Shocks and Struts reduce vehicle weight transfer providing superior handling through the toughest conditions. Replace worn shocks and struts to help improve vehicle handling characteristics and comfort. Good news! A fresh set of shocks can enhance more than just your ride. They help improve braking and handling under certain driving conditions, and they make vehicles safer and easier to control. This helps make the road safer for everyone. 

Interconnected undercar parts that could affect a driver's ability to avoid accidents are stopping, steering, and stability. 

If you see or experience any of these symptoms call Cloquet Automotive at 218-879-1974 or your local automotive service provider. Protect what's important -- follow technicians's suggestions. 

Though you may never even see it, a wheel hub bearing unit is an important part of your car's wheel assembly, enabling you wheels to turn freely and playing a crucial role in the safety and handling characteristics of your vehicle. Comprised of precision-manufactured bearings, seals and sensors in one preassembled unit, a wheel hub bearing unit is critical to your car's performance, form the smoothness of the ride, to fuel efficiency, to the integrity of your anti-lock braking system (ABS). So when it's time to replace one, you'll want a replacement hub bearing that's as good -- and safe -- as the original that came with your car when it was new.

Your car's hub bearings include the wheel speed sensor that controls your anti-lock braking system (ABS). This sensor sends a constant signal to the ABS control system telling it how fast each wheel is turning. In an emergency situation, the ABS control system will determine if anti-lock braking is required. If the ABS sensor doesn't work properly or fails, the ABS system fails, so the quality of this sensor (how it is made and protected from damage) is critical to braking safety.

Your car's traction control system (TCS) uses a combination of electronic drivetrain controls in conjunction with the ABS system. Since it uses the same wheel speed sensors and components as the ABS system, it can be considered a subsystem and extension of that system. Together, ABS and TCS work to provide the driver with full control over the vehicle under potentially dangerous road conditions. 

Many manufacturers sell replacement hub bearings that are very low priced. Initially, you may think that is a great deal or value. Unfortunately, with that low price, you get a low quality hub bearing that is inferior to a premium, Original Equipment quality hub bearing. We call these hubs "value grade, " and experience has proven that these low performing "value grade" hubs are no real value in the long run. In fact, in many cases:

• Value grade hubs last less than half as long as premium hubs.
  
• Their cheaply made seals can allow moisture and contaminants to enter and destroy the bearing prematurely -- requiring you to pay for a new hub in as little as 10,000 miles. 
  
• They can produce annoying wheel vibration and noise
• They can cause your anti-lock braking system to malfunction, leading to safety concerns for your vehicle.
• They can even result in your wheel hub coming off while you are driving -- potentially causing a fatal accident.

YES! Value grade hub bearings are often made using low quality steel and/or improper manufacturing techniques. These hubs can degrade quickly and cause excessive vibration and noise. In some cases, the steel can fracture and cause a wheel to break off at high speeds.

Cloquet Automotive provides a wide range of repair services for both import and domestic automotive brake systems. Every auto technician at our shop in Cloquet, Minnesota, knows it is important that you understand how the brake system in your car or truck plays a vital role in keeping you, and your passengers, safe. The components in the automotive brake system are not designed to last for the life of your vehicle and are bound to wear out over time as you drive around. The brake pads (aka brake shoes) are the most common brake replacement service we do here at Cloquet Automotive. This is because every time you depress your brake pedal the brake pad strikes against the brake rotor (aka drum) causing the material to wear down over time. If the brake pads are allowed to wear down for too long the underlying metal surface of the pads will contact your brakes' metal rotors. This is when most will start to hear a grinding or high pitch screech when your brake pedal is applied.  Ignoring your brakes at this  point will not only result in an unsafe situation, and can result in additional service to your vehicles brake system which will most likely increase your brake repair cost.

Our auto mechanics stress to our customers that knowing when to have the brake system in your car or truck serviced is vital in order to keep brake service and repair costs to a minimum. Simply, being aware of the warning signs of potential brake failure can save you money on costly brake repair expenses for your particular vehicle. Your very own senses of hearing, touch, and sight can be of a substantial assistance to you. Some common indications of brake problems may include:

• The appearance of the brake warning light in your dashboard
• Brake fluid that is either low or dirty
• Grinding or screeching noises (as previously noted above)
• A "spongy" feeling when applying your brake pedal.
  

