Posted by & filed under Cooling System.

Today we want to talk about a key system in our cars – the cooling system. It’s one of those things that Kent drivers don’t give much thought to until it fails and then they’re stranded by the side of a road in Kent.

Cooling systems fail more often than any other mechanical system – usually because of neglect. Don’t you hate it when something breaks, and you could have done something to prevent it?

The good news is that if Kent motorists take care of their cooling systems they can keep working for the life of their car.

Here at AutoNetTV and Central Avenue Automotive in Kent, we emphasize critical preventive maintenance services like replacing your coolant according to the factory schedule. But the various parts that make up the cooling system need attention too. The major components of the cooling system are the water pump, freeze plugs, the thermostat, the radiator, cooling fans, the heater core, the pressure cap, the overflow tank and the hoses.

It sounds complicated, but we Kent drivers don’t have to be experts – we can leave that to our considerate service professional at Central Avenue Automotive. But, having an overview will help us remember how to take care of your car’s cooling system.

Most Kent folks would be surprised to know that burning fuel in your engine produces up to 4,500 degrees of heat. And all that heat has to be dealt with. If the heat can’t be drawn off the engine, the pistons will literally weld themselves to the inside of the cylinders – then you just have to throw the engine away and get a new one. That would cost thousands of dollars.

Now the water pump is what forces the coolant through passages in the SUV engine to absorb heat. The pump is driven by a belt that needs replacement from time to time. And the water pump will eventually wear out and need to be replaced. Spending some cash on replacing the belts and water pump is much less than the cost of repairing the extremely expensive damage that can be done when an engine seizes.

There’s another little but key part of the coolant system that protects the engine. It’s called a freeze plug. If you remember from high school chemistry, water expands when it freezes. In very cold areas, the coolant can actually freeze when the SUV is left sitting.

It is hard to believe, but the expanding frozen coolant is strong enough to actually crack the engine block. The freeze plugs fit into the engine block. They fit tight enough to withstand the pressure of a running engine, but can expand or pop out if the coolant freezes. These little things save a lot of engine blocks.

That brings up a good point. An engine has to work in all kinds of WA temperatures – extremely hot as well as very cold. How does the SUV cooling system adapt to external temperatures as well as varying operating conditions?

Well, it’s much like the way you keep your Kent house at a comfortable temperature all year round – with a thermostat. The thermostat in your SUV controls how much coolant flows through your engine. When the engine is cold, it restricts coolant flow until the engine comes up to an efficient operating temperature. Then it starts opening up to move more coolant to keep the temperature within a specified range.

The thermostat needs to be replaced from time to time as well. It’s easy for your Central Avenue Automotive service specialist to diagnose a failed thermostat and is fairly inexpensive to replace. We can do this for you at Central Avenue Automotive in Kent, just give us a call: 253.854.6762. Now we’ve been talking about all this heat we’ve got to get rid of, but haven’t really talked about where it goes. That’s where the radiator comes in. The hot coolant passes through the radiator. Air flows past the cooling fins and cools the coolant.

The radiator has two tanks that hold coolant: sometimes one at the top and bottom or one on either side. If you have an automatic transmission in your SUV, one of the tanks will also contain a second tank that cools the transmission fluid. Large SUV’s and trucks often have a separate transmission cooler. So when Kent car owners drive around Kent, the air is forced past the radiator. But driving doesn’t produce enough air flow. So the radiator has cooling fans that force fresh air over the radiator. These fans may be powered by a belt or by electric motors.

Kent drivers also have something called a heater core. The heater core is like a mini radiator. A small fan blows air over the heater core and into the passenger compartment of your SUV. That’s how Kent motorists warm their cars when it’s cold out in WA.

Next is the radiator cap. With most newer cars around Kent, you never remove the radiator cap, except to replace it. You add coolant through the overflow tank. The radiator cap is also called a pressure cap, because its important job is to maintain pressure in the cooling system.

High pressure raises the boiling point of the coolant, so it cools more effectively even in very demanding Auburn conditions. That is why Kent drivers need to replace the cap from time to time. The team at Central Avenue Automotive recommends changing it out every time you replace your coolant.

Coming back to the overflow tank, it is key because when the coolant gets hot it expands and the overflow holds the extra volume. The tank helps maintain the proper level of coolant and keeps air out of the system. Kent drivers should never open the radiator cap or over flow tank when the engine is hot. This could lead to serious burns.

