March 2014 Archives - Brake & Front End
BRAKELIGHT: The Tale of Sam & Joe (December 1961)

Quality art never goes out of style. OK, so maybe you don’t remember “The Reluctant Student” from the December 1961 issue of Brake & Front End, but the message is as important now as it was then — maybe even more so. In the cartoon, we have Joe, who is content with his book of

Why Chasing The Cheapest Brake Job Costs Your Shop In The Long Run

Ever since the 1930s, there has been a war on the price of brake jobs. Eighty years ago, shops were advertising low-priced brake relines on sandwich boards for $19.99, but they complained about “gyps” selling brake jobs for $9.99 on the side of the road. We see almost the same situation today. This time the price point is around $150. Instead of gyps, shops are complaining about some guy on Craigslist who will perform a brake job for around $40 if he is provided with the pads.

Measuring Ball Joint Wear

Detecting and measuring wear in a ball joint is critical to ensuring the safety of a vehicle. When a ball joint fails, the driver loses control of the vehicle. This can result in damage not only to the suspension, but also the axle shafts, brakes and even the body.

10 Reasons Why You Don’t Sell More Loaded Shocks And Struts

Do you only look at the shocks and struts when the driver complains of a noise or when the vehicle can’t be aligned? This might be just one of several reasons you aren’t selling more loaded shocks and struts despite a vehicle’s need for them. Here are 10 tips to help you better identify the need for shocks and struts and for effectively educating your customers to make the sale.