Many may agree cars are confusing, with the endless parts that it takes to build and maintain one, people may have difficulty doing it alone.
However LBCC, with an award winning mechanical and automotive technology department that has taught generations of students, sought a way to remedy that.
On Friday April 21, a mechanics clinic and workshop was held at the PCC, where people who were interested in minor repairs and tips from professional mechanics and student mechanics could drive or walk in to get their cars fixed and learn about tires.
Mechanical engineer and LBCC professor Danny Tan provided his services for the workshop.
The department has continued in its effort to teach those who are interested in the fields of automotive technology and mechanics to receive a certificate from LBCC that will help them navigate to a higher paying job.
The workshop taught participants several basic car maintenance techniques, including measuring treadwear, tire pressure and general tips for ensuring your tires last as long as possible.
“It’s for people getting ready for summer trips and the people who are going on the road,” Tan said.
Tan went over some tire facts that could help those who are thinking about the care and quality of their tires.
He showed participants how to read their treadwear number and traction grade.
Treadwear shows the wear rate of a tire. The greater the number, the longer a tire should last.
The traction grade of tires is given in letter grades and gives drivers a gauge on how far they should stop from the stop sign on wet roads. The higher the grade, the shorter the stopping distance, with AA as the highest followed by A, B and C as the lowest.
Jimbo Perry, a community member, was one person to get his car repaired. Originally from Brooklyn, New York and a former mechanic, he attended the workshop to get tips from the mechanics on campus.
“All my life I’ve been working fixing cars and aircraft,” he said. “It’s my first time on a higher level education campus.”
Perry also gave advice for those who may find dealing with car maintenance to be complicated or frustrating.
“It is important to find peace in yourself when you can’t do things,” Perry said.
Perry left with a smile to have been able to be part of the workshop.
Tan taught observers how to read tire numbers and symbols to find their vehicle’s suggested maximum load and maximum speed for their specific tires.
Maintaining these limits ensures tires last long and help drivers avoid potential accidents, especially for those who drive long distances or do deliveries.
He also advised people to regularly check their tire pressure as it could preemptively stop flat tires.
In the end the workshop was successful in providing attendees, simple car-tire knowledge as well as a repair for Mr. Jimbo Perry.