Driveshaft problems can be spotted from the moment you put the vehicle in gear to pull it into a bay. As the power is transmitted from the transmission to the rear axle, the slack from worn or damaged components is taken up, resulting in a sudden crunch or pop. Courtesy of FCA Once the vehicle is moving, you might hear a whine coming from the center of the vehicle. The noise will change as speed increases and might change as power is applied. If the vehicle is put into neutral while moving, the sound remains the same as the driveshaft is still spinning. The problem could be the driveshaft cent ..read more

Mobis announced it has begun building a new electric vehicle battery plant in Navarre, Spain. The company, which has similar facilities in Korea, China, and the Czech Republic, is also developing plants in the U.S. and Indonesia. The Spain plant will focus on serving Volkswagen. The Mobis plant is expected to start mass production by 2026. The plant will play a crucial role in Mobis’ strategy to expand its global footprint and electrification efforts, the company noted in a recent press release. Last year, Mobis secured a major contract to supply battery systems to Volkswagen. The battery syst ..read more

Blink Charging UK, a subsidiary of Blink Charging Co., is working with Evri, the UK’s largest parcel delivery company, to install electric vehicle (EV) charging hubs at Evri facilities, starting with a site in Rugby, UK. The installation at Rugby is part of a broader initiative to add EV chargers at various Evri locations throughout the UK, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2035. Evri chose Blink Charging for its reliable, scalable EV equipment and expertise in fleet operations, the companies noted in a press release. The Rugby charging hub operates 24 hours a day, with chargers in use 60-80% o ..read more

What stops technicians and service advisors from performing more alignments? It is a convergence of costs regarding time, equipment and market prices for alignments. It is like the Bermuda Triangle of shop productivity. In other words, the technician can’t make any money, the shop is trying to match prices and outdated alignment equipment makes the situation even worse.  The good news is, there is a way out of this downward spiral.  Pricing is the first barrier to overcome in order to perform more alignments. Don’t worry about meeting the competition’s prices. If they offer an econom ..read more

NTN, the parent company of BCA Bearings, is proud to announce the launch of BCA’s 2024 Endless Summer promotion. During the promotion, BCA’s warehouse distributor customers can earn BCA-branded, premium merchandise with orders of BCA wheel hub assemblies, bearings and seals. “We are thrilled to announce the BCA Endless Summer promotion” said Patrick Cronin, marketing manager, Automotive Aftermarket. “The Endless Summer theme evokes a relaxed and carefree feeling that we all strive to achieve; the same carefree feeling we want associated with using our premium parts. We are looking forward to ..read more

The average age of a driver in the US is 47 years old. If a driver started at 16, they have seen more than three decades of automotive technology changes. In 2008, ABS became a standard feature on most vehicles. By 2012, stability control, or rollover mitigation, had become standard for vehicles. Since 2006, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) have evolved from active cruise control to autonomous driving controls. The one constant has been customers complaining that the vehicle did something unexpected. ABS, ESC and ADAS have changed the driving experience. When an average driver started ..read more

How can a mysterious case of tire wear occur in a perfectly aligned vehicle? It happens and the answers aren’t always simple. To better explain, let’s go back a few decades when I aligned a 1983 Mitsubishi RWD pickup, only to have it return a month later with a tire scuffing complaint. Although the outside edge of the right front tire showed evidence of toe-related wear, the current toe angle was 0.100 inches, which is within the Mitsubishi’s +0.080” to +0.350“ specification. Perplexed, I decided to have my helper sit on the open tailgate. The toe angle immediately jumped from its original 0.1 ..read more

Sona BLW Precision Forgings Ltd. (Sona Comstar) announced the inauguration of its new manufacturing plant in the Fipasi Industrial Park, Silao, Mexico. The new facility will specialize in producing differential assemblies and reduction gears meticulously designed for BEVs. Over time, it will further diversify its product range to accommodate the evolving technological advancements in electric vehicles. Sona Comstar said it recognizes the significance of North America as the largest end-market, contributing 40% to its revenue. The strategic location of the new ..read more

The interactive and easy-to-use digital edition of ShopOwner’s April issue, featuring articles from Brake & Front End, is available now. Click Here to read the April issue In addition to management topics and opinion pieces, this issue reads like a mystery novel with articles on how a mysterious case of tire wear can occur in a perfectly aligned vehicle (spoiler alert: think toe angle); solving false ADAS activation scenarios; why offering too many choices with alignment decisions may actually be bad for your customers; and more. Every issue of ShopOwner also includes technical c ..read more

In today’s professional shop environment, you’re often the bridge between the shop owner, the technician and the customer. You need to field questions about what’s right for a wide range of applications – today, I’ll help answer some questions about what to look for in a quality wheel hub assembly. What wheel bearings do hasn’t really changed over the history of the automobile. Wheel bearings allow for the friction-free movement and rotation of the wheel. One side of the bearing is attached to the vehicle’s suspension, while the other side rotates with the wheel. What HAS changed is how they d ..read more