Using Caster to Properly Align Vehicles
Every story has an angle, and this one is no exception. In this case, we’re looking at one of the fundamental wheel alignment angles: caster. Caster is defined as the forward (negative) or rearward (positive) tilt of the steering axis as viewed from the side. Caster is measured in degrees from an imaginary line perpendicular
Chassis Dynamics
A Firestone sales jingle gave us a good definition of chassis dynamics: “Where the rubber meets the road.” There are four tire tread contact patches that support the weight and control the motion of a vehicle. There are a lot of terms used to describe the motion of an automotive chassis and how it affects
Beware: There’s a New Kid on the Block
You just never know who your next competitor will be. Think beyond the import specialist shop down the road and the franchised service outlet around the corner. Think retail. Think J.C. Whitney & Company, the giant direct marketer of name-brand automotive parts and accessories, providing “everything automotive” with more than 100,000 items covering more than
The Ultimate Answer?: Brake NVH: Part One
In recent years, North American OEMs have had to spend more than $100 million annually at the dealership level to resolve brake noise issues. Also, JD Powers studies indicate brake noise is the third highest complaint identified by new-car buyers in the first 90-days of ownership. Brake noise on the aftermarket level is even more
Fleet Management and Warranty Companies: What’s the Difference?
In the case of a warranty company, the company has a direct vested interest in the costs of the repairs. Such companies sell a repair contract on a single vehicle where certain items on the vehicle are specifically named. The company will pay for, or toward, the repair of those specifically named items within the
Preventing Oil from Turning to Sludge
Fresh engine oil is a clear, free-flowing liquid blend of base stock and additives that contains no fuel, water, coolant, dirt or other contaminants. In engines that have failed prematurely, the oil has very often been transformed into a high viscosity deposit of brown or black goo, commonly referred to as “sludge.” When regular engine
Failing Master Cylinder: Classic Symptoms
Anyone who works on brakes should be familiar with basic hydraulics and the various components that make up the hydraulic portion of the brake system. So if you’re not as familiar with this subject as you should be, keep reading and we’ll refresh your memory. We’ll start at the heart of the system, which is
Seasonal Service
It’s that time of year again. Time to start promoting seasonal service checks. So before family hits the road for vacation with gas possibly hitting $3 per gallon, here are some service items that should be checked. TIRES Tires obviously play a very important role in safe driving because of their affect on traction, handling
Odds & Ends
Building The Mustang Ministock includes everything a racer needs to know to competitively build, set up and race a Mustang 3 car. Using eight informative chapters based on a project car built as an example for this book, Building The Mustang Ministock thoroughly covers all areas of race car fabrication, suspension systems, chassis setup and
Increasing Summer Profits with A/C Work
Warm weather is just around the corner in many parts of the country, so it’s not too soon to start thinking about ways you can promote A/C service work and boost your profits this summer. More than 90% of new vehicles are now factory-equipped with air conditioning, and more than 80 percent of the cars