Many St. Peter car owners have been hearing about technological advances in power steering, specifically, electric power steering. Some very high-end cars have been featuring electric power steering for a few years now. An electric motor directly provides the power assist to make steering easier. Undoubtedly we’ll see much more of this in St. Peter as full electric cars and electric hybrids become more common.

The vast majority of cars and trucks serviced at Autotronics of ST Peter in St. Peter use a hydraulic power boost system. With hydraulics, fluid is pressurized by a pump which actuates a hydraulic cylinder to reduce steering effort. Some of these pumps are powered by an electric motor. Most pumps are powered by the serpentine belt driven by the engine.

Power steering fluid has the necessary hydraulic properties and the ability to lubricate the internal parts. The power steering fluid also protects minivan components from rust and corrosion.

St. Peter car owners should be aware that automobile manufacturers recommend that the fluid be replaced on schedule. At Autotronics of ST Peter, the old fluid is drained and the system cleaned thoroughly. Fresh fluid is then installed.

Unfortunately, many St. Peter drivers don’t realize how vital it is to service their power steering, and some may not even know that it’s necessary in the first place. A neglected power steering system can develop leaks that will shorten the life of the pump.

St. Peter motorists should be aware of warnings that indicate possible power steering problems: the need to constantly add power steering fluid, a loud whining from the pump, erratic power assist or high steering effort. If you’re experiencing any of these problems, have your power steering checked out at Autotronics of ST Peter in St. Peter.

In addition to the pump and hydraulic system, there are vital mechanical parts in the steering system. The rods, arms, joints and knuckles that actually turn the wheels can become worn or damaged. A standard alignment service at Autotronics of ST Peter includes an inspection of steering components.

If you notice any play in the steering wheel, that the steering wheel is off center, or a noise coming from your front wheels, especially when turning, have your knowledgeable Autotronics of ST Peter service advisor do an inspection so the problem can be corrected. Waiting too long could cause uneven tire wear and may even lead to steering failure. Call Autotronics of ST Peter today at 507.934.9290.

Welcome to the Autotronics of ST Peter automotive blog. Today, let’s talk about the effect of tire tread depth on braking. When talking about stopping power, most St. Peter and Saint Peter car owners tend to focus on our brakes. But our tires are where the rubber meets the road. So having good brakes isn’t enough. Safe Saint Peter drivers need to have tires with enough traction to translate braking power into stopping power.

Let’s focus on stopping in wet Saint Peter conditions. In order for a tire to have good contact with the road, it has to move the water out of the way. If it can’t move the water, the tire will actually ride on top of a thin film of water.

That’s called hydroplaning. If it’s really bad, Saint Peter car owners can actually spin out of control – endangering themselves and the other drivers around them. At best, you won’t stop as fast.

So how does a tire move water? It has channels for water to flow through. Look at your minivan tire and you’ll see channels: channels that run around the tire and channels that flow across the tire. They’re designed to direct water away from the tire so it can contact the road better.

And the deeper the channel, the more water it can move. A brand new Autotronics of ST Peter tire has very deep channels and can easily move a lot of water. As the tire wears down, the channels become shallower and can move less water. When it wears down enough, it can seriously affect your ability to stop your minivan on wet Saint Peter roads.

So that’s why it’s so important for MN drivers to replace their minivan tires when they get worn. Consumer Reports and other advocate groups call for a standard of 3/32 of an inch and they have the studies to prove it.

By comparison, you’ve probably seen the wear indicator that’s molded into tires. When tires are worn 3/32 of an inch, the tread wear bar is visible. So the recommended standard has twice the tread depth as a completely bald minivan tire.

At Autotronics of ST Peter, we want our customers to know that the deeper recommended tread depth makes a big difference. Stopping distances are cut dramatically on wet Saint Peter interstate. A safe stop from MN freeway speeds with 4/32 of an inch of tread would result in a crash with worn out tires.

There’s an easy way to tell when a tire’s worn to 4/32 of an inch. Just insert a quarter into the tread. Put it in upside down. If the tread doesn’t cover George Washington’s hairline, it’s time to replace your minivan tires. With a Canadian quarter, the tread should cover the numbers in the year stamp.

Many Saint Peter auto owners have heard of this technique using a penny and Abe Lincoln’s head – the old method. That measure gives you 2/32 of an inch – half the suggested amount. Of course, minivan tires are a major purchase. Most of us in Saint Peter want to get as many miles out of them as we can. But there’s a real safety trade-off. It’s your choice.