Wheel Bearings 101
Service and replacement is making a comeback on some vehicles Some people think servicing wheel bearings is a thing of the past — like measuring dwell on a set of ignition points. But, even with sealed hub units, inspection and service have not gone out of style. Like any moving part on a vehicle that
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
Are You Testing Brake Fluid for Customers?
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: Aftermarket Brake Pads – Are They Really OE Quality?
Quality is something everybody talks about when it comes to selling brake pads, but what does it really mean? Same look and fit as the original pads? No installation problems? No noise complaints? Same or better braking performance, feel and pad life as the OEM pads?
Diagnostics Through CAN Networks
Since model year 2003, a growing number of domestic and import vehicles have been built with a new onboard communications protocol called CAN (Controller Area Network). CAN is essentially an engineering standard for how computers and modules talk to one another via the serial data bus in a vehicle’s wiring system. It’s a high speed
Slotted & Drilled Rotors: Upgrades That Deliver Performance and Pizzazz
You’ve seen them on the race track. You’ve seen them on the street. You’ve seen them in speed shops, in magazine ads, online and probably on eBay, too. The product we’re talking about is slotted and/or cross-drilled high-performance brake rotors. They look great; no doubt about it. Performance rotors are an excellent upgrade for modified
Selling Services: Anti-Seize & Studs
Last month I received a great letter from one of our readers. He was absolutely livid about the story “Double Hit” in our February issue. Ed from the Cherokee Garage in Beckwourth, CA, pointed out several incorrect items in the article. In the article, it was advised that a light coating of anti-seize could be
Slotted and Drilled Rotors: Show or Slow?
You’ve seen them on the race track. You’ve seen them on the street. You’ve seen them in speed shops, in magazine ads, online and probably on eBay, too. The product we’re talking about is slotted and/or cross-drilled high performance brake rotors. They look great, no doubt about it. Performance rotors are an excellent upgrade for
Preventing Brake Fade: Maximizing How Friction Materials Handle Heat
Brake fade is something nobody wants to experience. When you step down on the brake pedal with a certain amount of force, the vehicle should slow predictably. But when the brakes get too hot and start to fade, it takes more and more pedal effort to get the same amount of braking force. Eventually the
Tenneco Offering $25 Consumer Rebate on Monroe Premium Brake Pads
Tenneco Inc. is supporting the national launch of its new Monroe Ceramics and Monroe Dynamics premium brake pads with an exclusive $25 consumer cash rebate program throughout 2006.
A Brief History
In 1931, people thought Edward S. Babcox was insane for launching a magazine in the middle of the great depression. But, 75 years and almost 900 issues later, BRAKE & FRONT END is still going strong. For the past few months, I have been reading back issues of BRAKE & FRONT END non-stop. In musty
Diagnostic Solutions: Master Cylinder Diagnosis
Although the mechanics of modern master cylinders seem deceptively simple, today’s dual-piston or tandem master cylinders still require the utmost in care and attention to maintain safe, reliable operation. The tandem master cylinder contains two piston assemblies; one for each axle set or diagonally located pair of brakes. Each piston assembly has two lip seals