One of the best ways to avoid getting stranded or having to pay a high repair bill from car parts unexpectedly failing is keeping your car properly maintained. One important type of maintenance is front end inspections. However, many people do not know what a front end inspections is or why it is important. This guide will help answer your questions so you can better protect your car.
What is a Front End Inspection?
A front end inspection involves looking at all of the elements that make up the front portion of your car. This includes parts such as the:
- Ball joints
- Bushings
- Center links
- Control arms
- Fender
- Idler arms
- Pitman arms
- Sway bars
- Sway links
- Tie rod ends
These parts are all found on the front end of a vehicle, either on the body, the carriage or the front tires of the car.
How is a Front End Inspection Done?
Many of the parts that your mechanic will check during the front end inspection are located on the carriage, or the underside, of the car. As such, the best way to have a front end inspection done is to lift the car upward.
Most mechanics will use a car lift to raise your car up in the air. The mechanic can then get a good look at the underside of your car. They will check for any signs of damage to the parts that make up the front end, including rust and bent or broken parts.
If any damage is noted, a mechanic will let you know and give you the option of having the repairs completed.
What Can Cause Front End Damage?
Auto accidents are the most common cause of front end damage. However, most people who are involved in an accident already know that they may have front end damage and so they get their cars inspected and repaired. However, there are a number of hidden prospects that cause front end damage that you may be unaware of. Those hidden causes of damage are why it is important to get your car inspected periodically.
When you drive, you are subjecting the underside of your car to water and road salt that melts ice and snow. Both of these elements can cause rust, which can cause front end damage.
Road debris can also cause front end damage. When you run over a piece of broken tire or another object that may be in the road, the item can bounce up and bend or dent the front end of your car.
These and other everyday situations can cause damage over time. Therefore, front end inspections can be vital to your car operating the way it should.
When Should a Front End Inspection be Done?
Car experts recommend that you have a front end inspection done if you have been involved in an accident, notice your car is pulling or not turning as it should or when you are doing a full service oil change.
Most cars need an oil change every 5,000 miles. During this time, the car is already lifted and a mechanic can get a look at the underside of the car, making it an ideal opportunity to include a front end inspection in the services your mechanic is providing for you. If you do your own oil changes, be sure to have the front end inspected at least once every 10,000 miles.
What Problems Does a Front End Inspection Prevent?
There are numerous problems that a front end inspection can prevent. When a car isn't able to drive in a straight line, it can cause unneeded wear to other parts on your car. Cars that are properly maintained are also less likely to have tires that wear unevenly. Inspections can also help prevent or remove rust that can cause rods, arms, bars and links to break. Most of all, inspections can prevent small issues before they turn into huge and potentially expensive problems.
If your car is showing you that it is time to have a front end inspection done, bring it to Redford Auto Repair. We offer free front end inspections, as well as brake, exhaust, safety and diagnostic inspections. Contact us
today to schedule your appointment.