Our mechanics at Cloquet Automotive are trained and certified to service all types of front and rear brake systems. When bringing your vehicle in for a brake service or repair one of our trained auto technicians will provide you with a thorough brake inspection to make certain both your front and rear brakes are working properly. Additionally, we can provide you with a brake problem diagnosis that will give you service options and a brake repair cost estimate. Our mechanics specialize in everything from:

• Anti-Lock Brake Systems (ABS)
• Brake rotor servicing
• Brake cylinder replacement
• Brake pad replacement
• Brake rotor replacement
• Brake fluid flushes to remove air and moisture from your brake lines
• Brake fluid replacement

So, the next time you have a brake system issue, give us a call (218-879-1974) and let our trained team of automotive brake professionals service your vehicles brake system. We will be sure to get you back on the road quickly, and you will leave here knowing you received the best quality service for the best price the twin ports area has to offer.

They may not be something you think about very often, but your vehicle's brakes are one feature that should always be in top working condition. We get quite a few calls from customers wondering if they need their brakes replaced or not. Most of the time we need to have a vehicle in our presence in order to determine if it needs brakes because there's only two ways to know. Let's look at how to know when you need new brakes.

There are two ways to check for brake wear on disc brakes. You can either look at the pads or listen to your bakes when applied. To check for brake pad wear visually look at your brake pads through the spaces between the wheel's spokes. The outside pad will be pressed against a metal rotor. Generally, there should be at least 1/4 inch of pad. If you see less than 1/4 inch of pad, you may want to have your brake pads inspected or replaced. 

The second way to determine you may need new brakes is to listen. Have you ever heard a high-pitched screeching sound when you applied your brakes? That's a small metal shim, called an indicator, which is giving you an audible warning that you need to replace your brake pads. You should be aware of this sound (which is loud enough to be heard while the windows are up, but not necessarily loud enough to be heard over the radio or air conditioner). If you hear it regularly, quickly make an appointment with your mechanic. 

One exception is if your car has been sitting after being exposed to water, such as from rain or from washing it. The moisture can cause a thin layer of rust to develop on the brake rotors. This is normal. When you first apply the brakes, the pads pressing on the rust-covered rotors may cause a squeal for a few stops until the rust is worn off and then the sound will disappear. 

Here are some other signs of brake problems. If you experience any of these, you should schedule an appointment as soon as soon as possible: 

Reduced responsiveness or fading. If your brakes are not as responsive as they should be or if the pedal "sinks" toward the floor, this could be an indication of a leak in the braking system. It could be an air leak (in the brake hose) or a brake fluid leak. One telltale sign of a brake fluid leak is the presence of a small puddle of fluid when the car is parked. Brake fluid looks similar to fresh motor oil, but with a less "slimy" texture. 

Pulling.  If your vehicle "pulls" to one side while braking, it may be a sign that the brake linings are wearing unevenly or that there is foreign matter in the brake fluid. Your vehicle may need a brake adjustment or to have the fluid drained and replaced. 

Grinding or growling. This loud metallic sound means that you have worn down the pads completely, most likely beyond replacement. The grinding or growling noise is caused by the two pieces of metal (the disc and the caliper) rubbing together. This can "score," or scratch your rotors, creating an uneven surface. If this happens, do not be surprised if your mechanic tells you that the rotors need to be "turned" (a process that evens out the rotor surface), or even replaced. 

Vibration. A vibration or pulsating brake pedal is often a symptom of warped rotors (but can also indicate that your vehicle is out of alignment). The vibration can feel similar to the feedback in the brake pedal during a panic stop in a vehicle equipped with anti-lock brakes. It is a sign of warped rotors if the vibration occurs during braking situations when the anti-lock brakes are not engaged. Warped rotors are caused by severe braking for long periods, such as when driving down a steep mountain or when towing. Tremendous amounts of friction are created under these conditions, heating up the rotors and causing them to warp. The vibration is felt because the brake pads are not able to grab the surface evenly. If you drive in these conditions, make sure to stop periodically to allow your brakes to cool off. 

For many owners, maintaining the vehicle's brakes is something that is often overlooked. But keeping your brakes properly calibrated and in good working order can prevent costly repairs down the line, and, more importantly, help you avoid a collision.