Diagnosing Wheel Bearings, Locking Hubs
Automatic hubs are used on many 4×4 trucks to disengage the front wheels when four-wheel drive is not needed. The main advantage of being able to disengage the front wheels on the go is that the driver doesn’t have to stop, get out of the vehicle and twist a dial on the hub to disengage or engage the front wheels.
Brake Noise: Using Engineering Logic To Cure Common Noise Issues
The most important thing to know is that all brakes make noise. When the friction material makes contact with the rotor, it causes the brake pad and rotor to vibrate. The vibration moves the air around and makes noise.
Brake Job: Jeep Wrangler
The Jeep Wrangler JK can be deceiving. If you look at the brake pads, rotors and calipers, it looks like just about every other truck. When you look at the front and rear suspension, it looks dated with a front live axle. But, don’t underestimate the JK because it has one of the most hydraulically sophisticated ABS and stability control systems on the market.
First Generation Kia Soul Brake Job
Brakes on the Soul are conventional single-piston calipers and four-wheel discs on most trim levels and very straightforward to service. Some of the basic trimmed models had drum brakes in the rear. While these brakes have been relatively trouble-free in the first generation models, there have been some complaints about brakes that “grab” or feel “too sensitive” when engaged.
Four Creative Ways To Improve Employee Morale
Experts say there is a direct relationship between keeping employees happy and getting the best out of them, but improving morale in the shop is a deceptively simple goal. Sometimes, in order to raise morale in the shop, you have to get creative. Here are four areas where business owners can lift employee spirits and
How To Diagnose NVH Complaints In Drivetrain Components
Thanks to advanced technology, modern vehicles operate with fewer noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) complaints than ever before. Consequently, when a NVH issue arises, it’s most likely caused by worn drivetrain components like universal joints, constant velocity joints or wheel bearing hub assemblies. In any case, NVH complaints can often be the most challenging to diagnose when you can’t duplicate the driving conditions under which they occur.
Hunter Releases Next-Generation WinAlign Consoles
The HawkEye Elite aligner uses four precision cameras to measure the orientation of targets mounted to each wheel.
Wheel Bearings And Locking Hubs
Automatic hubs are used on many 4×4 trucks to disengage the front wheels when four-wheel drive is not needed. Disconnecting the front wheels reduces friction and may improve fuel economy as much as one mile per gallon depending on the vehicle. A one mpg difference may not sound like much, but every little bit helps.
Chevrolet Trailblazer 2002-2009 Brake Job
The Chevrolet Trailblazer is based on the GMT 360. While its brake system is not groundbreaking by any means, there are some intricacies that technicians should be aware of on this common platform.
Dodge Ram 1500 Alignment Spec (2009-2015)
The Dodge Ram might not be the most popular of the full-sized trucks, but it has a loyal following among drivers and fleets. While the basic alignment procedure on this generation of the Ram 1500 is straightforward, the additions of stability control, electric power steering and air ride can make for a complicated alignment.
