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JJ a an nu ua a rr y y 2 20 01 13 3

2013:

Let’s Get Moving Move more: Cabin Air Filters ● ECMs ● Chassis ● Belts ● Reman Calipers ● Radiators Starting on page 24 ●

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INSIDE

January Volume 31, No. 1

features 24

Tech Features.............................................. By Larry Carley

Cabin air filters: The unseen filter.

ECM: The brains of the operation. ......................................

26 24 28 30

Chassis parts take a pounding. ....................................................

Belts are “need-it-now” items. ....................................................................

columns Editor’s Ink

By Mark Phillips ....................................................

Have you printed that part yet?

Mechanic Connection

By Gary Goms ......................

Reman caliper 101.

34 Keeping It Simple By Gerald Wheelus..........................40 Radiators do double-duty. ......................................

pg. 44

A strong work ethic can be taught.

Counter-tech

By Mandy Aguilar ........................................

Don’t hide — the online identity based economy is here.

From The Publisher

By S. Scott Shriber ......................

2013: Here we go.

COUNTERMAN (ISSN 0739-3695) (January 2013 Volume 31, Number 1): Copyright 2013 Babcox Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved: Published monthly by Babcox, 3550 Embassy Parkway, Akron, OH 44333 U.S.A. Phone (330) 670-1234, Fax (330) 670-0874. Periodical postage paid at Akron, OH 44333 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to COUNTERMAN, 3550 Embassy Parkway, Akron, OH 44333-8318. A limited number of complimentary subscriptions are available to individuals who meet the qualification requirements. Call (330) 670-1234, Ext. 275, to speak to a subscription services representative or FAX us at (330) 670-5335. Paid Subscriptions are available for non-qualified subscribers at the following rates: U.S.: $69. Samples and back issues - Domestic - $10, International/via air mail $15. Canada: $89 for one year, $149 for two years. Canadian rates include GST. Ohio residents add 5.75% sales tax. Other foreign rates/via air mail: $129 for one year. Payable in advance in U.S. funds. Mail payment to COUNTERMAN, P.O. Box 75692, Cleveland, OH 44101-4755. Visa, MasterCard or American Express accepted.

January 2013 | Counterman

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departments 10

MarketPlace ....................................................................................................

Every month, MarketPlace showcases the newest automotive product and service innovations your customers are asking about!

Aftermarket News......................................................................................

Aftermarket News presents news, views and analysis of current trends and events in aftermarket distribution.

NASCAR Performance ............................................................................

This monthly special section takes you behind the scenes of this fast-growing sport.

46,47

Classifieds ..........................................................................................

PUBLISHER

S. Scott Shriber 330-670-1234, ext. 229 sshriber@babcox.com EDITORIAL

Mark Phillips, Editor 330-670-1234, Ext. 299 mphillips@babcox.com Amy Antenora, Editor, aftermarketNews Managing Editor, Counterman 330-670-1234, Ext. 220 aantenora@babcox.com Larry Carley, Technical Editor lcarley@babcox.com CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Mandy Aguilar, Columnist Gary Goms, Commercial Accounts Gerald Wheelus, Columnist Allen Markowitz, Columnist Allan Gerber, Columnist Jerry King, Cartoonist GRAPHIC DESIGN

Lisa DiPaolo, Graphic Designer 330-670-1234 , Ext. 281 ldipaolo@babcox.com ADVERTISING SERVICES

Tina Purnell Advertising Services Manager 330-670-1234 , Ext. 243 tpurnell@babcox.com CIRCULATION SERVICES Brad Mitchell, Director of eMedia & Audience Development 330-670-1234 , Ext. 277 bmitchell@babcox.com

Pictured (left-to-right): Lucas McKinney, assistant category manager, customer satisfaction, performance chemicals, AutoZone; Brandi Gardner, category manager, customer satisfaction, performance chemicals, AutoZone; and Greg White, national sales manager, Casite.

ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVES HOME OFFICE: 3550 Embassy Parkway Akron, OH 44333-8318 330-670-1234 FAX 330-670-0874 Bill Babcox bbabcox@babcox.com 330-670-1234, ext. 217

PUBLISHER: S. Scott Shriber sshriber@babcox.com 330-670-1234, ext. 229 SALES REPRESENTATIVES: Dean Martin dmartin@babcox.com 330-670-1234, ext. 225

January 2013 | Counterman

Jim Merle jmerle@babcox.com 330-670-1234, ext. 280

Sean Donohue sdonohue@babcox.com 330-670-1234, ext. 206

Roberto Almenar ralmenar@babcox.com 330-670-1234, ext. 233

John Zick jzick@babcox.com 949-756-8835

Glenn Warner gwarner@babcox.com 330-670-1234, ext. 212

CLASSIFIED SALES: Tom Staab tstaab@babcox.com 330-670-1234, ext. 224

Pat Robinson, Circulation Manager 330-670-1234, Ext. 276 probinson@babcox.com Ellen Mays, Circulation Specialist 330-670-1234, Ext. 275 emays@babcox.com CORPORATE Bill Babcox, President Greg Cira, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Stankard, Vice President Beth Scheetz, Controller

