Dear Friends,

                Thank you so much for joining Parkway Automotive at our 2016 Car Care Clinic.  We appreciate your participation during this event, and hope that you found it as fun as we did! Our goal was to connect with our community and build relationships, as well as provide information on how your vehicle works.

                This year, we had a fantastic group with a lot of enthusiasm which helped to make our Annual Car Care Clinic both productive and fun!

                We started with breakfast, then eased into a group discussion presented by owner Mike Davidson, and followed up with several presentations from our staff who all did an excellent job.  To conclude, we were able to once again give away a vehicle to a family in need!

If you would like to contact any members of the staff for questions, please call 501-821-6111 or visit www.parkwayaumotive.net 

Again, we sincerely thank you for your participation and hope to see you at this event next year!

 

Sincerely,

Parkway Automotive

 

We invite you to view photos of this event on our Facebook and Twitter feed!

                It’s not too late to sign up for our annual Car Care Clinic!  Visit www.parkwayautomotive.net to sign up today!  Breakfast, classroom discussions with Mike the Auto Guy, and hands on demonstrations with our professionally trained automotive technicians and service advisors!  This is a family friendly event, and it’s free!  Questions?  Call 501-821-6111!  We look forward to seeing you Saturday, October 15, from 9am until Noon!

                Parkway Automotive wants YOU to cast your vote!  We welcome you to bring in your entire family to vote for your candidate!  This gives you the opportunity to discuss with your entire family how the Democratic Process works, and help get our young community members interested early!  Every Friday, we will post the results of the voting for that week! 

                Pssst – hey you!  Have you signed up for Parkway Automotives Annual Car Care Clinic?  I hear Mike the Auto guy is gonna be there!  Visit www.parkwayautomotive.net for more information! 

                Our annual Car Care Clinic is just one month away!  Saturday, October 15 Parkway Automotive invites you to join us for our Free Car Care Clinic!  This is a family friendly event that starts with breakfast, followed by a fun classroom setting where you will learn more about how to care for your vehicle!  Sign up for this event at www.parkwayautomotive.net

#communityconnection #parkwayautomotive #carcareclinic #littlerockAR

                In just over a month, Parkway Automotive will be hosting our Annual Car Care Clinic!  We would like to invite you to breakfast right here at Parkway Automotive, and afterwards we look forward to helping you understand more about caring for your vehicle.  This is a family friendly event that starts at 9am, and should finish up around noon.  This event is also free!  For more information, or to sign up, please visit www.parkwayautomotive.net !  We look forward to seeing you soon!

A good suspension system gives a vehicle a smooth, even ride while providing Little Rock auto owners with good handling and control. But like any system on your truck, vital parts of the suspension system can wear out, leading to a lower ride quality and safety concerns. So it’s a good idea for Little Rock motorists to remember an inspection of their suspension system in their schedule of a vital preventive maintenance. Springs do most of the work of the suspension system. The most common types of springs are coil and leaf, but air springs and torsion bars are becoming more common. The body of the vehicle is “suspended” by the springs.

If springs were the only working component in your suspension system, however, you’d spend your travel time bouncing up and down like a bobblehead. That’s where your shocks come in. They keep the rebound, or bounciness, of the springs under control. Shocks also keep your tires on the road, which keeps the driver in control of the truck. Some vehicles have struts in their suspension system. Struts are a compact combination of springs and shocks. They do the same critical job but in a single package.

Shocks wear out gradually, so it can be difficult for Little Rock drivers to notice when they need to be replaced. There’s no definitive point when a vehicle’s ride goes from smooth and controlled to a bit imprecise. To check if your shocks or struts are worn, you should first do a visual inspection on them. If they are leaking fluid, they need to be replaced.

There are other less obvious signs that your suspension system needs critical attention. For example, an uneven, cupping wear on your tires may indicate that your shocks are worn. If your vehicle feels “floaty” when you turn, or, in other words, you don’t feel that you have full control of the vehicle, you should check your shocks. Also, if the front end of your vehicle dips noticeably when you stop, it’s time for new shocks.

Your owner’s manual gives recommendations on how often the shocks should be checked, usually between 15,000 and 30,000 miles (24,000-50,000 km). If one of your shocks does need to be replaced, you should replace all four. This will keep your suspension even and ensure good handling of your vehicle. If you carry heavy loads, tow a trailer or drive on uneven Conway, Arkansas area terrain, you might also consider upgrading to a heavy-duty shock.

