Z Sport, Part II: Powering Subaru Engine & Chassis Upgrades A few months back, I highlighted a project car being built by Z Sport. The car is now back together and running. Charles Damewood, the car’s owner and a principle at Z Sport, has been driving the car to break in the engine, and get an idea of what needs to be sorted out as far as engine management before doing a full on dynamometer test. As soon as fuel mapping and software issues are resolved, we... More

Alignment and Suspension Specs: Ford Fusion 2006-2010 In 2006 when Ford introduced the Fusion, many could not help but to compare it to the third- and fourth-generation Taurus models. The previous generation had a reputation for broken springs and tire shredding bushing problems. The 2006-2010 Fusion is a different story. More

Alignment & Suspension Specs: 2003-2007 Cadillac CTS The first-generation Cadillac CTS was introduced in 2003 and ended production in the 2007 model year. The Cadillac CTS was built on GM's rear-wheel drive Sigma platform. The CTS for years 2003-2007 came with two suspension packages­ - standard and sport. The packages have two different alignment specifications. The RPO codes for these packages can be found on the underside of the spare tire cover... More

Tech Tip: Sagging Ford Truck Needs a Lift Some Ford Super Duty truck owners may complain that their vehicle leans or sags to the right or left, when looking at the vehicle from the rear. It may be necessary to install Ford-approved shims to correct the vehicle lean condition, as described in this Tech Tip. More

Why do Automotive Ball Joints, Tie Rods and Suspension Links Wear Out? The ball and socket joint has been around on animals and humans for millennia. This simple design has been used on vehicles since the turn of the century because it works. But, just like our hip joints, ball and socket joints like ball joints, tie-rods and sway bar links wear out. More

Tech Feature: Nissan Brake and Suspension Repairs; Solving Noise Complaints At first, you may not think brake and suspension systems are closely related. But when it comes to noise and vibration complaints, you don’t want to be looking at one without considering the other. More

GM Tech Tip: Rear Independent Suspension for AWD Vehicles Out of Alignment Drivers of some General Motors vehicles with independent rear suspensions and All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) may complain of excessive rear tire wear, clunking noises and possible instability. Technicians may also notice excessive negative camber of more than 3.5 degrees and toe-out conditions that cannot be corrected with normal adjustments. More

Alignment Trends: What is the Future of the Alignment Bay? In the past two years, we have seen more vehicles on the market with stability management and adaptive cruise control. If a vehicle with one of these systems comes into your shop for alignment, be aware that any changes in the steering position sensor's "zero" position may have drastic consequences for the safety of the vehicle. If the data from a steering position sensor is off after an alignment... More

Taking The 'Ho-Hum' Out of Ride Control Sales Despite the increased quality of ride and stability control systems during the past decade, remember that springs, shock absorbers and MacPherson struts wear out just like tires, brakes and other expendable parts. Don’t miss sales opportunities for this often-overlooked system. More

Tech Tip: Consider Your Customer Base When Purchasing an Alignment Lift If you do wheel alignment work, you need an alignment lift for raising vehicles off the ground. A lift is essential because you have to get under the vehicle to inspect the steering and suspension before you check the alignment. You can’t align worn parts, so it's important to always make sure the tie rod ends, ball joints, springs, bushings, struts and related components are all in good condition... More

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