The ABS Phenomenon: Profitability Hinges on Solid Preventive Maintenance Program
Profitability Hinges On Solid Preventive Maintenance Program An unusual event happened last week: a customer actually wanted a glowing warning light on his anti-lock braking system diagnosed! A preliminary interview revealed that: a) the ABS warning light was continuously illuminated, b) the brakes pulled to the right, and, c) the brake pedal pulsated when pressure
Ride Control Upgrades: Struts, Springs and Sway Bars
Some magazines write about suspension modifications on some of the most mundane vehicles, BRAKE & FRONT END never takes the easy way out. When most people think about lowering springs and other modifications, they think of Asian imports shaking the fillings out of a young driver. You almost never think of a BMW 7 Series.
News Update: ALLDATA Celebrates 70,000 Customers
Customer-Centric Focus Heightens Success ALLDATA held a media day event at its headquarters in Elk Grove, CA, on Apr. 3, to celebrate its latest accomplishment — 70,000 customers — and to spotlight how ALLDATA is helping automotive service professionals boost their business success. ALLDATA President Jeff Lagges and other company executives discussed how ALLDATA is
Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems: The Ins and Outs of Indirect and Direct TPMS
This is the year of the TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitor System). It’s been coming for some time. In response to a rash of highly publicized rollover accidents caused by tire failures on SUVs, Congress passed a law called the TREAD Act in 2000 which required all vehicle manufacturers to have TPMS on all their cars
Keeping on Track with Steering Position Sensors
Cars just keep getting smarter all the time. Sensors are being used to monitor more and more functions, and to share information between vehicle systems that formerly were mute or didn’t communicate with one another. One such sensor is the steering position sensor. The sensor’s basic function is to monitor the driver’s steering inputs. This
Beck/Arnley Adds 419 New Part Numbers
In keeping with its goal to provide professional technicians with the crucial parts needed to repair today’s foreign nameplate vehicles, Beck/Arnley has added another 419 new part numbers to its product line ….
Monroe Unveils ‘Save a Squirrel’ Consumer Ride Control Ad Campaign
The Monroe shocks and struts brand of Tenneco Inc. will launch an aggressive integrated advertising campaign this spring to remind consumers that replacing worn ride control components could help improve vehicle steering, stopping and stability – and just might save the life of an innocent squirrel darting ….
Tech Tip: 15 Ride Control Tips that Will Help You Sell the Job and Do it Right
The customer will not be happy if he brought the car in for a knocking noise, was sold a couple hundred dollars worth of struts and or ball joints, etc., and the noise is still there. He takes the car elsewhere and the knocking noise is fixed with a couple of $20 sway bar bushings. Despite how bad the parts are, that guy is going to think he got beat. It’s important to address the ….
Management: Need an Alignment Spec?
When I receive a call from a shop looking for alignment angles, it is usually a rare or exotic vehicle. It might be that 0.1 percent vehicle that has rare options like manual steering, off-road package or all-wheel-drive, that is not in most alignment spec databases. I can usually find the specs. Try me ….
Tech Feature: Nondirectional Rotor Finishes
You’ve probably heard that nondirectional rotor finishes can lessen the risk of new brake pads squealing. They can, but do you really need to apply a nondirectional finish to freshly turned rotors? And what about new rotors? Should you give them a nondirectional finish if they don’t have one? Like many issues concerning brake rotors, different people have different opinions ….