Sprinter Van Brake Maintenance
The Dodge/Mercedes-Benz/Freightliner Sprinter is not a huge seller when compared to other fleet vehicles. But, it has gained a solid following because of its huge internal cargo capacity and fuel-efficient engines. The brakes are very conventional, but require special attention for the ABS and pad sensors.
Regenerative Braking Service
Regenerative braking is nothing new, it’s been around just about as long as there have been electric trolley cars and electric trains. The difference is that the car industry has only recently adopted a regenerative braking system for itself.
VIDEO: Brake Torque Variation (BTV)
Andrew Markel describes brake torque variation, how it can be caused by customer habits, and how it can be prevented on every brake job.
Nissan Maxima Brake Job Tips
Called the four-door sports car by Nissan, the 2004-2008 Maxima brake system is easy to service with very few complaints of brake noise or pulsation. The system used the same brake pads, rotors and calipers on all models. There were some changes in 2007 to the ABS system.
Toyota Scion TC Brake Job (2005-2010)
The Toyota Scion TC is a bit of an anomaly in the Toyota fleet. The TC shares its platform with the Avensis, which was not sold in the U.S., and it shares some brake components with the Corolla and even the Camry. There are no brake-specific TSBs or recalls for the 2005-2010 TC.
Volkswagen Tiguan Brake Job
The Tiguan can be serviced about the same as the Jetta or Golf, but the vacuum brakes and EPS make the job a little different. The article goes over the Auto-Hold system, the correct pressure bleeding procedure, and what that creaking noise is.
Brake Fluid Flushes
Selling brake flushes is a great preventive maintenance service to offer your customers for a number of reasons. However, unlike oil changes and tire rotations, many customers don’t know the benefits that brake flushes can have on their vehicle’s performance. It is up to you to educate your consumers on the benefits this service offers.
Toyota Tundra Brake Job
For 2007, the Toyota Tundra was redesigned. The body changed, and the foundation brake system was also updated with larger front brake calipers and rear disc brakes. The control system and hydraulics changed with a new vehicle stability system that included yaw, steering angle and brake pedal load sensors.
Honda Insight Brake Job
The Honda Insight might be a rare bird when compared to the Civic or Accord, but it is like all vehicles in that it wears out brake pads, shoes and rotors. Thankfully, servicing the brakes on the Insight does not require dealing with the high-voltage hybrid system.
High-Performance Brake Jobs
Brake jobs are a good source of parts and labor income for shops. When brakes wear out, most motorists just want you to fix the problem and restore their brakes to like-new condition with OE-equivalent replacement parts. But in some situations, there may be an opportunity to sell your customer on the benefits of upgrading certain brake components.
Brake Pad Wear Sensors
Modern brake pad wear sensors can do more than just warn the driver of a worn brake pad. These new wear sensors work with the rest of the brake system and can estimate the mileage until the brake pads wear out.
Spring Is Pothole And Bearing Season
The classic symptom of a bad wheel bearing is typically a cyclic chirping, squealing or growling noise that changes in proportion to vehicle speed. The sound may only appear or disappear at certain speeds. The noise may get worse when turning, or it may disappear momentarily. So, it’s difficult to make a diagnosis based on noise alone.
