Import Car Repair
Wheel Bearing Technology: Don’t Become Complacent

I know some of you think the wheel bearing replacement does not merit an article, but this attitude can cause a comeback for late-model European vehicles. Wheel bearings are changing because the vehicles they are attached to and the brake rotors located on the other side are evolving. This has changed the designs and specifications for most bearings.

Inspecting Brake Hoses With Your Hands Helps Prevent Failure

A proper brake hose inspection should include checking all hoses for cuts, cracking or swelling. Brake hoses often crack around the metal sleeve that seals the hose to the metal fitting, so be sure to pay close attention to these areas.

Brake Pad & Rotor Matching

Many techs believe that installing new pads and rotors is the solution to brake noise and vibration, and that installing new parts makes everything perfectly aligned so that no other steps are needed to bring the system back to service. Well, this is true and false.

Would You Install That Brake Pad On Your Car?

Today, we are in a fight against replacement brake pads that put profit ahead of safety. The brake repair market is starting to become dominated by a “good enough” mentality. Good enough to some is just being able to stop in a “reasonable” distance at normal driving speeds, and last for 10,000 miles. But, when tasked to perform an emergency stop or a series of hard stops, the vehicle can become unsafe with longer stops and a low pedal when inferior brake pads are used.

Wheel Bearing Add-Ons

Wheel bearing service, no matter the bearing design, can be a difficult job. There are new products and add-ons to the ticket that can give the customer a completely repaired vehicle.

Can You Save A Life With A VIN?

Your shop may have the opportunity to save a life every day – it could happen in the alignment bay, quick lube lane and even the front office. It is an opportunity to tell your customers you care about their safety. So, what is this opportunity? Checking to see if their vehicle is involved in the Takata airbag recall.

How Will ADAS Change Undercar Repairs?

If your shop is performing brake, suspension or steering repairs on late-model import nameplate vehicles, you are already able to service and diagnose most ADAS vehicles. All ADAS systems are basically layers of software and sensors on top of brake, suspension and steering systems that you already work on today.

Sensing Brake Pad Wear

Modern brake pad wear sensors can do more than just warn the driver of a worn brake pad. These new wear sensors work with the rest of the brake system and can estimate the mileage until the brake pads wear out.

North, South, East & West: Finding The Right Direction In Modern Wheel Alignment Technology

For the past 100 years, wheel alignment has been about adjusting camber, caster and toe angles. During the past 20 years, four-wheel alignments have done their share to change the wheel alignment landscape. But, with the introduction of the 2018 and 2019 imports, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are once again revolutionizing the wheel alignment market because the alignment technician must not only align all four wheels with the vehicle centerline, he must now align one or more ADAS sensors with the lane of travel.

Brake TSB Trends

TSBs are an addendum to the factory service manual and typically are the product of the OEM solving problems in the field. The majority of TSBs address problems you see at your shop including pulsating brakes, leaks and noise. Top TSB: Pulsation Just about every OEM has issued a TSB about brake pedal pulsation and

Tech Tip: Four Ways To Make Brakes Last Longer

No one looks forward to coming in for a brake job. But, explaining to customers how to extend the life of their brakes and save money is a no-brainer. It builds trust and loyalty. From a pure safety issue, remind customers that brake pads and hardware last an average of 35,000 to 45,000 miles and should always be checked at that point.

Hybrid Wheel Bearing Service

There are more than four million hybrid vehicles in the U.S. All of them are equipped with brakes and wheel bearings. When servicing hybrid vehicles, it is critical that the hybrid or regenerative brake systems be disabled. It should also be a common practice to remove the keys from the vehicle and place them in an area that is far enough away from the vehicle, as some hybrid systems will sense if the key is near. As the driver approaches the vehicle, some vehicles will not only unlock the doors, but also activate systems like brakes and the drivetrain.