What else do we Kent motorists need to do to keep our cooling systems working well? Well, there are the hoses that hook all of these pieces together. They’re obviously very tough to deal with the pressure and high temperatures. But they do get worn. Sometimes they get spongy from the heat. Sometimes they lose their connection to the radiator, water pump, etc. It’s a great idea to have your Kent service center or considerate Central Avenue Automotive service professional inspect your hoses at least once a year and replace them, if needed, before they break.

The team at Central Avenue Automotive can check your cooling system and make any necessary adjustments or repairs. Give us a call at 253.854.6762.

Central Avenue Automotive
1514 Central Ave S Ste A
Kent, WA 98032
253.854.6762

Posted by & filed under Cabin Air Filter.

Let’s talk about air quality in Kent. It’s a global issue, but affects us wherever we are. Many decades ago, we began to become aware of how air pollution negatively affects health. But what about the air inside your vehicle?

Cabin air filters are now coming standard on most new SUVs and other cars. These filters purify the air in the passenger compartment. They can filter particles down to three microns, so that’s good enough to clean out dust, pollen and most pollutants. If you suffer from allergies, this is very good news. Your car can be a haven during your Kent commute.

Air Filters Keep Air Clean

Now, it’s only been in the last several years that cabin air filters have become common. You can look in your owner’s manual to see if your car has one. If you do, there’ll be a recommendation for replacing it when it gets dirty. If you live in an area where there’s a lot of dust, pollen or pollution, you may need to change it more often. As we come out on the far side of spring and move into summer, certain allergens will be more common.

If you suspect that your air filter is dirty or needs to be replaced, it’s time to make an appointment at your local auto shop. How hard is it to change an air filter on a car? It depends on your vehicle. Some are quite accessible, while others require skill and knowledge to get to. They’re usually in the engine compartment or under the dashboard.

Because cabin air filters are so new on the scene, some drivers haven’t heard of them – even people who have cabin air filters in their car or SUV. If you’ve noticed a strange, musty, or weird smell in your cabin, it could be the result of a dirty filter. To keep the air in your car fresh and the allergens at bay, make sure you always have a clean air filter!

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Posted by & filed under Windshield Wipers.

If you’re gonna drive around the Auburn area, you’ve got to be able to see! So having a good pair of windshield wipers is extremely important. We’ve all experienced the frustration and fear of not being able to see clearly during a storm, or when our windshield is just dirty.

It seems like your wiper blades are always at their worst when you need them the most. But windshield wipers are like most other vehicle parts– they require regular attention in order to work their best.

You really ought to replace your wiper blades twice a year; in the spring and the fall. If it’s going to be a particularly harsh winter in Kent, you may even want to get special winter blades in the fall. Winter blades are designed to resist freezing.

Speaking of winter and freezing conditions, if your car has been sitting for a long time and the windshield becomes frozen, don’t use your wipers to clear off snow and ice. That’ll just tear up the blades and cause them to wear out more quickly. It may even damage the wiper motor.

Over time, wiper blades become hard and brittle, and then tear. They also lose their flexibility and just don’t cover the windshield effectively.

Worn wiper blades aren’t just a safety hazard; they can also scratch your windshield. That may require replacing the entire windshield; a big cost for such a little part.

Replace worn blades right away. Your local service center can provide you with a quality replacement blade. They cost about the same as they would at the store; but installation is included at Central Avenue Automotive.

Of course you also need washer fluid to help your blades do their work. Even though your local Kent service center will top off the washer fluid with a full service oil change, it is a good idea to have some extra fluid at home, or in the car if you are on a long trip.

Always use windshield washer fluid. Plain water, even that fancy bottled water, may freeze in the fluid reservoir or on the windshield itself, making things worse. Besides, water won’t do a good job of cleaning your windows.

And remember that some vehicles have two reservoirs: one for the windshield and one for the back window – which may be under the hood or somewhere in the back.

So follow these tips to keep your windshield clear and your eye on the road, and give us a call at Central Avenue Automotive or come by our shop at 1514 Central Ave S Ste A, Kent, WA 98032. Call to make an appointment at 253.854.6762

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Posted by & filed under Fluids, Maintenance.

