Brakelights: Foam Means Fade (June 1961)
Shocks fading on vehicles was a big safety concern before gas charged shocks in the 1970s. On bumpy roads, old shocks would heat up the fluid, causing bubbles to form in the fluid. This would cause the piston to cavitate and the shock to fade. Often, the car would lose control. Sometimes, if the fade was bad enough, the shock would puke fluid out of the top seal. Gas charging of shocks changed this because the fluid was now under pressure, much like an unopened beer can.
BRAKELIGHT: World War II (April 1944)
At the start of World War II, Japan occupied the rubber plantations in the Dutch East Indies. This cut U.S. manufacturers off from the largest sources of natural rubber to make tires and products for the war effort. The U.S. solved the problem using rationing, recycling and lowering the speed limit to 35 mph. Another
BRAKELIGHT: Cartoon Windows (1955)
The going rate for a complete brake job in 1955 was $18.20. Drum brakes of this vintage had limited self-adjustment and required constant attention. This shop building is still there, but it is now a Tiki Bar.
BRAKELIGHT: Reliable Brake Service, St. Louis, MO (Dec. 1965)
Reliable Brake Service in St. Louis, MO, is an institution in the Lindwood Park neighborhood. The two-foot tall letters on the front of the building have stood for more than 50 years and have outlasted two owners. In July 2015, the business was put up for sale due to the partial retirement of the current
Electronic Proportioning Valve: Doing More With Less Hardware
Anti-lock brake systems (ABS) and the HCU are replacing proportioning, combination and other valves to change the braking forces in the front and rear. This is called Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and it can dynamically change the proportioning to take into account if the vehicle is turning or is loaded.
Electric Power Steering Diagnostics
Electric power steering is more energy efficient than hydraulic systems and does not provide assist until it receives driver input, but there are differences in the hydraulic and electric assist that will affect the driver’s and technician’s understanding of the component and its integration into the ESC and self-park system.
Brake Job: 2012-Current Cadillac ATS
There are two brake packages for the ATS. The base JE5 uses single-piston calipers in the front and rear. The J55 or J6 is typically found on the ATS-V, and uses larger rotors and a four-piston caliper in the front. There is also an option for a more aggressive track pad on the ATS-V.
Repair One Automotive: ‘WIX Driving Performance Award’ 2015 Winner
The WIX Driving Performance Award, entering its second year, recognizes game-changers in automotive service. This year’s winning shop, Repair One Automotive, The Woodlands, TX, is recognized for truly revolutionizing the customers’ vehicle repair experience – from start to finish. Owners Brent and Brenda O’Neal received an all-expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas to attend the AAPEX Show, as well as attended the WIX Filters and Babcox Media Night of Excellence recognition dinner on Monday evening of show week.
Get Inside The Mind Of A Modern Transmission
The transmission game has changed. Solenoids, sensors and computers have replaced vacuum lines, governors and kick down cables on modern automatic transmissions. The tools have also changed: Scan tools, scopes and meters have replaced pressure and vacuum gauges. Even with codes and datastream information, you must be able to think like the transmission to find the correct diagnosis, which typically doesn’t involve replacing the entire transmission.
Brake Light On Diagnostics
The customer states the red brake light is illuminated on the instrument cluster and the tachometer and speedometer will intermittently not work. After confirming the customer’s concern, removed the center console, inspected the emergency brake switch, and found when the emergency brake was pulled up, the tachometer became unresponsive.
Weak Air Ride Compressor Diagnostics
Today’s air ride suspensions seem to have a mind of their own when it comes to alerting the driver of a problem. Unlike engine-related trouble codes, most air ride codes are cleared every key cycle or when the vehicle has been sitting for a specific period of time. Codes are not always a sign of a leak, as they can be set by components like the compressor, sensors or reservoir. These codes can appear to be intermittent, but once you understand how the system operates and the criteria for setting a compressor-related code, a diagnosis can be easy.
Water And Debris Cause Bearing Damage
Although inadequate lubrication can be classified into eight basic categories, two of those causes – water contamination and debris contamination – can be particularly attributed to bearing damage. The main common type of bearing damage with moisture/water exposure is rusting, pitting and corrosion – a condition known as “etching.”
