TX 76112
817.466.7295
www.westmorelandtransmissions.com

Keeping Your Cool (Water Pump Replacement)

No matter what the temperature is outside, it's important for your vehicle's engine to remain cool, calm, and collected.  Well, cool, anyway. If your vehicle has a gasoline engine, it's powered by a bunch of explosions involving spark plugs, pistons, gasoline, and air.  And the by-product of all those things working together? HEAT.

There's a whole cooling system to keep everything at a tolerable temperature for your engine's parts, and a key part of that is the water pump.  Technically, it's pumping more than water. It should actually be called the "coolant" pump since the liquid that circulates through the system is a mixture of water and coolant. 

Basically, the water pump keeps this coolant moving through your engine, where it picks up the engine heat, and then is pumped into the radiator where it gets rid of that heat.  When a water pump fails, the engine heat can build up.  When you get a warning light on the dash (either a gauge or a light) that shows the temperature is too high, it could mean a bad water pump. 

They can fail for many reasons. They have bearings in them that wear out, as does the seal between the pump and the engine. They're often driven by a belt or chain that can go bad.  Corrosion can spell the end of a water pump, too. 

If a technician determines your water pump has failed, it's time to replace it. In addition, other components of the cooling system will be inspected.  The best way to avoid a water pump failure is regular maintenance of your cooling system which includes regular draining and flushing of the coolant. 

Just like it's important for you to keep your cool, the same goes for your vehicle's engine.

Westmoreland Transmissions
2001 E LOOP 820 S STE 19A
FORT WORTH, TX 76112
817.466.7295
www.westmorelandtransmissions.com