Replacing Your Brakes

You’re sitting at a stoplight, windows rolled down, enjoying the light breeze on a clear 75 degree day when a loud screeching rudely interrupts your train of thought. You turn to your right as the screeching continues and a black Ford Taurus slowly creeps up. You’d love to glare at the gray haired man out the window and inform him of his screeching brakes, but decide against it. 

Many realize that screeching brakes are a sign that you need to replace something on your current brake system. There are three components that make up the braking system on a car; Brake pads, linings and rotors. These elements are housed next to each of the wheels. They push against one another to create friction, which stops the car. 

It’s obvious that friction will cause wear and tear on the brake pads and eventually they will need replacing or your brake system will fail. So how will you know when maintenance is in order? Pay attention to the following signs: 

1. Flashing brake warning light
2. Squealing, chirping or grinding noises
3. Pulsations in the brake pedal
4. Shaky steering wheel
5. Increased stopping distance
6. Car pulls to one side when you stop. 

These are six tell-tale signs that it’s time to take your trusty vehicle in for a check-up. Vehicle maintenance is important to maintaining the health of your car. No one wants to be that guy that screeches up to the stop light, so keep your vehicle up to par and you won’t have to worry about it.  

Recycling Your Vehicle

Things die, it’s a way of life. What do we do when things die? Throw them away or bury them, but what happens when your car decides to call it quits? The answer to that question is very simple; we recycle the vehicle. 

Currently, about 75 percent of junked vehicles are shredded to recover iron and steel.  After the ferrous material is magnetically separated, the remaining 25 percent is comprised of other non-ferrous metals such as copper, aluminum, rubber and a mixture of plastics. The remaining 25 percent can also be recycled. We’re going to take a look at a few different items that fall within the 25 percentile. 

Today’s brake pads and shoes consist of a mixture of synthetic materials in addition to copper. Most brake pads contain about 15-30 percent copper. Recycling brake pads means less mining for virgin material, which can lead to dust and waste gases such as sulfur dioxide which have harmful effects on the environment. 

Windshields and other auto glass can pose a problem for recycling. Automobile shredder residue contains between 15 to 20 percent of glass originating from windshields, side windows and sunroofs, most of which is not normally recovered and ends up in landfills. The reason that most auto glass ends up in landfills is because most windshields have two layers of glass and few companies have the technology to remove the inner plastic layer. Even though it may be difficult, it is important to recycle auto glass. Recycling auto glass reduces related air pollution by 20 percent and related water pollution by 50 percent. 

Finally, Oil filters are recyclable because they are made of steel. Recycling metal saves up to 74 percent energy and 40 percent water consumption. Recycling oil filters also reduces air pollution by about 86 percent and water pollution by 76 percent. One ton of recycled oil filters yields 1,700 pounds of steel, 30 gallons of used oil and saves 10 cubic yards of landfill space. The benefits to the land, air and soil is immense. 

Recycling vehicles and their parts saves and estimated 85 million barrels of oil a year. So next time you think recycling your vehicle is not that big of a deal remember how this simple step can save valuable natural resources and better the environment we live in. 

Vehicle Maintenance: Tires.

Let’s talk tires. Every vehicle has them, yet they are not always the most cared for part on an automobile. Without those four parts your mode of transportation would be useless. It is incredibly important to make sure your tires are in great shape before you hit the road.

Having properly filled tires is a crucial safety issue. Second to the brakes, tires are the most important safety devices on your car. If the tire pressure is low it can compromise the safety of turning corners, braking and stability. Worst case scenario is low tire pressure can lead to tire failure, which may result in a serious accident. Fuel economy, your comfort and tire life may also be compromised by incorrect tire pressure.  

So, what happens if your tire pressure is too high? If your tire pressure is too high, then less of the tire touches the ground. A repercussion of this will be that your car will bounce around on the road. When this occurs, traction suffers as well as your stopping distance. If your tire pressure is too low, too much of the tire’s surface area touches the ground. What this will cause is increased friction between the road and your tires, which will result in premature wear on your tires as well as overheating, which can lead to tread separation. If you’re looking for a sign of low tire pressure, pay attention to your tires squealing around corners.

