The Tool Truck: Cordless Tools
Getting a Charge Out of Going Cordless
Tech Tip: SKF Offers Part Numbers for Honda Front Wheel Bearing with Integrated ABS Tone Ring
SKF provides part numbers and technical information for double-row angular contact front wheel bearings with a split inner ring. The part numbers noted in this tech tip pertain to specific Honda applications. The distinctive feature of these wheel bearings is that one of the two seals on the bearing has a built-in magnetic impulse wheel.
Gearing Up for Timing Belt and Chain Work
Timing belts are a maintenance item on engines that have them, but what about timing chains? On most overhead cam engines that use a timing chain to turn the cams, there’s usually some type of chain tensioner or adjuster to keep the chain tight and to compensate for stretch as the chain ages. But on pushrod V6 and V8 engines, there is no chain tensioner to compensate for chain stretch. Consequently, after tens of thousand of miles, the chain loosens up, starts to make noise as it rattles against the front cover, and causes cam timing to retard. At this point the timing chain needs to be replaced.
Master Cylinders: Reliable, Hard-Working Components Still Need Periodic Inspections
If nothing else, modern master cylinders are notable for their long and relatively trouble-free service lives. The modern master cylinder evolved from the single-piston types popularly introduced in the 1930s to the modern dual-piston, dual braking system cylinders in use today. Master cylinders intended for drum brake use contain one or more residual pressure check valves that maintain a slight pressure in the system.
Tech Tip: Installing Reman Engines and Transmissions
With new car sales down, people are keeping their vehicles longer and racking up more miles on their engines. That means there’s a growing opportunity to install a remanufactured engine in a customer’s vehicle if their original engine or transmission has reached the end of the road. Most engines will go quite a few miles with proper maintenance. But if the owner scrimps on regular fluid, oil and filter changes, neglects the coolant, never changes the spark plugs, or ignores little problems, it may lead to premature engine failure.
MAHLE Clevite Inc. Features NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Video Highlights on Website
MAHLE Clevite Inc. recently added a video clip featuring NASCAR Sprint Cup Series highlights to its website. The two-minute video, courtesy of NASCAR Performance Network, will be updated the Monday after each race weekend to capture the most memorable events of the race ….
Tech Tip: Consider Your Customer Base When Purchasing an Alignment Lift
If you do wheel alignment work, you need an alignment lift for raising vehicles off the ground. A lift is essential because you have to get under the vehicle to inspect the steering and suspension before you check the alignment. You can’t align worn parts, so it’s important to always make sure the tie rod ends, ball joints, springs, bushings, struts and related components are all in good condition before you make any corrections ….
MAHLE Clevite Inc. Introduces New Online Bearing Distress Guide
MAHLE Clevite Inc. introduces a new online Bearing Distress Guide. This new guide serves as a tool to identify and diagnose failed engine bearings as well as to help identify engine bearing symptoms of distress. The MAHLE Clevite Online Bearing Distress Guide offers multiple high-quality images for many symptoms, and is free to the user ….
Tech Feature: Replacing Water Pumps as Preventive Maintenance
In today’s import repair market, it’s not uncommon to see a vehicle with well over 200,000 miles on the odometer that still is in cosmetically and mechanically "great" condition. The importance of this trend is that many parts that were formerly being replaced on an as-needed basis are now being replaced on a preventive basis. Water pumps are a good example because they serve as an idler pulley on many engines equipped with timing belts and, due to accessibility issues on many transverse engines, should be replaced during any ….
Let’s Make A Deal: Let’s Not…
The last few months have been challenging. My guess is they were challenging for you, as well. The next few are likely to prove equally as challenging, if not more so. You don’t have to be a Nobel Prize Laureate in economics to understand what’s going on. People like us — people on the ground,