Swaybar Tune Up
A long time ago in a service bay far away, the average tread life of a bias ply tire was 20,000 miles. Even with belted bias ply tires, you did well to get 30,000 miles. Shocks, ball joints and bushings averaged out at 40,000. Today, modern radials can get 60,000 and suspension parts can go
Monotube Shocks
From the outside, most shock absorbers and struts look pretty much alike: a round steel tube that telescopes up and down with bushings or fittings on both ends. But inside there can be significant design differences that affect not only the ride control characteristics and performance of the damper, but also its cost. Last month,
Exorcising the Accessory Demons
Big exhaust pipes, big tires, big rims…some of that stuff may seem, well, ridiculous sometimes, but it can mean big profits. It’s funny, some people will spend two grand for a set of rims for a $500 car. But if that’s what they want to do, why not help them spend their money? If you’ve
Jacks: The Ups and Downs of Jacks
The famous actor/comedian Rodney Dangerfield was well known for his routine about respect. You couldn’t watch him for more than a few minutes before you heard his signature line: “I can’t get NO respect!” If we were to start assigning personalities to tools in the shop, jacks would definitely be the Rodney Dangerfield of the
News: Mac Tools Celebrates 70 Years of Heritage at the 2008 Tool Fair
Orlando, FL — From its conception in 1938 to today, Mac Tools has remained unchanged in its philosophy of providing excellent quality and service, at a fair value. This year, Mac Tools is celebrating 70 years of heritage in quality tool manufacturing and distribution, kicking off the celebration with its annual Tool Fair event. Held
SPAL USA is for Hot Rod Builders
Selecting the parts that will become their dream ride is a pleasure hot rod builders know well. When the heavy lifting is done, SPAL USA stands ready to fill in the gaps with electric cooling fans and electronic accessories that are the finishing touches on any custom made masterpiece.
What Are the Advantages of Twin-Tube Shocks?
Twin tube shocks and struts have been used as original equipment on most vehicles for many years. But in recent years, we’ve also seen more monotube shocks and struts being used as original equipment dampers on sports and performance vehicles. So what’s the difference and what are the advantages and disadvantages of each design? This
Editor’s Notebook: Business ‘Building Blocks’ for the New Year
With ads for New Year’s resolutions running rampant on the airwaves and in print, one doesn’t have to look very far for advice. One article’s catchy lead questioned, “Is it really possible for anyone to live happily to 100? The good news is that your body was designed to be 100 — you just have
Mitch Schneider: Hiring Hell
Everyone has their own private hell, a place where monsters hide under the bed or in the dark corners of the closet down the hall, patiently waiting for just the right moment to strike. It would also be safe to assume that each profession has more than its share of such places, but it would be safer to assume that owning your own business has more!
Tech Feature: Understanding the Metallurgy in Today’s Engines
Cast iron is like an old familiar friend to most of our readers because it’s been around forever. Vehicle manufacturers like cast iron because it’s cheap compared to most other metals, it is strong and durable, and it can be easily cast and machined to make engine blocks, cylinder heads, crankshafts, connecting rods and other engine parts. But as automotive technology continues to move forward, other metals have been replacing ordinary cast iron in many applications.