Tool Review: Ingersoll Rand 1207MAX-D3
Friday, July, 16, 2010
I had the chance to add the Ingersoll Rand IR1207MAX-D3 3/8" air ratchet to my toolbox. With a true 65 ft/lbs of torque, it packs a punch, and coupled with a Flathead ratchet head and collar mounted directional controls, this air ratchet has value and a lot of potential for technicians.
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Windshield Washer Fluid: Breeding Ground For Bacteria and Germs? Should Technicians be Concerned?
Thursday, June, 17, 2010
Could you get Legionnaires’ disease from a car's windshield washer fluid? Yes, if the windshield washer fluid tank has been topped off with just water. In a recent survey of Legionnaires’ disease survivors in France, a connection was made between the killer disease and tight-wad drivers who may top...
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Aftermarket Horror Movie: Lets pray this never happens...
Tuesday, June, 01, 2010
Imagine LA without cars. No brakes grinding, no starters whining, no loud mufflers, no shrill cry of the impact gun. Pure horror...
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RANT: Diagram of a Ford Locking Hub F150
Thursday, May, 20, 2010
Looking for an exploded diagram of a Ford F150 or F250 locking hub from 1994, 1998, 1995, 1996, 1999 or 1997? Do you want it for free? Is your hub and wheel bearings in pieces after you took it apart? Well, your Google search has landed you in the right place.
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Advice: Five Rules for New Technicians
Friday, May, 14, 2010
Below are five rules that all new technicians should abide by. If you have one of your own, please leave it in the comments section at the bottome of the page
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New York Times Writes About TSBs: Not your typical Sunday reading.
Monday, May, 10, 2010
I'll admit it, I read the Sunday New York Times. Please do not hold it against me. But when I turned to their automotive section that is typically about car reviews and when to sell your current car, I was amazed to see an article listing the some of the most current Technical Service Bulletins (TS...
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Funny: Wrong Time to Call the Car Talk Guys
Tuesday, April, 20, 2010
This cartoon comes from XKCD and makes light of how some people think the Tom and Ray of Car Talk can save them money.
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Longest Brake Inspection Ever
Tuesday, April, 20, 2010
32 year for a brake inspection? Hey, at least it is free.
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Downtown Wheel Alignment: Shops like this one is why our industry can not get ahead.
Tuesday, April, 20, 2010
This article in the Times Record News from Wichita Falls, Texas, left me with my jaw on the floor. It is the usual small town journalism that highlights a local business owner to help the newspaper sell an ad. To me this article was more of a eulogy, rather than a positive upbeat story.
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Classic Motorcycles on Display
Tuesday, April, 06, 2010
The Dana Point Concours d’Elegance announces inaugural antique and vintage motorcycle exhibit.
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TOYOTA Recall: No Codes=No Problem: Testimony of David Gilbert
Wednesday, February, 24, 2010
Here is the testimony of David Gilbert a professor of Automotive Technology at Southern Illinois on the Toyota unintended acceleration recall. His basic contention is that if the ECM is not able to detect a problem with the throttle how can it enter into a limp or safe mode. This is great reading, I...
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Vintage Tool Storage: Wouldn't You Like to Have These in Your Shop?
Tuesday, February, 23, 2010
On a trip recently to Federal Mogul's Moog's Engineering Center in St Louis, I spotted two matching vintage tool cabinets in their service bays. These Art Deco cabinets date to the 1950s and are very valuable.
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FACEBOOK: Will you be a fan?
Tuesday, February, 23, 2010
BRAKE & FRONT END is almost 80 years old, and it never stops evolving like the vehicles its readers have to service. In order to keep up with the times, BRAKE & FRONT END now has a Facebook fan page.
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Video: $1,400 Brake Job, The Movie
Tuesday, December, 22, 2009
This video from YouTube has all the elements of a great movie. First, it offends you and your choosen profession as a technician. Second, it amazes you by the shear number of beer bottles. Third, it makes you feel empathy for the technician and customer. You will laugh, you will cry, you will kiss t...
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“Hey, we work on cars. We don’t decorate”
Tuesday, December, 22, 2009
I know you can find hundreds of articles on BRAKE & FRONT END extolling the benefits of a clean shop with nice toilet paper in the bathroom. But the article from the Kalamazoo Gazette makes me smile, and reminds me that we have some of the most interesting people working at independent shops that ar...
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CARTOON: How To Talk To A Mechanic
Tuesday, December, 15, 2009
This cartoon comes from BasicInstructions.net and shows people how to talk to the person who fixes their car.
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RECALL: Toyota: Swinging Spare Tire of Destructio
Tuesday, December, 15, 2009
Corrosion related recalls for OEMs are starting to pile up, this year I have seen recalls for TPMS nuts, engine cradles and complete frames. Toyota has had yet another recall on its trucks due to corrosion on the underside of the vehicle.
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Danny Barker of Barker's Auto & Truck Service: Great Local Newspaper Story
Friday, November, 20, 2009
Danny Barker of Barker Auto & Truck Service has been a mechanic for more than 40 years and has worked on cars his whole life. His local newspaper the State Journal of Frankfort Kentucky, did a great video and story as part of their Frankfort Faces series.
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BRAKE LIGHTS: September 1931, Less Friction Material Yields More Profits
Wednesday, October, 21, 2009
This is from the September 1931 issue of BRAKE & FRONT END. It just proves that no matter how hard we try, some shops will cut corners to make an extra buck. It was true in 1931, and it is true today. In 1931, most friction materials came in large rolls and was cut to length and riveted or bonded to...
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Comments: "I have a hole in my engine!"
Monday, October, 19, 2009
Most of the comments we receive are from shop owners and technicians. The comments are intelligent, insightful and helpful. But, sometimes we get the random consumer that finds their way onto our website. These people come to our website thinking that they will get free advice that will magically fi...
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