Checking your tire pressure should be done once a month when the tire is cold. It is important that the tires are at air temperature in order to get an accurate reading. Be faithful about checking in order to avoid the possible repercussions that come from ignoring these four essential parts to your vehicle. 

Green Recycled Parts

Often times the term ‘Green Recycled Parts’ confuses people. What exactly are green recycled parts and how are they different from any other auto parts? Let’s find out.

Green recycled parts are reusable, ecofriendly products gathered in an efficient, environmentally responsible way from other motor vehicles. Basically, it is taking usable parts from unusable vehicles and selling them back to the general public. The parts that are pulled from damaged motor vehicles will provide components for replacement or repair services to other damaged vehicles.

So now that we have determined what exactly green recycled parts are we must discover the importance of using these parts. There are many compelling reasons why one should consider using green recycled parts, but I’m just going to mention a few. First, the oil that recycled parts saves is immense. It is estimated that purchasing green recycled parts saves an estimated 80 billion barrels of oil annually.  Second, when a vehicle is recycled over 80% of the vehicle is reused, re-manufactured or recycled. Lastly, the amount of toxic fluids that are reclaimed is equivalent to eight Exxon Valdez disasters a year. 

Those are just a few of many reasons why using green recycled parts is the right choice. Auto recycling as a whole has such a positive impact on the environment and as a result is the ultimate environmental choice. There is no other product on earth that is recycled more than an automobile. Recycling automobiles not only keeps a plethora of dangerous toxins out of our ground, soil and water but it prevents unnecessary use of valuable landfill space. 

Even with these few reasons, it is clear that purchasing green recycled parts for your vehicle is the best choice for the environment. By reducing the need for new parts to be manufactured, scarce natural resources will be preserved, pollution will be lowered and the environment will greatly benefit.

The Gold Standard. Metro Auto Recyclers Receives Indiana Clean Yard Award.

Many people have heard the saying, “Go for Gold!” Generally, this saying is understood by most people. Gold is the color of highest achievement; for example, when a person wins the highest recognition in an event, they win the gold medal. To achieve gold one must go above and beyond the rest. In the automotive recycling industry, one must look to the Indiana Clean Yard program in order to achieve gold. 

The Indiana Clean Yard Program was first introduced as a way to encourage businesses within the automotive recycling industry to protect both the environment, and the community surrounding the company. The intention of the program is to allow salvage recyclers to monitor the environmental conditions on their own and fix any problems that may arise.

Just like receiving the gold medal in an event, receiving the Indiana Clean Yard status takes dedication and work. Eligibility for certification as an Indiana Clean Yard is based on determining that your facility fulfills environmental regulations, holds necessary licenses and approvals, and maintains an effective recycling program.  To determine if the facility complies with all of the regulations they must conduct a self-evaluation as well as complete the Auto Salvage Recyclers Certification Program Environmental Checklist. After the yard signs the Certification Statement the form is submitted to IDEM where they will reconfirm the company’s commitment to being an Indiana Clean Yard. After this procedure, the yard can be officially congratulated on being the newest Indiana Clean Yard. 

But, we’re not finished. To receive Gold status a yard must go above and beyond. Gold level yards are reserved for auto salvage operations that not only meet the criteria to be an Indiana Clean Yard, but have made an even greater commitment to environmental protection. In order to be considered Gold level a facility must implement the best management practices that will sustain environmental protection as well as maintain an effective program for all the scrap that they generate. After an IDEM representative reviews the company’s management practices program for scrap, comes out to conduct a thorough inspection of the yard and asks additional questions the yard will move to being a Gold Level Yard.

The Indiana Clean Yard Program has great benefits for the business, the community and the government. Businesses will run clean and productive facilities, the community feels secure knowing that the business in their community has met the requirements to protect the environment and the government will be able to focus on other significant environmental problems. Going for Gold may take hard work and dedication, but victory is always sweet.