FALCONER AUTO REPAIR

If you're like most of us in Falconer, you want your car to handle well. That's the job of your suspension system. There are different types of suspension systems, but they all work on the same basic principles. First, there are the springs, which bear the weight of the car. The most common springs are coil or leaf - although we see air springs and torsion bars more often. The springs do most of the work. But if all you had were springs, your vehicle would be bouncing around like a bobble head. That's where the shocks come in. They control the rebound of the springs and smooth out the up and down motions. They also keep the tires on the road, and you in control. Some sedans use struts. Struts are a combination of shocks and springs, together in a more compact system. ... read more

At I-86 Truck Repair & Auto Service we've had a lot of Falconer customers asking how they can make their vehicles last longer. These questions are actually a reflection of a trend that's been building for several years in New York. The median age of personal vehicles is now over nine years. And 33 percent of all vehicles on the road have over 75,000 miles (120,000 km) on them. It looks like it's going to keep heading in that direction for a while. With high fuel prices, a lot of New York folks are putting off buying a new car. So let's say you're one of the average in the Falconer area; you've got a nine-year-old car with 80,000 miles (130,000 km) on the odometer. What can you do to make it last another year or two?Let's start with the premise that there's no reason that a modern car can't run for 200,000 miles (320,000 km) with proper care in Falconer. The engineering and manufacturing quality is there.Of course, some parts will wear out along the way, but t ... read more

Falconer residents' vehicles have to operate in a wide range of New York temperatures which requires the engine coolant to be able to perform 'no matter what.' Think for a moment about the environment where the coolant does its thing. Very hot, high pressure, corrosive...And all the while, it has to protect the components of the cooling system from corrosion. These components are made from steel and aluminum, plastics and rubber. The coolant has to be formulated to protect against corrosion for all of these different materials. That's why vehicle manufacturer’s recommend different types of anti-freeze for our Falconer, New York, vehicles.There are several different 'families' of anti-freeze available to us here in Falconer. Your owner's manual will tell you what kind you should use. Of course, the automotive professionals at I-86 Truck Repair & Auto Service will know the right kind for your vehicle.It's important to stay on top of this because coolant system failu ... read more

So you love your job, and your family life is great. Congratulations! You have achieved balance. But can you say the same for your wheels? Falconer drivers can tell if their tires are out of balance by vibrations at higher speeds on New York roads. If one of the front tires is out, you feel the vibration in the steering wheel. If it's a back tire, you'll feel the vibration in your seat.Tires and wheels are pretty heavy. When a tire is mounted on a wheel at I-86 Truck Repair & Auto Service, it is usually not perfectly balanced. So the technician will spin the tire on a machine to determine where it's too heavy. He will then place weights on the wheels in strategic locations to balance it out. When a tire is out of balance, it actually bounces down the road instead of rolling smoothly. Since the average size tire rotates at about 850 revolutions per minute at 60 mph/97 kph, it is actually slamming into the pavement 14 times a second. That's where you get your vibration.Most people in Fa ... read more