Car Maintenance to Save Gas

If there’s one constant that Kent drivers are always painfully aware of, it’s the rising price of gas. For some, the obvious answer for saving some gas money is to buy a more fuel-efficient vehicle. For the rest of us, we can’t just go out and buy a new hybrid, so we need to improve our fuel economy any way we can.

Following recommended service intervals to get your fluids changed is one of the best ways to keep your car running efficiently. Regular fluid service results in better fuel economy. When you think about it, this makes perfect sense. Dirty oil or transmission fluid can’t lubricate or clean, and that means more drag, which reduces fuel economy. Keeping up with scheduled oil changes and transmission services will save gas.

Another simple, but very effective, way to save gas is to keep your tires properly inflated. Tires that are too low can cost you up to a mile per gallon. Check your tire pressure when you gas up, or at least once a month.

Dirty engine air filters are another efficiency pirate. They rob your engine of the air it needs to effectively burn the fuel, which means you need more gas to get the job done. Replacing a dirty air filter can pay for itself in fuel savings before the next oil change.

You can imagine what dirty fuel injectors can do to your SUV as you drive around town. If your manufacturer specifications recommend a fuel system cleaning every so often, then call in or go online to make an appointment at our shop and ask us to get it done for you.

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Posted by & filed under Brakes.

Richard Petty once told AutoNetTV, “You’ve gotta have good brakes. If you’ve got good brakes you can keep yourself out of a lotta trouble.”

This is why it’s so important for Kent drivers to get a regular brake inspection. An inspection at Central Avenue Automotive will ensure your brake system is operating optimally and prevent big trouble later.

Of course, if you’re having issues with your brakes, get your car into the shop right away. Keep an eye on your car and bring it in if you experience any of the following:

  • Low or spongy brake pedal
  • Constant squealing or grinding from your brakes
  • A brake warning light that stays on
  • Hard brake pedal
  • Vibrations or clunking sounds when you apply your brakes

If you are experiencing any of these issues, you really need to have your brakes checked.

Brake Inspection

There are two types of brakes: disc and drum. Disc brakes have a rotor that’s attached to the axle. Calipers straddle the rotor, similar to the way brakes on a bicycle work. Drum brakes are more common on back wheels.

Both types have pads or shoes that press against the brakes and slow the vehicle down. Brake pads and shoes are made out of very tough material to withstand the heat and force generated when stopping your car, even repeatedly over time. Eventually, they wear out  and become too thin, which is when they need to be replaced.

If the brake pads wear away completely, it can cause severe damage when calipers grind grooves into the rotor. Then the rotor must either be resurfaced or replaced. This is dangerous because your vehicle won’t stop as quickly, and it can be expensive to repair. Additionally, sometimes rotors warp or crack and must be replaced.

Brake repair or service will also include a brake fluid check. When brakes are pressed, the pressure in the fluid actives the brake pads or shoes. Not enough fluid means not enough pressure to brake properly. Also, in damp environments, water builds up in the brake fluid over time, which leads to corrosion, leaks, and brake damage. With hard use, the brakes could severely fade or even fail. When you bring your car in, make sure a fluids check is always included in your service. Your technician should be able to tell you when it will need replacing.

Brake pads come in different grades: good, better, and best. Higher grades cost more, but give better braking performance and smoother operation. It’s okay to upgrade your brake pads, but you should never use a grade that’s lower than what the manufacturer recommends.

So, be sure to properly maintain your brakes, because it’s a lot cheaper than paying the body shop after an accident.

Come in to Central Avenue Automotive for an brake inspection before damage occurs. You can fill out our online form or call ahead for an appointment at 253.854.6762.

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Posted by & filed under Maintenance.

We live such busy lives nowadays: work, social events, running the kids all over Kent. Some days it’s all we can do to keep track of everywhere we need to be. That’s why you’ve gotta be organized. Smartphones, calendar apps – we have to keep track of it all.

So let’s talk about schedules. Specifically, automotive service schedules. And particularly, the key scheduled services that are sometimes forgotten.

Here is a list of 10 service items that are often overlooked by Kent drivers. They’re all very important and need appropriate attention. So here we go, in no particular order.

