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Sponsored By BCA Bearings by NTN
This webinar is part of "AAPEX Repair Shop HQ Webinar Series: An 8-Part Webinar Series." Sponsored by AAPEX.
The typical repair shop is busier than ever – but what happens when the going gets rough? Many of today’s shop owners have never experienced a significant economic downturn. Has your shop prepared to weather any storms that are on the horizon, or have you just been keeping up with current demands? During this webinar you’ll hear real shops share a “just in case” safety briefing.
The August issue includes technical and management content and is free to download and read.
Don't be afraid to work on battery packs. However, you should be mindful of the potential damage high voltages can cause.
The secret to this job is building the total package that optimizes the chassis, springs and ride control components.
Brake & Front End serves repair shops conducting a high volume of undercar repairs by providing application-specific technical information and solutions to address emerging trends in the undercar repair segment. By subscribing, you’ll receive the ShopOwner digital edition magazine (12 times/year) featuring articles from Brake & Front End and the Brake & Front End eNewsletter (twice weekly). Access to digital editions, contests, news, and more are ready for you today!
Brake & Front End serves repair shops conducting a high volume of undercar repairs by providing application-specific technical information and solutions to address emerging trends in the undercar repair segment. By subscribing, you’ll receive the ShopOwner digital edition magazine (12 times/year) featuring articles from Brake & Front End and the Brake & Front End eNewsletter (twice weekly). Access to digital editions, contests, news, and more are ready for you today!
ByBrake and Front End Staff on Nov 28, 2017
Auto Pros on the Road puts the Babcox Media into shops across the USA. This episode is sponsored by FRAM.
Don’t settle for “almost” - it matters where the engine is manufactured or remanufactured. Sponsored by ACDelco.
GM transmissions and transfer cases are unique to each individual vehicle. This video is sponsored by ACDelco.
Don’t settle for “almost” - it matters where the engine is manufactured or remanufactured. Sponsored by ACDelco.
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The vast majority of drivers rely on their senses to tell them when it’s time for service. And there are few vehicle components that give off more physical warning signs that service is needed than shocks and struts.
The vast majority of drivers rely on their senses to tell them when it’s time for service. And there are few vehicle components that give off more physical warning signs that service is needed than shocks and struts. That’s why taking a car for a test drive is sometimes the easiest way to confirm your customers’ specific ride control complaints.AdvertisementHere are four things to watch for when test driving a vehicle that comes in with a ride complaint (and what you can tell your customers to watch for) that point to necessary shock and strut replacement. 1. The Vehicle Bounces Coil springs are responsible for dampening the transfer of energy when a vehicle drives over bumps, potholes and uneven roads. The vehicle’s shocks and struts help control the movement of the springs so that the wheels don’t move up and down excessively. When these components are stuck, damaged or loose, the tires lose contact with the road as the car is driven, resulting in a bumpy, uncomfortable ride.AdvertisementA customer doesn’t know about rebound, compression or gas-charged, twin-tubed shocks. What they will feel is how worn or damaged shocks and struts impact ride comfort. Your job is to identify the problem and explain how new shocks and struts can restore their ride to like-new performance. 2. The Front End Dives and/or the Rear Squats Shocks and struts help keep the vehicle stable during acceleration and braking. When a vehicle’s shocks and struts are damaged, the front end can dive upon braking while the rear end squats during acceleration. This happens when these components aren’t strong enough to handle the weight of the vehicle.AdvertisementThe customer may think that new shocks and struts will simply make their ride smoother, but the truth is that new shocks and struts can do a whole lot more. New shocks and struts can make a vehicle corner and brake like when it was new. This can give them extra stopping distance, better control, and more confidence in emergency situations. 3. The Vehicle Exhibits Signs of Body Roll Similar to how a vehicle can dip and squat during braking and acceleration events, a car’s stability may also be compromised during cornering. If the shocks are starting to go bad, the body will feel like it is leaning into the turn — even on slight turns. Again, this can be a safety issue that requires immediate action since it can impact braking and steering effectiveness.AdvertisementOver 50,000 miles, the dampening capabilities of a shock or strut will degrade to the point where it can impact ride and handling, but the driver may not notice since the loss of functionality happens gradually. While your customer may have become accustomed to body lean as a normal part of their driving experience, your fresh perspective can reveal just how bad their shocks and struts have become. This is why a test drive is critical to the inspection process. 4. You Hear Unusual Noises One of the telltale signs of a suspension system that requires service is unusual noise. As shocks and bushings wear, they lose their ability to properly support the strut. The result is that the strut can bottom out. When the strut bottoms out, the metal-to-metal contact can cause a knocking sound that emanates from the front or rear wheels.Advertisement Tire cupping, or scalloping, can be another cause of suspension-related noise. When shock absorbers go bad and cause the tire to recoil faster, there can be patterns of wear that alternate like a series of peaks and valleys. These variations in tire tread lead to a bouncing noise that can be detected during a test drive.
Here are four things to watch for when test driving a vehicle that comes in with a ride complaint (and what you can tell your customers to watch for) that point to necessary shock and strut replacement.
1. The Vehicle Bounces Coil springs are responsible for dampening the transfer of energy when a vehicle drives over bumps, potholes and uneven roads. The vehicle’s shocks and struts help control the movement of the springs so that the wheels don’t move up and down excessively. When these components are stuck, damaged or loose, the tires lose contact with the road as the car is driven, resulting in a bumpy, uncomfortable ride.
A customer doesn’t know about rebound, compression or gas-charged, twin-tubed shocks. What they will feel is how worn or damaged shocks and struts impact ride comfort. Your job is to identify the problem and explain how new shocks and struts can restore their ride to like-new performance.
2. The Front End Dives and/or the Rear Squats Shocks and struts help keep the vehicle stable during acceleration and braking. When a vehicle’s shocks and struts are damaged, the front end can dive upon braking while the rear end squats during acceleration. This happens when these components aren’t strong enough to handle the weight of the vehicle.
The customer may think that new shocks and struts will simply make their ride smoother, but the truth is that new shocks and struts can do a whole lot more. New shocks and struts can make a vehicle corner and brake like when it was new. This can give them extra stopping distance, better control, and more confidence in emergency situations.
3. The Vehicle Exhibits Signs of Body Roll Similar to how a vehicle can dip and squat during braking and acceleration events, a car’s stability may also be compromised during cornering. If the shocks are starting to go bad, the body will feel like it is leaning into the turn — even on slight turns. Again, this can be a safety issue that requires immediate action since it can impact braking and steering effectiveness.
Over 50,000 miles, the dampening capabilities of a shock or strut will degrade to the point where it can impact ride and handling, but the driver may not notice since the loss of functionality happens gradually. While your customer may have become accustomed to body lean as a normal part of their driving experience, your fresh perspective can reveal just how bad their shocks and struts have become. This is why a test drive is critical to the inspection process.
4. You Hear Unusual Noises One of the telltale signs of a suspension system that requires service is unusual noise. As shocks and bushings wear, they lose their ability to properly support the strut. The result is that the strut can bottom out. When the strut bottoms out, the metal-to-metal contact can cause a knocking sound that emanates from the front or rear wheels.
Tire cupping, or scalloping, can be another cause of suspension-related noise. When shock absorbers go bad and cause the tire to recoil faster, there can be patterns of wear that alternate like a series of peaks and valleys. These variations in tire tread lead to a bouncing noise that can be detected during a test drive.
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Technical Resources for diagnosing and servicing undercar components