Opinion Archives - Page 13 of 69 - Brake & Front End
Public Relations In The Auto Repair Industry: Image Is Everything

Donny Seyfer is fighting to clean up the auto repair industry’s image by calling for a more focused approach to serving women.

Personal Preventive Maintenance: Don’t Let Work Get In The Way Of Life

Scott Weaver found out first hand that preventive maintenance doesn’t just apply to maintaining vehicles, it also has to do with protecting one’s health.

Brakelight: August 1952

Chet’s in Long Beach, CA, is still in business 65 years after this article was printed in Brake & Front End. Chet spent $18,000 in 1952 to build the shop — the equivalent of $163,000 today.

Upgrading Brake & Front End

Earlier this year, we upgraded Brake & Front End’s website. We completely redesigned the site to make it more mobile phone- and tablet-friendly. Now, it is easier than ever to view past and present digital issues of Brake & Front End, renew your subscription and find technical articles on the fly.

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How Quick Fixes Can Lead to Long-Term Problems

Once in a while, some of these in-the-ditch repairs truly are born out of a roadside emergency, but I tend to believe that even these quick fixes could be avoided with a little bit of proper maintenance know-how. The problem is that some people like to tackle repair work themselves regardless of their repair acumen.

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Brakelight (August 1952)

The “Pull a Wheel!” campaign from the 1940s and 1950s played a critical role in stressing the complete inspection of brake systems. Most vehicles of this period had drum brakes.

Wall Street Is Talking Auto Repair: Are You Listening?

Have you ever wondered what Wall Street thinks about your business? Did you know that Wall Street even cares? Several times a year, I consult with investment analysts to help them understand what is happening in the independent repair sector. The funny thing is that I’m sure I learn far more from them than they learn from me.

How Long Is A Labor Hour?

Even with all of the technically advanced diagnostic tools professional technicians have at their disposal, there are still people who can’t understand why diagnostic time should be included in the labor estimate, even though it’s not part of the R&R for the component.

Steering Clear Of The Downsides Of New Vehicle Technology

Driver distraction is one of the biggest factors contributing to the large number of vehicle crashes on the roads today. With more and more distractions coming to the center stack, how can anyone be expected to focus on driving? Regarding this issue, I think that the lobby for cellular companies has prevailed to the detriment of its customers.

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The Top 5 Reasons Customers Should Choose Your Shop

With first-time callers just a mouse click away from contacting another shop, you will need to ensure that your advisors are at the top of their game when it comes to selling themselves, and your company, to the caller. Remember, customers have to feel comfortable with your advisor before they will be open to recommendations.

What Is An Import Car?

If you worked on domestics in the 1990s, the engines still had pushrod valvetrains and automatic transmissions with just three speeds. But, innovations like distributorless ignition and port fuel injection systems were often more refined and robust than some imports.

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Have You Seen This Before? A Tech’s Guide For Dealing With Skeptical Customers

“Have you seen this before?” That’s the typical question asked by skeptical customers the world over. How do you answer that? A “yes” answer can lead you down a rabbit hole you don’t want to travel, while a “no” answer can present its own set of problems.