Step By Step: Carbon Fiber Structural Repair
Is carbon fiber structural repair really black magic? The answer, of course, is no. It’s true that carbon fiber structural components such as “tubs” are a relatively new technology for high-volume production street cars, but structures like tubs have been used in Formula 1 racing since the early 1990s and in heavily loaded aircraft structures
The Turbo Comeback: The Small Engine, Big Performance Trend
Turbochargers are great for adding power to any gas or diesel-powered engine, but especially for small displacement engines. They were all the rage back in the 1980s when BMW, Mitsubishi, Toyota and Volkswagen all offered turbo options on a variety of engines. Over the years, turbos have come and gone, but recently, they are making
Friction And Formulations
Friction is the force resisting the relative motion of elements sliding against each other. In the case of cars and trucks, it is the brake pads pushing against a rotor that changes kinetic energy into heat.
From Land Cruisers To Leadership
Colin Northup’s passion for repair has propelled him through many projects and training opportunities. As an aspiring performance shop owner, Northup has been busy preparing himself for a future in automotive repair, while still having fun along the way.
Career Corner: Build Employer Trust By Being Timely
Putting yourself together in the morning and driving to work is something that everyone does. Your boss does it, your neighbor does, your co-worker does it. Why then can some people arrive on time every day while others are repeatedly late?
Women In Auto Care Scholarship Applications Open
The scholarships are open to young women in high school and post-secondary schools who are focused on technical, as well as business/engineering degrees. This year Women in Auto Care awarded $65,000 in scholarships to 22 female students.
Finish Line: Infiniti ‘Prototype 9’
Reimagining the 1940s Infiniti Grand Prix racecar, the Prototype 9 concept goes back in time to fuse advanced technology with traditional craftsmanship.
Brake Pad Wear Guide
Even Wear Pads have equal amounts for friction material, within 2-3mm, on both pads. Cause: • Brake caliper and connected hydraulics are operating properly. Solution: • Replace the brake pads. • Replace hardware including abutment and anti-rattle clips. • Service caliper guide pins and slides. Outer Pad Wear The outboard brake pad shows increased wear
The Body Work Evolution Of Masking Solutions
To start, let’s loosely define the purpose of masking. I would sat it’s to protect the masked object. Protect it from what? In the paint shop, we focus on overspray protection, but there are other activities in the body shop that make protecting the masked object necessary.
Auto Body Tech Tips: Eliminating Sealer Creep
Many have eliminated the need for a wet-on-wet sealer by finishing off the 2K primer with a finer grit sandpaper, but sometimes it’s still prudent to seal a repair prior to refinishing. You don’t want to experience the dreaded “sealer creep” in a door jamb, where the sealer’s edge is exposed rather than covered with
Diagnosing Brake Roughness For A Lasting Repair
Warped rotors are probably one of the most common complaints from drivers coming into any shop that does brakes. The less confident or sophisticated driver may complain that when he hits the brakes, “the pedal pulses,” “the vehicle chucks during a stop,” or “it shakes my teeth during braking.” Generally, a quick turn of the
2012 Hyundai Sonata: Intermittent Poor-Run, Hard-Stop Complaint
Let’s look at an intermittent poor-run, hard-start complaint on a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. This car came into the shop by way of a body shop with which we work closely. One thing you learn quickly is that body shop clients can be harder to please than on the mechanical side. It might be that they
