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It's important to take care of your brakes, and they'll be able to take care of you when you need them. To keep your brakes operating effectively they need to have regular servicing. The brake system is a relatively simple one, but parts can wear or break. Any damage to the brake system can place you and your car in danger. When you need a brake repair, it's time to see your Ford dealer. Signs You'll Need a Brake Repair at Your Ford Dealer Screeching Brakes Your brakes don't make a sound when they work. This makes hearing a screeching sound from the brakes even more disconcerting. The high-pitched screech is a warning sign that your brake pads need to be replaced. Your brake pads provide the friction resistance that's needed to slow and stop your car. The pads achieve this through their friction material covering. The friction material cover on a brake pad is 1/2" thick, but it gradually wears down each time you use the brakes. When the pad thickness drops to 1/4" thick, it reveals a metal spike placed in the pad by the manufacturers. The next time you use your brakes, the spike on the worn pad will scratch the metal rotor and make a screeching sound. This means it's time to change your pads. more Wobbling Steering Wheel Pressure from the brake fluid will cause the brake calipers to close on either side of the wheel rotors. The smooth surface of the wheel rotors aids the grip of the calipers. If you feel a wobble or vibration in the steering wheel when you apply the brakes, this suggests that there's a problem with the surface of one or more of your rotors. The surface of a wheel rotor can rust, or it can suffer a buildup of waste from the friction material on the brake pads. Constant contact between the brake pad and the rotor for a long period will also wear part of the rotor surface. Our technicians will examine the surface of your rotors, and we'll repair or replace them depending on the level of damage. Your Car Veers to One Side If you hit the brakes and your car veers towards one side, this means that part of your brake system has failed. We saw above the pressure from the brake fluid closes the calipers against the rotors. If your car veers towards one side, this means there's a problem with your brakes on the opposite side. Two possible causes of this failure are a rusted or damaged caliper or a problem with the brake hose. If the brake hose on one side is blocked or damaged, the brake fluid won't be able to exert any pressure on the caliper to close it. If a caliper is damaged, it may not close. Your car will automatically pull towards the side with a working brake. For your safety, it's vital to have any braking problem checked immediately. If you suspect a problem, call us right away at Ken Ganley Ford, Inc.

Do you know how long it's been since you took your vehicle in to the dealership? Do you remember the last time you went to get a Ford oil change? Did those questions make you stop and think a little? Let's take a look at how to know if it's time to take your Ford into the dealership for a little tune-up. How Long Since Your Last Ford Oil Change? If you're lucky, the last time you got an oil change done, the shop or dealership put a handy little sticker on your windshield to remind you when to come in next. The standard procedure used to be 3,000 miles between oil changes, but with newer engines, those numbers are being stretched a lot longer. Many cars, especially those that use synthetic oil, can go up to ten, even fifteen thousand miles, before needing to go into the shop. At a minimum, your Ford likely needs an oil change (including oil filter) twice a year. But if you didn't write down the date last time, or your dealership didn't put a sticker on your window, it's no big deal. There are other ways to know when it's time to have your car looked at. more What Does the Oil Look Like? Pop the hood and take a look at the oil itself for a clue. You'll find the dipstick by taking a look at your owner's manual. Take it out and wipe it off before reinserting it to check the oil. Make sure the level is between the maximum and minimum lines on the dipstick, then check the color. The darker the oil, the more quickly you should head to the shop. Fresh oil should be a light brown color and a little transparent. If you feel like getting your hands dirty, you can always check out the consistency of the oil in your Ford. Rub a little of it between your fingers, feeling for any grit or dirt. If you've had an oil change recently, your oil will look clean and smooth and be a nice liquid consistency. The older your oil gets, the darker and more sludgy it becomes. Lights and Noises Your car's oil light should turn on when it senses a low oil level or the oil needs to be changed. This is a pretty clear signal to head to your local dealership and have them get to work. If you're not sure about your dashboard lights, take a peek at your owner's manual to find out which light means what. A final, and much more obvious clue, is if your Ford starts making some funny noises. Especially if you hear what sounds like engine parts knocking around under the hood, you'll know that you're overdue for an oil change. Oil keeps things running smoothly, so by not getting to your dealership soon enough, you may be risking some much more expensive visits later on down the road (if you can make it that far). Does it sound like your car or truck is in need of an oil change? If so, call or stop by Ken Ganley Ford today to get your Ford back in tip-top shape.

There are plenty of different things you're looking for when you're seeking the ideal SUV for your family's needs. Plenty of space, the latest technology, and a comprehensive set of safety features to keep everyone on board safe and secure are just some of the criteria you might have. One vehicle that excels in all of these areas and more is the 2022 Ford Escape. Read on to get familiar with the best of what the Escape has to offer. more Ultimate Family SUV: Meet the 2022 Ford Escape Road-Gripping All-Wheel Drive Losing traction on the road can lead to dangerous situations, which is what makes the extra confidence the Escape's available all-wheel-drive capability such a valuable asset. You'll get some extra power distributed between the four wheels when you need it, and thanks to this system's AWD Disconnect feature, the all-wheel-drive will disengage when it isn't needed. This helps to reduce drag and lets your vehicle use energy more efficiently. Designed to Keep You Safe While ideally, dangerous driving situations will never arise, you want to be prepared if and when they do. The Ford Co-Pilot360 technology included in the Escape is designed to keep you safe on every part of your journey, from when you're leaving the driveway to when you're cruising down the highway. For instance, the blind spot information system with cross-traffic alert helps to avoid danger posed by other vehicles driving where you can't see them. Room for Everything on Board Convenience and versatility will be yours to enjoy when you're riding in the Escape, with 60/40 split-fold down second-row seats that are easy to move into place to make more room for passengers or cargo depending on what you need in that moment. If you need to load or unload all of your cargo and your hands are full, you'll love the convenient utility of the hands-free foot-activated liftgate making your life a little easier. Built for the Long Haul Need to bring a camper or a boat on your next big family getaway? The Escape is built to handle that as well, with an impressive towing capacity of up to 3,500 pounds to let you bring just about anything you need. That opens up all sorts of possibilities for what you can bring along with you to your next destination, meaning you won't have to limit yourself when planning that road trip vacation. Keeping Everyone Entertained Whether you need some fun on a long trip or you just want to liven up your everyday travels, the personal sound studio that you'll bring with you in the Escape will improve any ride. The available B&O sound system gives you a dynamic, immersive music experience that will have you appreciating your favorite songs more than ever before. You'll be able to set a soundtrack that makes your family drives even more memorable. With all of these features and more, the Escape makes the perfect vehicle for any family. Come check it out at Ken Ganley Ford today!