ai@\CAR CARE CORNER “That Pothole Just Ate My Car!’ When Was The Last Time Your Chassis Was Inspected? (NAPSA)—How manybone-jarring potholes or other road hazards has your vehicle encountered in the past year? Even one severe road impact can affect a vehicle’s wheel alignment or damage safety-critical steering and suspension components such as shock absorbers, struts and tie rod ends. That’s why it’s important to have a vehicle’s steering and suspension inspected for signs of damage and wearon at least an annual basis, according to engineers at Tenneco Inc., manufacturer of Monroe shocksandstruts. manceof interrelated safety com- can quickly perform a thorough brakes, tires and steering linkage will do it as a free service for new and existing customers,” said “Many vehicle owners might not know that a worn shock or strut could increase their stopping distance and makeit moredifficult to steer around an obstacle in an emergency situation,” Christiaanse said. “That’s why periodic “Most automotive repair shops undercar inspection, and many Mark Christiaanse, director of product management for the Monroe brand. “They can identify any worn parts that mightaffect vehicle steering, stopping and stability, and check for tire-wear patterns commonly related to wheel misalignment.” Shocks and struts play a significant role in driving safety, according to automotive industry experts. These ride control components help promote consistent, firm tire traction by absorbing road-induced impacts and reducing vehicle pitch and roll. The condition of a vehicle’s shocks and struts can also affect the perfor- ponents and systems, including parts. ride control inspections are so important.” In addition to pothole-induced damage, shocks and struts are susceptible to normal, everyday wear andtear that can affect vehicle steering, stopping andstability. Automotive industry experts— including the independent Motorist Assurance Program—nowrec- ommend replacing shocks and struts every 50,000 miles for improved comfort and handling.
