Building Hot Rod and Muscle Car Engines
Sometimes the best opportunities are cleverly hidden in plain view. As one example, when Chris Lafferty of Lafferty Engine Creations was asked why he opted to expand beyond race engines into the hot rod and muscle car arenas, he said, "Just look outside." His North Carolina facility sits squarely in the middle of both NASCAR and cruisin’ country.
Electric Power Steering
When a technology like hydraulic power steering has been around for so long, it is difficult for technicians and even the training establishment to deal with a new system like electric power steering. These systems abandon fluid logic for electronic logic. It is not a simple exchange of power steering fluid for magnetism. Wrapping one’s
Shaken, Not Steered
Wouldn’t it be great if various vibrations in the car were something that we could measure, sort through, select one and assign numbers to it that can be used to find its source? Wouldn’t be even better if we could determine by the numbers whether the vibration was a balance issue or excessive runout with
Tech Tip: MIL Illuminated, System Lean in Ford/Lincoln/Mercury Vehicles
This article is intended to aid in diagnosing DTCs P0171, P0174, P1130, P1131, P1150, P1151, P2195 or P2197 (system lean or lack of HEGO switches) when a vacuum leak is present. HEGO sensors, MAF sensors and PCM replacements are not an effective repair when a vacuum leak is causing the above DTCs.
New Name, New Strategy for Akebono
Akebono Corporation (North America) announced that as of January 1, its North American headquarters will operate under the name Akebono Brake Corp.
Tech Tip: BMW Steering Problem
Because of BMW’s stellar reputation for exceptional stability, many BMW owners expect nothing less from their late-model vehicles – even if those vehicles are not DSC equipped. You may get a customer complaining of a very slight "twitch" that can be felt in the steering while holding the steering wheel lightly with one hand and giving the brakes a quick tap.
Braking Horsepower: How Much Does Your Car Have?
We all know brakes get hot, sometimes very hot. If you watch closely on race day, it’s not uncommon to see the rotor on a race car glowing bright orange. Iron is in the range of 1,700º F when orange. At the most basic level, a brake is an energy conversion device. Normally people will
The Rip Off: Do you Love the Aftermarket?
A few weeks ago, I invited an old friend and former co-worker to lunch. I have to admit, my motives were not entirely focused on “catching up,” as he now works for a local company I have been eyeing as a potential customer for quite some time. Of course, I casually worked his company’s fleet
Lifts: Laws of the Universe
have in common? Each of these items is subject to the law of gravity. The law states all items are attracted to the earth with a force that is exactly equal to their specific weight. Why, you ask, do I care about this? Well, let me give you another little statement that will start to
Safe Shop: Real-World Lift Safety
The repair order read “vehicle pulls to the left.” The owner of a Ford Excursion wanted an alignment. The job started out like any other — a preliminary test drive to confirm the symptoms and then it was run up onto the alignment lift. The front tires were carefully steered onto the turn plates. The