There are mechanisms of your car that worthy of your attention. You want to know the car will start, even in the dead of winter. You want the engine to run and operate efficiently and reliably. You want the brakes to stop the car, especially in a panic situation. But, your shocks, struts and suspension – what’s the big deal? As long as you can drive, who cares if the shocks, struts and suspension

Try to imagine driving your car without shocks or struts. One thing you would probably never do is drink a cup of hot coffee while driving again. Without those shocks and struts, every time you hit a bump or a dip in the road the car would start bucking like a ship tossing in rough seas. You’d wear as much coffee as you’d drink. Of course, that scenario assumes you’d still have coil or leaf

Wouldn't it be nice if, the next time you went to the butcher shop, they gave you one steak for free – if the next time you went to a show, they didn't charge the last member of your party? Of course, what are the odds that would happen? You’ll turn a nice color of purple holding your breath until it does. Well, take a deep breath because that’s exactly what can happen when you purchase and

The roads in McHenry County are best described as stretches of lunar landscape. Whether from Richmond to Ringwood, Woodstock to Wonder Lake or McHenry to Johnsburg: winters are rough on roads here in the Midwest but this winter more than most.  The bitter cold forces the concrete and asphalt to contract. Then, the ice and snow moves in to pry the broken surface further apart. Holes and cracks

“Hey Cal, what’s with the long face?”The other day I had a dream. It was April 1. We all know the significance of that date – the one day each year where we celebrate the practical jokers among us.In my dream, I ran into an old friend I hadn’t seen a long time. He appeared anything but happy, hence the question above.When I asked the question, Cal walked over to his car and said, “Watch

The Midwest is not kind to your car’s shock absorbers, particularly in the winter. Snow, ice, salt and cold temperatures conspire to pockmark the roadways leaving nasty potholes everywhere as though we had an infestation of gigantic moths chewing at the asphalt and concrete. While one individual solution would be to move south where the winters aren’t as harsh, as long as we’re here, and since

It’s shocking to imagine a drive in your car without a suspension system. Every bump and crack in the road would transfer from the chassis and up the passenger’s spines. But, more than a matter of comfort, properly functioning shock absorbers save wear and tear on your vehicle while making the driving experience safer.Have you ever hit a really bad pothole and felt the steering wheel jerk in your