Regular shocks contain hydraulic fluid. The critical fluid helps them absorb the bumps or “shocks” of the road so the impact doesn’t transfer to the truck’s body. Premium shocks are filled with compressed nitrogen gas, which costs more but does a better job of controlling body motions. Regular shocks can develop air bubbles that reduce their effectiveness; the premium shocks don’t have this problem. So if you want higher handling performance, if you drive off-road around Arkansas or if you just want added comfort, you should consider upgrading to premium shocks or struts.

Replacing struts can put your truck out of alignment, so an alignment check should always follow this type of repair. Talk to your honest tech at Parkway Automotive in Little Rock.

Suspension systems function effectively for many years and tens of thousands of miles. Eventually, however, truck suspension components do wear out, but how long that takes depends a lot on how you drive around Little Rock and Bryant, Arkansas.

As you can imagine, if most of your driving is on smooth Arkansas highways, your shock absorbers will last a lot longer than if you do most of your driving on bumpy Little Rock roads or haul heavy loads. In addition to just wearing out, truck suspension components can be damaged in an accident or by a hard impact – like a pothole, hitting a curb or a rock in the road. Because the life span of shocks can vary so widely, truck auto manufacturers recommend periodic inspections.

During an inspection at Parkway Automotive in Little Rock, your honest automotive service technician will check for worn, broken or missing parts.

Here’s a quick rundown of suspension system components:

First there are the springs which hold the weight of your truck. There are several varieties of springs. Springs are obviously key heavy duty parts that rarely break or wear out. Shock absorbers work in conjunction with springs to smooth out the ride and help keep the tires on the road. Good shocks are essential for handling performance and ride comfort.

You’ve probably heard of struts. They combine a shock absorber and a coil spring in one unit. Shocks and struts will wear out over time. If your tires develop a cupped wear pattern, your shocks or struts may be wearing out. This is from the shocks bouncing unevenly. You may notice a floaty or drifting sensation when cornering. If the front of your truck dives excessively when stopping, or rocks back and forth after you’ve stopped, your shocks may be worn out. And if they are leaking fluid, it’s definitely time to replace them at Parkway Automotive.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, visit Parkway Automotive for a an essential suspension inspection. Same if you’ve been in an accident that involved one of your wheels. If your truck suspension actually fails, it could lead to a serious accident, so don’t put it off.

When you replace your shocks, it’s usually a good idea to replace all four at the same time. That’ll give you more even handling. Talk with your honest Parkway Automotive service professional because you don’t want a big difference between the performance of your shocks from wheel to wheel, and replacing all may be the safest bet.

There are different grades of shocks and struts. You always want to use a replacement shock or strut that equals the one that came as original equipment when your truck was new. But remember, they were designed to meet the expected needs of the broad range of Bryant, Arkansas people who buy that particular vehicle. Your needs may be more specialized.

For example, if you want increased handling performance, your honest Parkway Automotive advisor can recommend an upgraded shock or strut specially designed for improved handling. If you haul heavy loads or trailers in Little Rock, we can recommend some heavy duty shock absorbers.

Today we’re talking to Little Rock motorists about shocks and struts. They’re so easy for Arkansas folks to forget about because they last so long and wear out so slowly. But your shocks are really responsible for keeping your tires on the road – so they’re very .

Without shocks, your wheels would be bouncing over bumps and lifting in corners. The shocks push the tire down to the road to maximize traction. Good shocks equal good ride quality and safe handling for Little Rock auto owners.

Visit Parkway Automotive to have your shocks and struts inspected by a professional service specialist. You can find us at 708 Kirk Road, Little Rock, Arkansas 72223
Or give us a call at 501-821-6111 to make an appointment.

There’s a difference between shocks and springs. Springs support the weight of the vehicle, keeping it suspended up off the axles. The shocks moderate the rebound motion as wheels hit bumps. Now a strut combines a shock and a coil spring in one compact unit.

When your shocks are worn out you may notice degraded handling as you drive around our Little Rock streets. Your vehicle feels squirmy around corners and floaty over bumps. Little Rock motorists may notice the rear end squatting when they accelerate or the front end diving when you brake. Your car might even be sagging at one corner. 

Uneven tire wear can also be a a key sign of worn shocks for Little Rock auto owners. Of course, if your shocks are leaking or have a big dent, they need to be replaced. Talk to your honest Parkway Automotive service specialist.

Your owner’s manual will have a recommendation for when to replace the shocks and struts on your truck. It’s usually between thirty and fifty thousand miles. Of course, if you tow a lot, regularly carry heavy loads or do a lot of driving on bumpy Little Rock roads, your shocks might wear out faster.