1. Power Steering Service
Be honest; have you ever thought of this on your own? Your power steering fluid gets dirty and builds-up moisture over time. Cleaning out your power steering system means that dirt and gum are removed and your vital power steering parts are protected from harmful corrosion. Next time you’re in for an oil change, ask your Kent service advisor if it’s time for a power steering check-up.

2. Wheel Alignment
When your wheels are out of alignment your SUV pulls to one side. It’s pretty annoying, but it’s also dangerous. And it causes your tires to wear out really fast; which is an unneccessary expense! Most auto manufacturers owners manuals suggest you get your alignment checked once or twice a year.

3. Differential Service
Did you even know you had a differential? Well, you do – one, two or three in fact. Differentials are often called gear boxes and they’re part of the drive-train that transfers power from your SUV engine to your wheels. They don’t need service that often, but you can’t completely forget them. Check with your considerate Central Avenue Automotive technician.

4. Cabin Air Filter
More and more Kent cars these days have cabin air filters (a great feature, in my opinion) to clean the air in the passenger area where we sit. They filter out dust and pollen. When they’re clogged up, they can get smelly. Change your cabin air filter on schedule to enjoy fresh, clean air, which can also help with allergies.

5. Timing Belt Replacement
Most cars and some vans and trucks driven around the Kent area have timing belts. Without going into a lot of detail, let’s just say that your car won’t run without it – period. And if it breaks while you’re driving it can do thousands of dollars worth of costly engine damage. Check your owners’ manual or with your Kent service advisor. If you’re approaching 60,000 miles; definitely look into it right away.

6. Transmission Service
Transmission serviceis very basic, but it’s often forgotten by Kent drivers. Your SUV transmission needs clean fluid from time to time to keep operating efficiently and avoid pricey repairs. And it can also improve your fuel economy.

7. Air Conditioning Service
Most of us Kent car owners don’t think about our air conditioning until it fails on a hot day in Kent. If you’re lucky, you just need to add refrigerant. If you’re not, some of the components may have been ruined. Of course, these components are not cheap. Regular air conditioning service at Central Avenue Automotive in Kent adds clean refrigerant which cools and lubricates your air conditioner and conditions the seals.

8. Brake Service
No we’re not talking about squealing, grinding brakes here. We’re talking brake fluid. Over time the fluid gets a lot of water in it. Because water compresses differently than the brake fluid, your brakes won’t work as well. It may even get dangerous. The water can also rust out brake system components and then your brakes can fail altogether. Check with your Central Avenue Automotive technician for recommendations.

9. Coolant System
Another thing that’s so easy for Kent car owners to forget about: When you don’t change your antifreeze on schedule it becomes corrosive. Fresh coolant contains additives that maintain the pH balance in the coolant. These additives wear out and the fluid in the radiator can actually eat holes in the radiator or hoses. Then you’re stranded – bummer.

10. Fuel System Cleaning
In these times of high fuel prices, fuel system cleaning is vital. Fuel gums up a bunch of parts as it moves from the gas tank and through the engine. A thorough fuel system cleaning at Central Avenue Automotive in Kent will keep clean gas flowing into the engine. Your fuel injectors also get gunked up over time and need to be cleaned. Having your fuel system cleaned on schedule at Central Avenue Automotive will really help your fuel economy.

There you have it; 10 services that are often overlooked. Did you know that a recent survey showed that 90 percent of vehicles on the road have at least one scheduled maintenance service that hasn’t been performed? Considering our busy lives, we’re not surprised.

Kent auto owners know it takes some thought and effort to actually maintain a vehicle; but it not only saves money in the long run – it saves time too. And we can all use a little more time.

Central Avenue Automotive can help with any of these services. Give us a call at 253.854.6762.

Posted by & filed under Maintenance.

Life’s full of surprises in Kent, WA, some of which cost money. A leaky roof, a broken tooth, or an unexpected car repair. Central Avenue Automotive and AutoNetTV have done some research on how we can budget for proper vehicle care.

Most Kent drivers do their best to budget for scheduled vehicle maintenance. What’s hard is unexpected repairs. The truth is that our SUVs can stay on the road longer than ever before with proper maintenance. That’s because of improved vehicle design and manufacturing quality. But some of those same improvements also lead to higher repairs costs.

