Wheel Chamber Car Safety

Anyone who owns a car knows it is important to regularly service your car at an auto repair shop. This prevents damage to your car, and keeps you, and the drivers around you, safe. There are four main parts to your wheel chamber that need to be checked on a regular basis. These are super simple things you can do yourself and don’t require an auto repair shop. The following will explain the four parts of the wheel chamber that needs to be checked to keep you, your family, and other drivers safe.

What is a Tire Rod Joint?

A tire rod joint is what connects your tire to the tire rod and axle. These joints play a major role in your car turning left or right, the alignment, and the suspension. All it takes is a slight fracture caused by rust or impact to damage one of these joints, which will in turn inhibit your ability to steer the car correctly. If the damage is severe enough it could cause you to lose control of your steering. This could potentially cause a bad accident. Many people mistake a bad tire rod joint for their alignment being off because the symptoms appear to be the same. Some of the signs to look for when you are driving is a shaking or vibrating wheel, your car pulling to one side, and unusual wear on a specific tire. Unless you notice any warning signs, you only have to check this every six months to a year, depending on the age of your car, and the climate you live in. In the northern states where it snows a lot, and on older cars, this should be checked every six months. Newer cars only have to be checked every year or so. To check it, jack your car up, and take the tire off. Then, examine the ball joint with a flashlight for any fractures or excessive rust.

What is Alignment and Camber?

The alignment and camber are what keeps your car driving straight. This is something that needs to be checked every six months. If your alignment or camber is off, it can cause an uneven pull on the car which can cause an accident or cause your tire to blow out. Alignment pertains to the front two tires, and the camber only pertains to the rear two tires. It is very difficult to throw the camber off in a car. However, it is very important that you check it. There are some warning signs you can look for in between checkups. Some of them include the car pulling to the left or right when you let go of the steering wheel, your front end vibrating or shaking when you drive, and uneven wear on your tires. If you notice any of these signs, it is important you make an appointment at an auto repair shop. Because of the steps involved to fix this issue, it must be done by a trained mechanic.

What is Tire Rotation?

Rotating your tires is not only something you can do to keep yourself safe, but it extends the life of your tires as well. Depending on the miles you drive, this should be done every four to nine months. If you drive 50 or more miles a day, rotate your tires every four to five months. If you only drive your vehicle to the store, and don’t take it on long trips, you only have to rotate your tires every eight to nine months. The process to rotate your tires is very simple. The front tires go on the back, and the back tires go on the front making sure to switch sides. For example, if the tire came from the back left, it will be put on the front right. This is a very simple process; therefore, you can do it yourself, as long as you have two hydraulic vehicle jacks. If you choose to do this yourself, make sure the car is parked on a flat surface. Never on a hill or incline.

What are a Few Tire Tread Safety tips?

The most hazardous item in a vehicles wheel chamber is the tire. The main things you should be concerned about on your tire are the balance, tread wear, and tire pressure. All three of these things can cause a tire blow out, which can potentially endanger the safety of anyone in the vehicle. The tire pressure is something that needs to be checked at least once a week. It is very simple and a quick thing to do. If you don’t have a tire pressure gauge, most gas stations have a gauge and air pump. When you check the pressure in your tires, examine your tires to make sure there are no debris stuck in your tires tread, and no bubbles or splits in the tread. If you have a tire that is unbalanced, the tread will expand in one section.

Keeping yourself and your family safe in your car begins with keeping track of the condition of your wheel chamber. Most of these things require very little time, and most you can even check and fix yourself. Just as completing these safety checks on a regular basis is important, so is watching for the warning signs. Not only will these checks keep you safe, but they will also increase the life of your tires.