Tech Feature: Performance Modifications…Getting a ‘Handle’ on Your Customers’ Tuning Needs
The sport compact car market is hotter than ever. The market has moved beyond the simple bolt-ons such as wheels, tires, brake rotors and spoilers. It’s not unusual today to see sport compact engines producing upward of 400 horsepower on the street. With so much power under the hood, the challenge is getting the horsepower
Collision-Related Alignments: It’s All in the Angles
src=”elements/100656.gif” width=”180″ height=”131″ alt=”” border=”0″ align=”baseline” /> When a vehicle is involved in an accident, extreme forces are placed upon the design characteristics of the structure, as well as all related and attached system components. This energy management of the collision forces is what began the need for technical training and the formation of I-CAR.
Viewpoint: Empathy and Old Ladies
In 1994, I was working at major chain repair/tire shop in Birmingham MI, as a service writer. I had not been there too long and was just learning the ropes. The shop was located in an affluent suburb of Detroit. The customers were a mixture of old money, new money and retiree money from folks
Worn Tires Have a Lot to Say – If You Know How to Listen
Tires can tell you a lot simply through visual inspection. Your job is to tell the motorist that he or she has a tire-wear issue. Remind the customer that ice, water or dirt on the pavement substantially reduces the tire’s road-holding ability.
Wheel, Rotor and Drum Removal
The traffic whizzed by at seventy plus. The good news: The flat is on the rear passenger side and the lug nuts came off with little strain. The bad news: The alloy wheel is seized on the hub and it isn’t going anywhere. Twist of fate: I forgot to chock the front wheel and the
Brake & Suspension System Service
Brake and suspension repairs are the best type of routine maintenance repairs that coincide with major service intervals. Brake and suspension components that are in need of replacement could represent a significant profit center for shops when technicians take the time to perform complete chassis inspections. Worn suspension and brake components, as well as a
Tech Tip: 2000 Honda Odyssey Drifts to the Right
If you encounter a 2000 Honda Odyssey that drifts to the right at highway speeds, the probable cause is uneven front caster or camber settings.
Steering Stabilizers: Suspension Geometry
Big rims or tires can look good and give a vehicle a unique look. But what is invisible becomes real ugly is the alignment and suspension angles that become altered. Also, that extra weight in stylist alloy rims or thick off-road tires can create a gyroscopic problem. Lifting Why do people lift trucks? The primary
Alignment Equipment
From the brake pad to the shock absorber, every product that you come in contact with at a shop has a history that goes back at least 75 years. We will look at different product categories and track the innovations that have shaped these products and the future for these segments. Alignment Retrospective In the
Tech Tip: Nissan Steering Pull Diagnosis and Repair
Customers may use the term "vehicle pull" to describe a number of different potential incidents. The following diagnostic and repair information is specific to steering pull.