Stability Control And Brake Jobs
Automotive technology continues to evolve in several directions. While many manufacturers are concentrating on electric and hybrid technology, higher mileage, and smaller and lighter vehicles, others are focused on performance, horsepower and ever-higher top speeds.
Struts: The ‘Loaded’ Question
What can you do in 17 minutes? You can make money on those 17 minutes of billed labor or you can give up those 17 minutes per corner of a vehicle in order to sell a more profitable part that has the potential to lower the chances of a comeback and give the customer more value for the money.
GMC Terrain Alignment And Suspension
The Terrain rides on GM’s Theta platform and its alignment process is mechanically straightforward. The front suspension is a MacPherson strut design with hydraulic bushings in the lower control arms. The rear suspension is a four-link layout.
Crown Victoria Air Ride Service
From 1997 to 2011, the Crown Victoria (more commonly known as the Crown Vic) had the same optional air ride system on the surface. From the outside, the only differences that could be seen were improved air bags in 2003. Behind the scenes, Ford was improving how the compressor, solenoids and ride height sensor worked together with better control modules.
Dogtracking? Bent Frame? Understanding The Thrust Angle
The thrust angle is one of the most important diagnostic angles during an alignment.
GM Tech Tip: Slap Or Clunk From Rear Leaf Spring
Some customers may comment on a rear leaf spring “slap” or “clunk” noise. This noise is most apparent when the vehicle is operated over irregular road surfaces. The rear leaf spring tip inserts may have broken apart from wear and fallen out, or may be severely worn or damaged.
The Total Suspension Upgrade: Performance Meets Balance
Installing performance suspension components can be a deal with the devil when it comes to creating a vehicle that the customer can live with every day or, at least, on the way to the track or car show. The secret with this job is building the total package that optimizes the chassis, springs and ride control components.
New Wheel Bearing Technology
For an engineer, wheel bearing design and selection can be a balancing act between durability, cost and fuel economy. A large bearing might be great for potholes and heavy loads. But, there is only so much room in the hub and knuckle. Also, the larger bearing might have increased rolling resistance due to a larger sealing surface.
BMW E65-E66 Air Ride Diagnostics
For the BMW 7 Series E65/E66 manufactured between 2001-’08, engineers went with an innovative rear air ride system. The Dynamic Drive system that uses active anti-roll bars to keep the vehicle level was standard on these models. Some of these vehicles have optional Electronic Dampener Control (EDC) that tunes the compression and rebound of the dampener to the movement of the wheels and body for the best possible ride.
Ride Control System Protocol
A shock absorber is designed to dampen oscillations in leaf or coil springs by enclosing a piston and rod assembly inside a cylinder filled with oil. The shell or casing generally mounts on the axle or control arm while the piston rod assembly mounts to the frame.
Air Ride Training Sponsored By Arnott Air Suspension Products Available For Viewing
In case you missed the live webinar sponsored by Arnott Air Suspension Products , you can now view the entire webinar for free at any time. This free 30-minute webinar covered how to inspect and diagnose air ride suspensions on Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and other import nameplate vehicles. The featured presenter for this webinar was Andrew Markel,
Tire Tread Wear: Causes And Symptoms
Tire tread wear can tell you a lot about what is wrong with a car’s suspension. Here are the most common tread wear patterns and what causes them.
