Growing Old Together (Maintaining an Older Vehicle)
November 17, 2024
More and more of us are hanging on to our vehicles longer. A company by the name of HIS Markit recently released a report that shows the average age of light vehicles in the U.S. is now 11.8 years. Light vehicles are cars, SUVs (sport utility vehicles) and CUVs (compact utility vehicles). In C... More
Slipping into Fall (Driving with ABS Brakes)
July 28, 2024
As the weather changes over from hot to colder, drivers will have to deal with more slippery streets. And it's important to know how to drive with the brakes you have on your vehicle. In the 1970s, anti-lock braking systems (ABS) started to be installed on vehicles and they've been a game chang... More
Hitting The Brakes In Sparta
April 14, 2024
Hello Sparta, let's talk about brakes. But the mechanical aspects of the brakes themselves are just one issue. There's also the power brake pump and brake fluid. And then there are the tires, which are critical to the effectiveness of the brakes.Let's step back. A new vehicle or truck rolls of... More
Put on the Brakes: Brake Service at Charlie's Fast Lube Sparta
January 21, 2024
When it comes to preventive maintenance and vehicle care, most Sparta drivers know how important it is to check their brakes. But brakes are more than just brake pads and shoes. There are a lot of components in the brake system, and they all need to be in good working order.The pads and shoes ar... More
Put the Brakes On! (Brake Caliper Replacement)
October 30, 2022
Keeping your vehicle's brakes in top shape is one of the most important things you can do for your safety and those on the road with you. Most drivers know a little about brake pads and rotors but maybe not so much about another brake component called the calipers. Disc brakes work by a mechanica... More
A Sticky Brake Situation (Parking Brake Service and Maintenance)
February 27, 2022
We've all been there. You park your vehicle on a steeper than usual hill and worry about it rolling down while you're running your errands. So you decide you'll use the parking brake. When you get back, you release the parking brake, hit the ignition, put it in gear anduh, ohyou can feel the p... More
The Need for Speed (Wheel Speed Sensor Maintenance)
October 3, 2021
Today's vehicles have some pretty amazing technology in them, including a computerized braking system we all pretty much take for granted these days. Antilock brake systems (ABS) have been around for years but they help drivers stop in much shorter distances reliably than ever before. When you ... More
It's Brake Time (Brake Calipers)
October 4, 2020
Race car drivers have demonstrated the advantages of disc brakes, so most modern vehicles use them. Sometimes just the front wheels have disc brakes, but many vehicles now have them all the way around. A major component of the disc brake is called a caliper. It works by squeezing brake pads ag... More
Stop It! You Need Good Brakes
September 6, 2020
Good brakes are obviously very important. If you've ever had your brakes go out while you're driving around the Sparta area, you'll know how terrifying it can be. Today we'll focus on how to tell when you have a brake problem and how to make good repair choices. Often, the first indication that... More
Brake Service at Charlie's Fast Lube Sparta in Sparta
May 3, 2020
Brakes really aren't optional equipment for Sparta drivers' vehicles. And taking care of them isn't optional either.A regular brake inspection is on every Illinois driver's vehicle maintenance schedule. At Charlie's Fast Lube Sparta, our team will check your brake system and let you know if ther... More