Brake Fluid Testing, Bleeding & Flushing
Brake fluid is something that should always be changed when the brakes are relined or when replacing a caliper, wheel cylinder, brake line, hose or master cylinder. But what about other times? Should brake fluid be replaced for preventive maintenance? Most brake experts say yes! DOT 3 and DOT 4 brake fluid contains glycol ethers
BMW Maintenance: The Right Equipment and Information Make Service Profitable
Well-designed and durable, the cars from Bavaria have had a reputation for handling and performance that many other manufacturers only aspire to. In the last 50 years, BMWs have gone from the three-wheeled Isetta microcar of the 1950s to today’s powerful and comfortable high-performance machines with all of the latest technology. One of my favorite
Diagnostic Solutions: Wheel Bearing Diagnosis
PROPER PROCEDURES AND CORRECT TOOLS PREVENT COMEBACKS Although wheel bearings are often the most neglected part of the vehicle, they nevertheless have a critical job to do, and in most cases, do it very well. Not only are wheel bearings designed to support the weight of the vehicle and allow it to travel over a
Brake FLuid Testing: Are You Testing Your Customers’ Brake Fluid?
When was the last time you tested a customer’s brake fluid? Never? Many shops don’t bother to test brake fluid for several reasons. Some don’t think fluid tests are necessary. Others don’t test the fluid because they don’t have anything to test it with. And others say why bother if they’re going to bleed the
Tech Tip: Spotting Problems with a Non-Contact Infrared Thermometer
Being able to measure temperature variances can play an important roll in diagnosing vehicle maladies for both undercar and underhood technicians. This can be easily accomplished by using a non-contact infrared thermometer. With this tool, technicians simply point the thermometer at the area of concern and they are immediately provided with the temperature of the surface in question.
Alignment Equipment
From the brake pad to the shock absorber, every product that you come in contact with at a shop has a history that goes back at least 75 years. We will look at different product categories and track the innovations that have shaped these products and the future for these segments. Alignment Retrospective In the
Odds & Ends:
The Return of the Mustang Pedal Car It wasn’t long after Henry Ford began mass-producing Model Ts at the turn of the century that kids took to sidewalks in miniature pedal cars. The steel-covered toys remained high on children’s wish-lists until the ’70s when the company stopped producing them. Just as the 1965 Mustang was
SKF Drive-By-Wire Technology Showcased In Novanta Concept Car
The bright orange Novanta concept car has a futuristic yet contemporary look that is more evolutionary than revolutionary. The car is built on a SAAB 95 chassis with a 3.0L V6 engine and automatic transmission. It’s fully driveable (unlike many concept cars) but lacks basic amenities that would be on a real production car such as air conditioning, windshield wipers, external mirrors and cup holders.
Diagnostic Solutions: Identifying Ignition Switch Failure Symptoms
Although the basic ignition switch has remained unchanged for many years, the way it supplies electrical current to modern on-board electronics has made it a key factor when diagnosing intermittent failures in various electronic operating systems. Going back into automotive history, the ignition switch’s sole purpose on early imports was to energize the primary ignition
Dorman Adds More New Aftermarket Revenue with New Products, New Solutions and New Opportunities
Dorman Products has announced its new product introductions and line extensions that were introduced at the 2005 AAPEX show in Las Vegas. The new product categories and extended coverage provide distributors with more revenue opportunities and the opportunity to allow service dealers to source these products from their preferred supplier – their aftermarket distributor. In all, the company will introduce more than 2,000 new parts to the aftermarket in 2006.