Brake & Front End

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Used Car Dealers Con Lawmakers: Even with a horrible image, used car dealers avoid federal oversight.

We have all seen it before when a customer brings in their “new” used vehicle for the first time with a problem. It could be a car that cannot be aligned because of crash damage, or an off-lease car with a sludged engine due to neglect. When it comes time to tell the customer what is wrong with their “new” used car, the conversation usually turns to how much they paid and the length of the loan. ... More

Directions: Will Driver Awareness on Recalls Drive Up Shop Stops?

While new car recalls have been among the biggest news stories of the year, an analysis by Edmunds.com, assures consumers that despite these recent headlines, recalls were much more of a concern in decades past. More

Editor's Notebook: Give Your Customers Reason to Return for Service

With customers having so many choices today for many of the products or services they buy, businesses that want to attract new customers need to actively take steps to deliver the highest level of value and service. More

'New Technology Requires New Testing Technology'

In late April a few other Babcox editors and I took a trip to Chicago to get a hands-on look at Bosch’s new KTS 340, the latest in the company’s series of scan tools. (See the complete news item click here.) While the main focus of the event was on the scan tool, the company representatives also stressed the importance of training and how keeping up with technology is the key to... More

Grow or Die: Do You Have the Revenue to Survive? Can You Hit the Million Dollar Mark?

It has been postulated by some shop owners and industry consultants that for a shop to survive today and in the future it will require an annual revenue of at least $1 million with a growth rate of 4-5% annually. The rational for this high revenue figure is that shops will need this revenue to support tools and training expenditures so they can repair late-model vehicles profitably. Being able to... More

Directions: New Engine Oil Specification to Flow into Shops this Year

The International Lubricants Standardization and Approval Committee (ILSAC) is finalizing the latest next-generation of motor oil specifications that will hit the market later this year. More

Exemplary Tech Credentials Make Us All Winners

As the electronic content in vehicles continues to increase, so too will the complexity of vehicle repair and service. Current techs need to elevate their diagnostic skills and we need to recruit more highly skilled people into our industry to meet today's and tomorrow's vehicle service demands. More

Directions: Attitude Adjustment will Lead to Maintenance

Explain to your customers the value and importance of regular maintenance - including oil and filter changes, tire rotations and tune-ups in order to achieve continued high fuel economy for their vehicle. More

Copper in Brake Pads: Great Idea, Bad Tax

If you run a shop in either California or Washington, chances are you have been hearing a lot about copper in brake pads and friction materials. If you are on the other coast or in the middle, it may be news to you, but chances are you have seen or will see advertisements and even boxes that say they have low copper content or no copper content. While on the surface it may seem like it is about salmon... More

Directions: The Impact of HF0-1234yf on Service Shops

According to the new refrigerant's developers, there are chemical differences between HFO-1234yf and the current R-134a system. As a shop owner, you'll need to learn the Safety, Equipment and Charging Issues surrounding this new refrigerant. More