Let’s take the fuel pump. Previous generations were often stranded by the side of the road by vapor lock. This occurred when the gas vaporized between the gas tank and the fuel pump. Fuel just stopped flowing. Kent drivers in this situation had to sit and wait until the car would start again. To alleviate the problem, fuel pumps are now located inside the gas tank. This is a great solution, but when the fuel pump fails, it’s a much more expensive to replace it.

Sealed wheel bearing assemblies are another example. These wheel bearings can’t be serviced – you just have to replace the entire assembly when it starts to fail. That costs several times as much as service on non-sealed bearings.

So we all benefit in Kent, WA from design improvements, but we need to plan for critical repairs down the road.

There’s a tool that can be found on Edmunds.com that Kent folks can use to prepare their service and repair budget.

Let’s suppose you have a 2003 Toyota Camry – a very popular car in Kent, WA. It’s now paid for and you’d like to keep it running for the next three years. You can go to Edmunds’ True Cost to Own calculator and enter your vehicle’s data. The calculator will provide estimates of what it’ll cost to service and repair your vehicle over the next five years. The estimate is based on where you live in or near Kent, WA, your car maker’s recommendations and repair experience for your particular model.

Of course these are just estimates – there’s no way to predict what’ll actually happen to the car in your driveway, but it’s a good starting point.

The calculator also has estimates for depreciation, financing, insurance, taxes and fuel costs.

Let’s focus on maintenance and repair. This table shows that the average monthly cost of maintenance and repairs is eighty-three dollars. That may sound like a lot, but compare it to a new car payment.

Budgeting for Maintenance

So if you set aside eighty-three dollars a month, you’d go a long ways towards taking care of routine maintenance and being prepared for the unexpected repairs that arise.

Of course, you can’t predict when something will go wrong or how costly it will be, but at least you have a reasonable target to shoot for.

Some Kent car owners are afraid of what can go wrong with their older SUV so they buy a new one. That’s fine if you really want a new SUV, but if you properly maintain your older vehicle, you’ll save a lot of cash on new car payments and WA auto insurance. It just makes good economic sense.

Get with your service professional at Central Avenue Automotive and work out a plan for keeping your SUV on the road.

You can visit Central Avenue Automotive at 1514 Central Ave S Ste A in Kent, WA 98032 or just give us a call at 253.854.6762.

Posted by & filed under Brakes, Cooling System, Dashboard, Engine, Monitoring System.

The car repair industry is full of acronyms, and sometimes the professionals forget that our customers aren’t as familiar with them as we are! We thought it’d be nice to create a key so you can better understand those odd terms your auto technician is using. Some of the most common automotive acronyms are:

LOF = Lube, oil, and filter. It’s pronounced “loaf,” like a loaf of bread.

DIS = Driver information system. This is a critical system that allows the driver to monitor functions like fuel mileage, tire pressure, and service reminders. Every DIS is different, so you should consult your owner’s manual for specific messages and symbol definitions.

ABS = Anti-Lock Brake System. This is a system that prevents your tires from locking up when you’re applying maximum brake pressure so you are still able to steer the car.

TPMS = Tire pressure monitoring system. This is a system that is designed to alert you when you have a tire low on air. This is displayed in the DIS, or as a random symbol on your dashboard. I always thought that a picture of a flat tire would do the trick, but almost every make of car has different symbol for the same thing, so it’s important to have a look at your manual.

PCM = Powertrain Control Module. The PCM is the “manager” of the vehicle. It takes all of the information from every sensor and computer on the car and then makes a decision about what to do next.

Automotive Acronyms BMW
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TPS = Throttle position sensor. This is a sensor that tells the engine computer how much pressure your foot is putting on the gas pedal so it knows how much air and fuel is needed to get the vehicle to do what the driver is asking it to do.

EGR = Exhaust Gas Recirculating. This is one of the first automated systems put into automobiles. The EGR system was introduced in the early 70s to reduce the amount of Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) in the air. It is the granddaddy of pollution control in cars.

BCM = Body Control Module. Its purpose is to control everything inside the car, including the radio, seats, heaters, sunroof, turn signals, and all of the car’s lighting functions.

SRS = Supplemental Restraint System. This is the system that maintains the airbags and seat belts. If the SRS light is on and you are in an accident, the airbags will not deploy and the seat belts won’t work as designed.

CSS = Cooling system service. This is a term that is used when a vehicle needs to have its cooling system serviced by doing a flush and replacing the antifreeze/coolant.

