Rocklin and Sacramento Auto Repair

When it comes to ease and precision of steering, today’s vehicles are engineering marvels.  One of the keys to just how good steering is lies in the refinement of power-assisted steering which we know simply as power steering.  At the heart of the system is an electrically or belt-driven power steering pump.  It can apply hundreds of pounds of hydraulic pressure to the steering gear so you can turn your heavy vehicle with little effort. The more time and distance your vehicle travels, the more wear your power steering pump experiences. One sign your pump may be aging is that you hear a whining or groaning sound coming from your wheels when you turn. You also may feel a vibration through the steering wheel, or the wheel is harder to turn or responding more slowly than normal.  Another sign of trouble with the power steering pump is power steering fluid (reddish-brown) leaks on the ground around your vehicle. If you encounter these symptoms, have us check your v ... read more

When it comes to brakes on your vehicle, we all know how important it is to keep them working well because they are vital safety equipment.  After all, if you can’t slow down and stop, you can’t drive safely.   While many vehicles use what are called disc brakes, there’s another type of brakes that are used on the rear wheels of vehicles that have something called drum brakes.  Drum brakes were the original type that were invented in the early twentieth century.  The term drum comes from the part of the brakes that is a housing connected to your wheel.  Inside there are parts called brake shoes that press against the drum when you step on the pedal, and the friction slows and stops your vehicle.   Signs your brake shoes might need replacing are your rear brakes make noise when you step on the pedal and they vibrate when you brake.  Another sign of bad brake shoes is that your hand brake stops working.  If you notice one or both ... read more