Alignment Specs: BMW 3-Series 1998-2006 E46
The BMW E46 was the best selling generation of the 3-Series. The rear-wheel drive sports sedan is one of the more complicated cars to align, but it has many service and repair opportunities.
CHASSIS TECH: Rear Suspension Dynamics
Independent rear suspensions are starting to become the norm on not only cars, but SUVs of all sizes. The first advantage of an independent rear suspension is ride. The second advantage is handling.
Directions: Autonomous Autos Take to the Streets
There is a lot of speculation on how driverless vehicles – which are already on the roads as test cars – will impact the service industry.
Three Crew Chiefs Deadlocked at Top of MOOG ‘Problem Solver’ Standings Heading Into Chase for the Sprint Cup
NASCAR Sprint Cup crew chiefs Steve Addington, Chad Johnston and Steve Letarte are deadlocked at the top of the standings for the $100,000 MOOG Steering and Suspension “Problem Solver of the Year” Award as NASCAR heads into its season-ending 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup. Addington, crew chief for defending Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart and the No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet, captured his share of the lead by winning his fourth MOOG “Problem Solver of the Race” Award in Saturday’s Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond (VA) International Raceway.
Fifty-Six New MOOG Steering and Suspension Parts Expand Brand’s Coverage to Millions of Additional Vehicles
The MOOG steering and suspension line from Federal-Mogul now includes 56 new parts that expand the brand’s coverage to millions of additional foreign nameplate and domestic passenger vehicles. According to Federal-Mogul, the Moog brand – as the automotive service industry’s “Problem Solver,” – delivers innovative product designs that provide enhanced performance and durability and help make installation easier.
New Raybestos Brand Chassis Parts Released for Late Model Applications
Raybestos brand chassis parts – a member of the Affinia family of brands – has added ball joints, tie rod ends and sway bar frame bushings to the Raybestos chassis catalog for select 2003-2012 models.
Memory Lane: Culture Club – Restoring a Vehicle to ‘Car Culture’ Status
What some call the “car culture” still exists today as many large, organized “cruises” are held in various metro areas during the summer, as well as a number of car shows in the country’s smaller towns. This year was special because my body and paint (B&P) man and I had just finished putting the finishing touches on my old 1st-series 1955 Chevrolet 3100 pickup, which I inherited from my dad in 1973.
Alignment Specs: 1999-2006 Honda Insight Hybrid
You may not see many Honda Insights in your alignment bay, but don’t let the strange styling and hybrid badge scare you away from doing any chassis repairs.
Honda Performance Modifications
While the “fast and furious” nature of the import performance market has cooled down, there is still some excitement in the market and you shouldn’t be surprised to find a customer at your front counter asking if you can do this kind of work, says Import Specialist Contributor Bob Dowie.
Getting Organized from the Ground Up: Building a Tool Storage Solution on a Solid Foundation
Mike DuBois talks about how to minimize or eliminate the problem of being messy and disorganized in the shop. The reality is that it’s not about being tidy; it’s about making money. The faster and more efficiently you can work, the faster you complete jobs and, ultimately, the more money you make.