May 2023

The Mechanic Doctor – Resources for Amateur and Pro Auto Mechanics
The automobile business is one of the many that has significantly benefited from technological advancements. Cars are becoming more eco-friendly,
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Tire keeps going flat — 4 common trouble areas to check Obviously, a tire puncture is the #1 reason why a tire keeps going flat. But if you’ve had the tire checked for punctures, here are three other common causes for air leaks in your tire/wheel. Corrosion on the rim near the bead is a common cause of tire air leaks Salt water and sand settle in the space where the tire bead meet the rim. Over time it starts to corrode the bead seating area. Once it starts, it … Read More
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Is excessive brake dust on a wheel a sign of a brake problem? Yes. When you see excessive brake dust on just one wheel, that’s a sign of a problem with the brake on that wheel. Here’s why it happens and what to check. A seized caliper causes rapid brake pad and brake rotor wear If the caliper slide pins corrode and seize, or the brake pads seize in the slides, the brake caliper can’t release properly. That prevents the brake pads from moving away from the caliper when you … Read More
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How to clean brake dust from rims Brake dust can be a bear to remove from your rims. I’ll give you some tips on which products to use based on reviews from multiple sites. And, I’ll give you some tips on how to avoid damaging your expensive alloy wheels. Brake dust cleaning tip #1 — No scratchy pads The top layer of dust will come off with any cleaner, but the etched brake dust will still be there. And you’ll be tempted to use a more abrasive pad. DON’T. Most … Read More
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Brake dust etches your wheels, making it almost impossible to remove How dry brake dust damages your wheels If brake dust is, ah, dust, why can’t you just wipe if off with a rag? Well, you can if you catch it fast enough. But if you leave it on your wheels, it can cause permanent damage. Braking, especially hard braking produces brake dust. The ultra-fine particles contain trace amounts of copper, iron, and manganese as well as zirconium silicate and aluminum oxide. Georgia Tech’s School of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences … Read More
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What causes brake dust? Brake dust particles are formed by the degradation of brake materials during  high force high temperature braking You many think that brake dust is just ground up cast iron from the rotors. Certainly, some of it is iron oxide from brake rotor wear. But the rest of the particles come from the brake pad’s friction material. What’s in brake pad friction material? Depending on the type of friction material; non-asbestos organic (NAO), semi-metallic, or ceramic, brake pads contain a combination of these raw materials: zirconium silicate … Read More
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Tire alignment or tire balance — what’s the difference and when do you need each? Tire alignment or tire balance— when to get each If you have tire wear due to a bad alignment, get the new tires first and then get the vehicle alignment immediately to prevent wearing out the new tires. If you get a tire balance and the tires aren’t showing uneven tire wear, you don’t need an alignment. If you get an alignment and the vehicle isn’t showing any signs of vibrating at highway speeds, you … Read More
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How to tell if car air filter needs replacing Carmakers list a car air filter change interval and that’s something you should follow. But many carmakers also list caveats on the change interval, such; “change more often if you live or drive in dusty conditions.” But most car owners are confronted with whether to change their engine air filter every time they get their oil changed because the oil change places are always trying to sell you a new air filter. So how to tell if your car air filter … Read More
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How much does a car air filter replacement cost? The average cost for a car air filter replacement is between $57 and $73 in 2023. The actual cost for your vehicle depends on the labor rates in your area and the year, make and model of the vehicle. Here are some examples on car air filter replacement costs on different vehicles Car air filter replacement for a 2013 Kia Rio with the 1.6 liter engine Shop price for the air filter $39 Shop labor to replace filter .2 hrs @ … Read More
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What causes uneven tire wear? The two most common causes of uneven tire wear are under-inflation and alignment problems. But you can spot uneven tire wear on your own simply by checking the tire tread more often. Then you can fix the problem before your tires wear out completely. #1 cause of rapid and uneven tire wear; under-inflation All tires lose some amount of air. If you don’t check tire pressure and top off to the recommended pressure, you’ll prematurely wear out the tread on the right and left sides … Read More
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