If those Conway, Arkansas area driving conditions apply to you, you can get special shocks that are better suited to your driving.

The shocks that come from the factory are designed for the way most consumers are expected to drive that particular vehicle. If you have different needs for your driving around Little Rock, Arkansas, you can get premium shocks that improve performance handling, off-road abilities or towing comfort. Your Little Rock, Arkansas technician at Parkway Automotive can help you determine your needs and then give you some options.

It’s best to replace all four shocks at the same time. That way you’ll have even, predictable handling at all four corners. Anything less could be dangerous.

People came from miles around hoping

to be seated in her section. With a blaze of efficiency and

the accuracy of Robin Hood, you knew your food would arrive piping hot and

exactly as ordered. But that wasn’t why they came. It was the little extras that

made sitting in Gail’s section worth the trip.

Her genuine smile and friendly greeting said, “I’m glad you’re here.” Asking

about your family and caring enough to remember made you feel like family.

Her laugh was contagious, and her work ethic was infectious too. Normally after

a good meal you want to relax. Gail made you want to get up and serve

someone. It’s no wonder the place was always full. Why would you go

anywhere else when you could be served by the world’s best waitress?

Leaving Marks

Gail was a master at making people feel good, treating them with respect

and giving them more than what they paid for. It was one of the marks she’s

left on the world.

I too, am one of her “marks”. You see, Gail is my mom. I’m Mike Davidson of

Parkway Automotive – you may know me as The Auto Guy. I learned a lot about

life, and business, from my mom.

By watching her work to raise three children I learned the value of putting in a

full day’s work. When she’d come home with sore feet, she wouldn’t sit down to

rest; many times she was getting ready to go to her second job. I’d occasionally

catch her taking a nap, but that didn’t last long and seemed to give her a boost of

energy that lasted hours.

A Double Lesson

A lesson she taught me was to treat people better than they expect and to

give people more than they pay for. I began my business with this in mind and

have tried to build my business on this foundation.

Roo t Issues

Most people have had bad experiences with auto repair shops.

What I realized is that most of those problems stem from

the same root issue. I know from personal

experience, and from the testimony

of many others, that too many

shops don’t treat you the way

you’d like to be treated.

• You feel like a number, not a

valued customer

• You are left “in the dark” as

they repair your car

• You are given an estimate, but

if it’s wrong, you are still

expected to pay the new amount

• And if you’re dissatisfied, they just

don’t seem to care

Different Way

I vowed to run Parkway differently. I want to treat people the way I would

want to be treated. The Bible calls this The Golden Rule. I call it, good business.

I know that sounds like a cliche, but it really is my heart. This business is a

reflection on me… and my mom. I want it to be a good reflection. And for that

to happen, we need to take care of you.

n Caring for your car… is pretty simple.

• Our technicians are highly trained

• We invest in state-of-the-art equipment

• Your car will be in our air-conditioned building out of the elements

• And this is the only business we are in – so we are very competent

n Caring for you… is more complex.

When you walk through our door, you have a thousand things on your

mind. And getting your car repaired is probably one of the last things you

want to be dealing with.

We understand how frustrating this can be for you. That’s why we do

everything we can to fully understand your situation, keep you informed

throughout the process, repair your car properly and give you the

assurance that we’ll be here for you should anything not be right.

We know that you can take your car to any number of places to get it

repaired. For you to choose Parkway as your preferred service provider, we

have to do more than care for your car. We have to care for you!

n Caring for Your Time

Professionals set appointments so they don’t waste time

• We’ll reserve an appointment for you so you don’t waste time either

• You can also be taken home or to work in our FREE Shuttle

• We can also pick you up when you car is ready to go

n Caring for Your Peace of Mind

• 100% Guarantee on Parts & Labor –

protects you should anything not be right

• Pre-Trip Inspection –

provides comfort and security as you travel with your family

• Used Car Inspection –

gives you confidence in purchasing a vehicle

n Caring for Your Safety

• 111-Point Visual Inspection –

helps to maintain your car and prevent surprises

• 24/7 Help Line –

gives you access to a trusted advisor whenever you need it

• Nationwide Emergency Service – provides timely help

to keep you from being stranded

A Lasting Legacy

I was given a legacy of a diligent work

ethic, treating people well and giving

people more than they pay for. My job is

to ensure that legacy continues.

When your car needs a repair or

routine service, give us a call to set up an

appointment. We’ll greet you with a

smile, take good care of your car and

strive to give you more than you pay for.

Mom wouldn’t have it any other way.

Mike Davidson

“The Auto Guy”