Why Replacing Control Arms and Bushings in Pairs is Necessary
Composite Brake Rotor Service Opportunities
Diagnosing Low Coolant Warning Messages (VIDEO)
Why Replacing Control Arms and Bushings in Pairs is Necessary
Composite Brake Rotor Service Opportunities
Diagnosing Low Coolant Warning Messages (VIDEO)
Sponsored By The Automated Marketing Group
TPMS Talk: Fundamentals of Fast and Efficient TPMS Service
Your crash course in the TPMS service. Too often, TPMS service might seem complicated, but it does not have to be. This webinar provides an engaging hands-on lesson that explores how you can organize your TPMS program for maximum benefits.
Learn directly from the world-leader in TPMS just in time for the busy tire changing season! Join Yanick Leduc and Tom Kirkham from Schrader’s Technical Training Team as they break down the fundamentals of TPMS service and give you real-life tips for setting up a profit building TPMS program.
Speakers Yanick Leduc, Global Technical Training Team Lead, Schrader TPMS Solutions Tom Kirkham, Technical Trainer, Schrader TPMS Solutions Maddie Winer, Editor, Tire Review
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!
Make sure to replace timing belts at recommended service intervals. This video is sponsored by Continental.
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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Brake fluid replacement is more critical than ever. This video is sponsored by Advics.
So when does brake fluid go bad? When does it wear out? It is a difficult question that differs depending on the auto manufacturer, type of brake fluid, and also the brake system. For brake fluid replacement in the field, it’s not about when but more about why. Even if the brake fluid is discolored or cloudy, it might still meet the system’s performance requirements. The brake fluid in the master cylinder or reservoir can have a far different appearance than the fluid contained at the calibers. But if you can see debris in the fluid with your naked eye, it could be a sign the rubber seals for the hoses are starting to degrade, or it could be a sign that the customer left the cap off the reservoir.
Brake fluid condition depends on two types of indicators. Water concentration, and also the condition of the additive package. Water concentration is easily measured, but measuring the condition of the additive package requires looking at factors controlled by the additive package. The worry about water concentration or moisture levels has been around for decades. Since brake fluid is hydroscopic, it means that it absorbs moisture in the air. Water changes the boiling point of the brake fluid.
Testing for moisture can be done several ways. First, some testers can boil a small amount of sample brake fluid. Second, some testers use a refractometer to measure the specific gravity of the brake fluid. Third, some newer testers pass electricity through the brake fluid to measure the resistance. Any tester is better than no tester at all. Also, measuring the pH of the fluid can capture the condition of the additive package in the brake fluid. The additive package has buffers that control the pH. The additives regulate all the pH of the fluid and prevent it from corroding the inside of the brake system, but they have a limited lifespan before the acid can change.
Once all those additives are depleted, well, the pH can go very high and very quickly and become very acidic. Testing the pH of the brake fluid can be performed with a test strip, which can be used to justify brake fluid services to the customer. Another method is to measure the amount of copper in the brake fluid. Copper is used to seal the brake lines through a process called brazing. As the additive package in the brake fluid wears out and corrosion occurs, copper is pulled off the inside of the brake lines and becomes suspended in the brake fluid. The more copper in the brake fluid, the more corrosion inside the system. Testing of the copper concentration can be performed with test strips and the results can be shared with the customer.
Brake fluid replacement is more critical than ever. Since 2008, every vehicle sold has had an ABS system. This means you have valves and also sensors that need to be able to work properly for the ABS to function. Since 2012, every light vehicle that’s been sold is equipped with stability control that has added even more valves to the hydraulic control unit and the complexity of the overall system. The hydraulic control unit needs fresh brake fluid to operate and also protect the valves and passages from corrosion. An additive package can help control the pH. Also, capitation can even keep the viscosity in the recommended range.
This video is sponsored by Advics.
AMN Drivetime Video: AMN Drivetime Chats With NTN’s Charles Harris [VIDEO]
Video: Steering Systems Have Changed – Do Customers Care?
Video: Understanding EPAS System Sophistication In Your Shop (VIDEO)
Video: Diagnosing Steering Concerns Requires Proper Service Methods