Baltimore Auto Repair

Do you know if your tires will get you through the 6-12 inches of snow in the immediate forecast? If you don't know the answer you better find out. Winter weather is starting early early and slippery conditions can appear without warning. If your tires tread is too thin slipping and sliding is in your forecast. Check your tread depth with a quarter. If you can't see the top of George's head you should be alright. Personally I would not want to see his hairline on top of his head. You can also look between the tread bars for the wear indicator. The tread wear indicator is a small rubber bar that if near even with the remaining tread lets you know your tires need to be replaced. If you have any questions stop by for a quick inspection and we will show you what to look for. Here at Framerite Auto Repair we can take care of you and your vehicle to keep you safe for whatever Old Man Winter brings

Should I be worried about my suspension with the condition of the streets in Baltimore? The answer is yes! Anywhere you travel the system that connects your wheels to your vehicle is your suspension. Every time you hit a pothole, a bump or an object in the road your suspension has to absorb that punishment.  As you can imagine, the suspension on your vehicle has lots of joints, bushings and pivot points that allow your wheels to move up and down and allow you to turn and steer. These parts include ball joints, tie rod ends, pitman and idler arms as well as many bushings. They simply wear out over time or become damaged due to the harshness they have to endure. As they wear handling and steering develop a loose feel and may include strange noises. Sometimes a loose or worn suspension part can put stress on another part causing premature failure. Usually the first sign of suspension problems is you will notice that your tires are wearing irregularly. If you feel the handling on your ... read more

This was a blog post from a while ago but it bears reposting, especially while there is a rebate on Hankook tires. There are several ways to determine if you need new tires. One way is to insert a quarter upside down into the tire's tread. If you can see the top of Ole George's head then your tread is measuring 4/32 and the tire needs to be replaced. Another sign that you need new tires is the presence of grooves or cracks in the sidewall. Other indicators are blisters and bulges because they can quickly become the source of a dangerous blowout. In addition, feeling too much vibration when driving can be a sign of several issues. Your tires may need balancing or you may need an alignment. The vibration can actually be a sign of a problem with your tire. If you have any questions concerning your tires, or any other vehicle repair or maintenance issue, give us a call and our certified mechanics will be happy to answer your questions and advise you. #newtires #tiresnearme #tires ... read more

Why did I have a hard time driving in the snow? If your tires look like the included picture that is probably why. Without tread the tires do not have anything to grip with in the snow and slush of winter driving. When you see to wear bars even with the the tread bars the useful life of the tire is over. In the rain a tire in this condition can actually hydro-plane as the sipes that squeeze water out are now missing. Here at Framerite Auto Repair we can replace your tires and align the suspension for the best handling and tire wear

Can my rusted Toyota frame be repaired? In most cases yes. The common rust out areas on Tacoma's and 4-Runners can usually be repaired by installing repair kits that until recently became available in the aftermarket. Performing these repairs will bring the vehicle back to service safely when prevoiusly it would be headed for the junk yard. The preparation for the installation of the caps is quite extensive. All rusted out areas are cut out and the remaining metal is resurfaced to be treated with rust inhibitor and and painted. Though the cap kits are good they require some work as to creating the holes for brackets and side steps to be bolted back in place. All in all the finished product is very nice when complete. If you have any issue with your rusted Toyota frame bring it to us for advice on what can be done

Potholes are most certainly a nuisense but they can also cause damage to your car. Your vehicle's tires, wheels and suspension feel the brunt of hitting those potholes. The force of hitting a pothole can cause tire damage, a tread separation or even a flat tire. The wheel itself can become bent and result in the inability to get an airtight seal with the tire. Fortunately, these are issues that you should be able to see upon inspecting your vehicle. Damage to your suspension can also occur causing it to be out of alignment but these are not as easily seen. While you are not able to see this problem, there are warning signs. If you find that your steering wheel is off center, a vibration while driving, tires wearing unevenly, car pulling to one direction or experience the feeling of loose handling, your car's alignment needs to be checked. Obviously, the best offense is t ... read more

Are your tires wearing in an unusual way? Your tires can be wearing out for many different reasons. You may need an alignment, your tires may be over or under inflated, or you may have a strut/suspension issue. The best course of action is to have an experienced technician evaluate your tires and vehicle. Our technicians are always happy to help you care for your vehicle. TIP: Check your tire pressures when the weather changes. Hot or cold temps affect the pressures in your tires