The updated ASE Renewal App provides the benefits of recertification
European brakes and their advantages
The updated ASE Renewal App provides the benefits of recertification
European brakes and their advantages
Sponsored by Bolt On Technology
Imported cooling system solutions and maintenance
Sponsored by CRP Automotive, the company brings you REIN cars
Have you noticed that many European cars and SUVs no longer have the coolant replacement intervals listed in the service information? This may be because the cooling system needs to be repaired or replaced before this interval. It can be a hose, a plastic connector or a water pump. Your store has options. Some replacement parts may be better than original parts. When dealing with the complexity and longevity of today's vehicles, these parts can create a win-win situation for your store and customers.
These solutions can simplify maintenance and prevent future failures. In a 45-minute webinar sponsored by CRP Automotive, the company that brought you Rein Automotive, we will introduce six common cooling system repairs for BMW, Audi and Volkswagen. These repair solutions will cover more than 6 million cars on the road today.
Speaker Andrew Markel, Content Director David Hirschhorn, Brand Management Director
Sponsored by CRP Automotive, the company brings you REIN cars
Brake & Front End responds to emerging trends in the field of chassis repairs by providing application-specific technical information and solutions, thereby providing services to repair shops that perform a large number of chassis repairs. By subscribing, you will receive the ShopOwner digital magazine (12 times a year), which contains articles from Brake & Front End and Brake & Front End e-newsletters (twice a week). Today is ready for you to access digital editions, competitions, news and more!
Brake & Front End responds to emerging trends in the field of chassis repairs by providing application-specific technical information and solutions, thereby providing services to repair shops that perform a large number of chassis repairs. By subscribing, you will receive the ShopOwner digital magazine (12 times a year), which contains articles from Brake & Front End and Brake & Front End e-newsletters (twice a week). Today is ready for you to access digital editions, competitions, news and more!
Written by Brendan Baker Baker September 2, 2021
This is the best way to perform front camera calibration on 2020 Ford Edge.
Don't settle for "almost"-the location of the engine's manufacturing or remanufacturing is important. Sponsored by ACDelco.
The GM gearbox and transfer case are unique to each vehicle. This video is sponsored by ACDelco.
Don't settle for "almost"-the location of the engine's manufacturing or remanufacturing is important. Sponsored by ACDelco.
Click here to view past questions.
Listen to customers and sell them solutions to problems, and use examples to explain why they need it.
Many original equipment manufacturers are making cars with little calibration capabilities because they have tightened tolerances. Although the alignment is perfect when it leaves the factory, what happens when it begins to age and the body and cradle begin to settle? Due to the limited adjustments available, there is almost no scope left. After a while, the tires will wear out and the vehicle will begin to show other unwanted handling characteristics.
Another problem faced by the workshop is how to deal with vehicles that are modified with lifting kits or lowering springs. Some aftermarket companies have made problem solving kits that can add more camber and caster adjustments through cam bolts, spacers, and adjustable chain links.
However, before performing any calibration, please confirm the customer's concern about the vehicle through test drive and pre-calibration inspection. Customers may think that the car is not aligned, but in fact, this is another problem altogether. Check the tires for obvious signs of misalignment, such as wear on the inner or outer edges, uneven or cupped patterns that indicate tire scrubbing or other problems. Look for obvious signs of bending or breaking of suspension components, including worn bushings, ball joints, and tie rod ends.
If the vehicle has been modified, or the customer wants you to install a modified suspension, you may need special parts and tools to bring the alignment close to factory specifications or preferred settings. If the customer specifies the specifications, he or she should know that they are responsible for the performance of their car, and the adjustments made should protect your store from such procedures. We have all seen a large amount of negative camber when a violent car starts, which causes uneven tire wear and does not allow the complete contact surface to contact the road surface.
Aftermarket manufacturers provide custom cam bolts that allow you to adjust the camber angle of non-adjustable vehicles. However, keep in mind that alignment that does not meet specifications may be due to potential problems, such as a bent control arm or other suspension damage. Some technicians try to adjust the camber of a non-adjustable "net-build" vehicle by loosening the bracket and moving it to get a setting within the specification range-however, be careful when doing this.
