Spring and Houston Auto Repair

Win Star Wars X-wing Muffler Art and Movie Tickets from Ripleys Muffler and Brakes in Facebook Contest Ripley’s Muffler and Brakes has rolled out a contest on Facebook, with the grand prize being two movie tickets to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens and a one of a kind X-Wing Starfighter replica muffler art piece. To enter you must post a photo of your dream car or truck to your Facebook page and tag Ripley’s Muffler and Brakes. The winner will be announced December 14 on Ripley’s Facebook page so liking the Ripley’s page is highly encouraged. Ripley’s is known in Houston for their muffler art. Both locations, 1960/Kuykendahl and Rayford have numerous pieces on display inside and outside. Some of the most notable art pieces are the train and Santa with his Nutcracker soldiers at the 1960 location. The Rayford location has a giant spider and a reindeer, among many others. Ripley’s has been a Houston sta ... read more

Photo: KHOU In the aftermath of the recent floods across Texas, Ripley’s Muffler & Brakes wants you to know we are here to help with any repairs you may need to your automobile. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau as many as 10,000 vehicles were damaged or totaled in April and May of 2015. Farmers Insurance alone, states that they have received 4,600 auto claims in May 2015. If you have experienced auto damage due to the storms you can trust that Ripley’s is here to help you through the process of repairs and getting you back on your way with your vehicle looking better than when it was brand new! If you made it through the recent floods with little to no damage to your, please be careful as the dangers are still present. While the water is receding, the roadway damage is substantial. The International Business Times says there has been $27 million worth of infrastructure damage quoted and that 167 out of 257 counties have declared some sort of roadway damage ... read more

The following is a list of Houston car clubs and events: West Houston MuscleSpace City CruisersGreater Houston Model A RestorersHouston Chevelle ClubAmerican Motors Club of HoustonHFD Street MachinesNorthside Mustang Car ClubHouston Classic Chevy ClubBlast from the Past Street Machines of ... read more

Shocks and struts are two very similar parts that serve similar purposes. Both shocks and struts absorb the bumps in the road and keep the tires of the vehicle on the ground, creating a smoother ride. A car without shocks or struts would bounce all over the road and be nearly undrivable, as well as dangerous. Shock Absorbers Shocks are the oldest form of suspension still used today. They are similar to pistons - tubes filled with hydraulic fluid or gas with a rod inside, connected to the chassis of the car. When the car rolls over a bump, the piston forces the air or fluid through the tube. Only a limited amount of fluid or air can move at a time, which, combined with springs, resists vehicle movement and prevents the chassis of the car from bouncing rapidly. Struts Struts are the evolved version of shocks. They are a component that combines the spring with a shock absorber to reduce production costs and simplify construction. Struts also se ... read more

After March 1, 2015 Texans will be begin seeing fewer vehicles with two stickers on the windshield. This will be due to a new law that is eliminating inspection stickers. “Two Steps, One Sticker” refers to this new law, but it does not mean that you will no longer have to get your vehicle inspected, nor does it mean you’ll no longer have to shell out nearly $40 (as of the date of this article) to get your vehicle inspected. Passing vehicle inspections are still going to be required to keep your car on the road in the state of Texas, and the fee to do so is not being changed by the new one sticker law. The law is simply requiring you to have a passing inspection before you can renew your vehicle registration. Then your registration sticker will serve as proof of both your registration and your passing vehicle inspection. “Two Steps One Sticker”: What are the two steps? Step 1: From March 1, 2015 through February 29, 2016: If your vehicle has a current and passing inspe ... read more

Tire Tread, Tire Pressure and Battery Houston is known for its typical hot weather throughout most of the year. However, a few months out of the year, we need to adapt and prepare ourselves and our cars for when it actually gets cold down here in the Bayou City. This article will help you understand some of the important fundamentals of preparing your car for winter. Battery Your battery can die at any time of the year, but there usually seems to be a high spike in dead batteries during the winter seasons. It’s already bad enough when your car stalls on the road, but to be stuck on the road with a dead battery is even worse. One of the more common problems that cause dead batteries is having corrosion around your battery and the battery terminals. When a strong connection is not made with your battery, you have a higher chance of your car not starting. If you haven’t inspected your battery and its terminals in the past six months, you’ll want to bring your car ... read more