Picture this: you’re driving down the open road, the wind in your hair, the sun shining, and the scenery breathtaking. But eventually, you start feeling the need to refuel, rest, or grab a bite to eat. It’s time to start looking for an exit. Plan carefully and you’ll find what you need waiting for you at the end of the exit ramp. Wait too long or just hope for the best, and, well…you might find yourself in a bit of an emergency. Similarly, when it comes to your career as the owner of an automotive repair facility, planning for succession is akin to preparing for that next stage of your journey ..read more

Lumileds has expanded the Philips Ultinon Drive 5000 series of LED lightbars to include eight models. The series now includes 10,” 20,” and 30” lightbars available in single- and double-row versions, and 40,” and 50” lightbars available in double-row configurations. All have been built for off-road use, with scratch-resistant polycarbonate lenses, DT waterproof electrical connections, and corrosion-free, stainless steel mounting brackets, Lumileds said. Ultinon Drive LED Lightbars are engineered with single-piece assemblies that allow them to achieve an IP68 / IP69K rating for resistance to h ..read more

DMA’s BrakeMaster line of Brake Rotors & Drums features over 400 SKUs. New coverage for Ford and Chevy includes popular pickup trucks and SUVs, the company said. Rounding out the latest offering is coverage for a wide range of Toyota, Lexus, and Acura sedans and Audi hot hatches. BrakeMaster brake rotors are engineered to OE specifications for size, diameter, and hole spacing. They also feature cooling vanes specifically designed to maximize heat dissipation, reducing the risk of warping and cracking under extreme braking, the company said. Meeting the strictest g ..read more

Intelligent power management company Eaton’s heavy-duty 4-speed electrified vehicle (EV) transmission was named a 2024 Automotive News PACEpilot Innovation to Watch at an awards ceremony on April 29. The recognition acknowledges post-pilot, pre-commercial innovations in the automotive and future mobility space. Eaton said its EV transmission provides superior performance on grades and acceleration for electric commercial vehicles while offering more flexible gear ratios compared to competitive technologies. The compact 4-speed transmission for heavy-duty applications is designed to improve sys ..read more

Check out this in-depth look at the Autel IA900 Alignment and ADAS calibration frame solution. First, we’ll examine the three IA900 shop solution packages, followed by a step-by-step walkthrough of the Autel diagnostics and ADAS calibration process.  This video is sponsored by Autel. The post The Autel IA900 appeared first on Brake & Front End ..read more

CC: If you get a customer coming in and complaining that their remote keyless entry is not working, or they may have a complaint that the vehicle did not start on certain occasions, take a look at the key ring. The key ring or key fob may have two radio signals coming from it. The first one is for the remote keyless entry. This is typically in the range of 315 to 433 megahertz, and it travels pretty far to open up the doors while they’re halfway across a parking lot. The other one inside, well, it’s 125 megahertz, RFID chip. Inside this RFID chip has a copper coil wrapped around it, and that c ..read more

Drive shafts are a very precision balanced and weighted component because they rotate at very high speeds and torque values to turn the wheels. A worn drive shaft can cause problems that affect the drivability of the vehicle and will create symptoms that alert the driver of potential issues that need to be addressed. THE TWO MOST COMMON SYMPTOMS ARE: 1.    Intense Vibrations from Underneath the Vehicle The most common causes of excessive vibration are worn U-joints, slip splines, out-of-balance components, yokes out of phase, or misaligned angles. Excessive vibration of the ..read more

CC: So what is power steering fluid? Power steering fluid is hydraulic oil for the most part, with certain additives that are tuned for the automotive applications, but it is hydraulic fluid. In other words, you have a pump that creates pressure and that force is changed into energy at a steering rack by turning the wheels or extending the tie rods in either direction. What else is hydraulic on the vehicle? The automatic transmission. This is why some vehicles will actually specify transmission fluid to be used inside the power steering system, but there are exceptions. Certain vehicles out th ..read more

Dana Incorporated’s new The Ultimate Dana 60 rear semi-float axles provide Jeep owners with a direct-fit, bolt-in upgrade solution that is built for superior strength inside and out, the company said. “To get the most out of their vehicles, Jeep owners should consider axle upgrades,” said Bill Nunnery, senior director, sales and marketing, global aftermarket for Dana. “Understanding the differences between semi-floating axles and full-floating axles can help enthusiasts make decisions that ensure the most fun and the least downtime on the trail.” A semi-floating axle system ..read more

The latest forecasts from global technology intelligence firm ABI Research found that global EV sales are expected to grow by 21% in 2024 and 19% in 2025. This represents a significant decline from growth rates of 31% in 2023 and 60% in 2022, ABI Research said. “A shortage of chargers and limited ranges are not to blame for this decline. It’s evident from sales data and statements by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) that the EV market is slowing down and failing to meet its targets,” Dylan Khoo, an electric vehicles industry analyst, said. “While insufficient charging infrastructure and ..read more