Moving the stand is not a good idea, because in most cases it will affect the other side and may increase "back", that is, one side is closer to the front than the other. On some vehicles, such as the 2008 Honda Pilot, the camber angle is adjusted by moving the bottom of the strut within the free gap of the shock absorber clamping bolt. However, if the Pilot is outside the camber range, what will you do? In some cases, you can use the upper cam bolt to restore it to specifications.
Another way to adjust the camber angle beyond specifications is to use struts or casters/cambers. When the required angle is greater than what is allowed in the inventory range, many racing applications use support plates, which can reach 3 degrees (+ or -). Adding more negative camber angles allows the car to turn more easily and gives the tires more contact when turning. Heavier negative camber adjustments are usually used in racing or off-road racing applications.
Using more aggressive adjustments can reduce the steering feel for easier turning, but not as much grip in corners. For stock applications, casters/arch plates are not necessary, as the range is usually within existing geometries or there may be curved suspension components. You should check the SAI to confirm bent control arms or struts.
In our 2008 Honda Pilot example, if the rear camber is measured and does not meet specifications, the curved control arm may be the culprit. In some cases, the camber angle may need to be adjusted anyway, but what if there is no adjustment?
The after-sales company provides an adjustable control arm suitable for Pilot. Depending on the intended use, this may be the best choice for restoring the factory angle. Note, however, that it may also indicate that the suspension component is bent.
With independent rear suspension becoming more and more common in today's vehicles, the adjustable toe link may not only be at the front but also at the rear. Any changes to the front alignment require changes to the toes, which is the direction of the wheels perpendicular to the centerline of the vehicle.
On independent rear suspensions, such as the sixth-generation Ford Mustang, the factory toe linkage is not adjustable. Some companies provide cam bolts or fully adjustable replacement linkages that can be used to make lowered cars meet specifications. Please note that when the bushing bolts are loosened, any changes in the ride height or the angle of the control arm must be tightened and tightened at the simulated ride height. If the bushing is tightened under full sagging, it may cause unusual spring stiffness and wear.
Gaskets can be used for certain types of vehicles with adjustable A-arms or beam-type rear suspensions fixed at certain angles to the hub, such as Volkswagen Passat or Kia Soul. There are shims on the after-sales market that can adjust two angles with one shim. Dual angle spacers use the combination required for the application to correct the toe and camber angle.
Before installing the gasket, check the vehicle to make sure it has not been used. Use the chart that comes with the gasket to determine how much camber and toe change is needed, and whether it is positive or negative. Find the appropriate toe change and intersect the column with the camber change to find the combination of numbers on the gasket that needs to be cut.
Due to changes in spring stiffness, the ride height of a vehicle with weak springs may be lower than the OE specification. Whenever the driving height changes, the route also changes because the geometry is set according to the factory driving height. In vehicles with limited alignment adjustments, this may be a bigger problem because you may not be able to set the camber to the norm. Unless a lowering spring is installed, the spring should be checked first to determine the ride height problem.
Another way to modify the alignment you may encounter is to raise the kit. Most of these kits are installed on trucks or jeeps. If not properly modified to handle the ride height, some kits will raise the vehicle by 4 to 6 inches and put extreme stress on the suspension and transmission system.
Vehicles with solid front axles and steering rods that are roughly parallel to the track rods (such as jeeps) are prone to the so-called "death swing". Common causes may be wear on the ends of tie rods, track rods, bushings, ball joints, or other steering-related components. Tires can also be the cause of death and shaking, especially over-inflated oversized tires. It is best to start the tire at a lower pressure and build the tire. First use the tire pressure recommended for the vehicle, which will be lower than the recommended tire pressure for the sidewall of the tire.
The leveling kit may also cause death swings in some applications. These kits increase the angle of trailing arms, steering components, and track rods, making this more likely to happen. If the swing does not disappear after alignment, removing some casters will help, especially if a lifting kit is installed. A lifted vehicle may need to offset the ball joint to transfer more of the load to the center of the joint. If the wobble occurs only at a certain speed, the tire may be unbalanced. In addition, please note that some tires may shake more easily than others.
Whether you are dealing with reduced or elevated vehicles, performance enthusiasts, or net-build vehicles, there are options to include them in specifications or customer preferred settings.
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