Saturday, September 24, 2005, posted by Jay Stevens at 12:13 AM


A flat tire is one of the most common emergencies to happen. If you carry a spare and can replace the tire yourself, a good jack and the proper lugwrench and your skils will eliminate the problem. When having a flat tire, make sure to find the safest place away from the road when you have to pull over. Often the shoulder doesn't offer enough stability or protection from speeding traffic. Make sure you park your Ford away from potential roadside accidents.


If you do end up stranded, it is a must to always make yourself visible to oncoming traffic. In many cases, your Ford's hazard lights won't offer you enough visibility. Road flares and reflective triangles are essential to any emergency kit. Also, a cellular phone can be extremely helpful when you need to call for help on a busy highway or in a remote area. (So its ideal to never leave home with its battery nearly empty) It's always a good idea to have a blanket, gloves and non-perishable food items in case you get stuck for a while in the cold.

Roadside emergencies though, can be largely prevented by maintaining your vehicle. Proper tire maintenance, for instance, can lessen the risk of you running a flat tire. Always check your Ford wheels for defects. If a replacement is necessary, you could always save time by checking online auto parts stores like Ford Parts Online that are reliable for its quality ford parts and extremely affordable prices. You can easily find the perfect tire for your Ford through Ford Parts Online's easily navigable catalog. So if safety is your priority, make sure to keep your car’s tires in good condition and to get auto parts only from trusted online stores like Ford Parts Online.

 



Friday, September 16, 2005, posted by Jay Stevens at 11:50 PM


The basic function of your Ford's shock absorber is to keep the wheels in contact with the road surface under all roads and load conditions. The shock absorber is not a weight-supporting device, and serves only as a damping device for the spring or torsion bar suspension system. Your Ford's shocks keep the springs from oscillating freely after the ford wheels roll over road irregularities. Without shock absorbers, your Ford vehicle would have a bouncing ride, as energy is stored in the spring and then released to the vehicle, possibly exceeding the allowed range of suspension movement. Control of excessive suspension movement without shock absorption requires stiffer (higher rate) springs, which would in turn give a harsh ride. Your car's shock absorbers allow the use of soft (lower rate) springs while controlling the rate of suspension movement in response to bumps.

Some common indications of shock absorber failure are steering or handling difficulty, uneven braking, abnormal tire wear (especially cupping), springs bottoming out, excessive bouncing after stops, worn steering and suspension components and noise caused by loose shock absorber attaching parts

Make sure your Ford vehicle always gives you a safe ride. Make sure that your shock absorbers are always in good condition. If your Ford's shock absorber is dripping fluid, it is a sign of leakage. It calls for replacement. You can find the best replacement Ford Auto Parts at Ford Parts Online, where they provide a complete line of new, top of the line Ford parts for a price that's less.