Next time you’re in the shop, it might be fun to through a few of these acronyms at the service adviser to show that you know what they’re talking about. This is just a small sample of all of the acronyms that are used daily in an automotive repair shop.

Posted by & filed under Transmission.

Possibly one of the top neglected services we see here in the shop is transmission fluid service. Transmissions start to fail at 60,000, 70,000, or 80,000 miles due to heat, or due to contaminated fluid.

Some manufacturers state that they offer lifetime transmission fluid. There is no such thing.

They say this to lower the initial cost of the ownership when you purchase a vehicle.

If you want to buy a brand new car and you only want to keep it for 70,000 or 80,000 miles, then go ahead and follow those instructions. You’ll probably be okay. The problems are going to arise for the next person who owns the car.

Check Your Transmission Fluid
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If you’re a person who will buy either a used car or a car that you’re going to keep for 150,000 or 200,00 miles, you should definitely keep an eye on the transmission fluid. As expensive as cars are, we’re starting to see more and more people who are driving their cars 200,000, 250,000, or even 300,000 miles.

With regular fluids services, transmission flushes, oil changes, brake fluid flushes, tire rotations, and spark plugs replacement at the correct time, your car will stay in good shape. If you do all that stuff, there’s no reason you can’t have a fabulous running car for at least 300,000 miles.

It’s so important not to slack on routine maintenance for your car. It may be a pain, but it will save you money and headaches in the long run. A well-maintained car can last for tens of thousands (or even hundreds of thousands) miles longer than a car that’s not properly cared for. Don’t just take the dealer’s word for it… they want to be able to sell you a new car sometime in the next few years. Talk to maintenance professionals you trust to come up with a regular maintenance schedule that’s best for your car.

Posted by & filed under Uncategorized.

Suspension systems function effectively for many years and tens of thousands of miles. Eventually, however, SUV suspension components do wear out, but how long that takes depends a lot on how you drive around Kent and Burton.

As you can imagine, if most of your driving is on smooth WA highways, your shock absorbers will last a lot longer than if you do most of your driving on bumpy Kent roads or haul heavy loads. In addition to just wearing out, SUV suspension components can be damaged in an accident or by a hard impact – like a pothole, hitting a curb or a rock in the road. Because the life span of shocks can vary so widely, SUV auto manufacturers recommend periodic inspections.

Suspension Service At Central Avenue AutomotiveDuring an inspection at Central Avenue Automotive in Kent, your considerate automotive service technician will check for worn, broken or missing parts.

Here’s a quick rundown of suspension system components:

First there are the springs which hold the weight of your SUV. There are several varieties of springs. Springs are obviously critical heavy duty parts that rarely break or wear out. Shock absorbers work in conjunction with springs to smooth out the ride and help keep the tires on the road. Good shocks are essential for handling performance and ride comfort.

You’ve probably heard of struts. They combine a shock absorber and a coil spring in one unit. Shocks and struts will wear out over time. If your tires develop a cupped wear pattern, your shocks or struts may be wearing out. This is from the shocks bouncing unevenly. You may notice a floaty or drifting sensation when cornering. If the front of your SUV dives excessively when stopping, or rocks back and forth after you’ve stopped, your shocks may be worn out. And if they are leaking fluid, it’s definitely time to replace them at Central Avenue Automotive.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, visit Central Avenue Automotive for a a vital suspension inspection. Same if you’ve been in an accident that involved one of your wheels. If your SUV suspension actually fails, it could lead to a serious accident, so don’t put it off.

When you replace your shocks, it’s usually a good idea to replace all four at the same time. That’ll give you more even handling. Talk with your considerate Central Avenue Automotive tech because you don’t want a big difference between the performance of your shocks from wheel to wheel, and replacing all may be the safest bet.

There are different grades of shocks and struts. You always want to use a replacement shock or strut that equals the one that came as original equipment when your SUV was new. But remember, they were designed to meet the expected needs of the broad range of Burton people who buy that particular vehicle. Your needs may be more specialized.

For example, if you want increased handling performance, your considerate Central Avenue Automotive advisor can recommend an upgraded shock or strut specially designed for improved handling. If you haul heavy loads or trailers in Kent, we can recommend some heavy duty shock absorbers.