Edward S. Babcox (1885-1970) Founder Tom B. Babcox (1919-1995) Chairman Founded 1983. Copyright 2013 Babcox Media, Inc., All Rights Reserved COUNTERMAN (ISSN-0739-3695) is published monthly by Babcox Media, 3550 Embassy Pkwy., Akron, OH 44333. Periodical postage paid at Akron, OH and additional mailing offices. Member, BPA International

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DITOR’S INK By Mark Phillips

Did You Get That Part Printed Yet? Imagine a company that holds the patent to a particular part and a store or program group buys the rights to print X number of parts. This is print-ondemand to the extreme.

n the future, you’re going to print auto parts, almost like you would an invoice. Waiting for the punch line? There isn’t one. Yes, one day — and people can already do it to a limited extent — parts stores will be able to print the parts a customer wants. Sound outlandish? It’s not. 3D printers have already successfully made a range of objects, including jet parts, gun parts, toys and even scale models of James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 that appeared in the recent movie “Skyfall.” Currently, as I understand it, the types of plastics used in the printing process mean some materials can’t yet be processed by the machines. But it’s not going to be that way forever. Imagine a company that holds the patent to a particular part and a store or program group buys the rights to print X number of parts. This is print-on-demand to the extreme. 3D printers are truly beginning to take off and the cost, like all technology, is tumbling.

Persistence Pays Off The Realtor who sold us our home several years ago is a tiger, a top performer. She could sell buckets of sand to someone living in the desert. One thing that strikes me about her is she always stays in contact with her clients and she always tries new ideas to drum up business. Some ideas work, some ideas don’t. I’ve met many Realtors in my lifetime but she’s the only one I can remember by name. Why? Not because she sold us a home. I can’t remember the names of anyone who’s ever sold me a car, and that’s a big purchase. It’s because she reminds me who she is almost every quarter. Not a quarter goes by that I don’t get some kind of little calendar, card, letter or something else that basically says, “I’m in business. Let’s talk.” We have a popular ice cream chain in Ohio and every birthday, she sends me a coin that buys ice cream at those stores. For the New Year, it’s a calendar. Or a card — handwritten. Other times, it’s something else — always something else. She doesn’t give up. It’s infrequent enough that it’s not annoying, and frequent enough that you can’t forget who she is. I don’t know where she learned it, but she had a good teacher. Even though I’m not in the market for a house and haven’t been for years, guess whose name comes to mind when a friend needs a Realtor? CM ■ ■ ■

For more information: www.counterman.com

A Correction Due to a production error, an advertisement for Spectra Premium appeared incomplete in the December issue. The ad runs in its entirety on pages 4 and 5. Counterman regrets the error.

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MARKETPLACE › visit www.counterman.com/ASAP for reader service The Ultimate Import Wire Intermotor™ Import Wire Sets provide customers with a competitive edge in today’s complex global import market. Unrivaled for quality, coverage and original match, they are engineered to exacting fit, form and function specifications. The wire sets install with ease and confidence for exceptional power and performance, and provide extra-long service life. INTERMOTOR

Textar Brake Rotors Textar, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of OE brake pads, now offers a range of German-engineered, high-carbon brake rotors for European applications. Utilizing the know-how that comes from nearly 100 years of developing OE brake pads, engineers at Textar have developed a perfectly matched brake rotor, ensuring the ultimate braking performance of your car. This new range of high-quality brake discs is manufactured to precise German specifications. Textar brake rotors are available exclusively at WORLDPAC. WORLDPAC

PFC Releases New Corrosion Resistant Protective Coating

▲ PFC Protective Coating

January 2013 | Counterman

PFC Corrosion Resistant Protective Coating is a technology unlike any of the competitors. The coating prevents rust, peeling, corrosion and is extremely temperature resistant. The PFC coating incorporates Geopolymer technology for strong protection on all surfaces of the brake pad. Under extreme testing procedures, the PFC coating withstands all the elements, including the GM9540P accelerated corrosion testing with extended bakes at 650°F. PFC Corrosion Resistant Protective Coating also endured a salt spray and high-temperature exposure test, resulting in absolutely zero coat peeling and minimal to zero rust, with red rust calculated between only 1 percent and 5 percent. Other protective coatings end in severe peeling, excessive red rust and even 100 percent red rust coverage on the brake pads. PFC Corrosion Resistant Protective Coating withstands all environmental and extreme driving elements. PFC

AFTERMARKET NEWS Advance Auto Parts Announces Acquisition Of BWP Distributors ROANOKE, Va. – Advance Auto Parts has acquired B.W.P. Distributors Inc. (BWP) in an all-cash transaction. The deal closed at the end of December. Founded in 1962, BWP is a privately held company that supplies, markets and distributes automotive aftermarket parts and products principally to commercial customers. Based in Armonk, N.Y., BWP currently operates or supplies 216 locations in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Advance says this acquisition will enable the company to continue its expansion in the Northeast, a strategic growth area for Advance. Advance will operate 124 BWP company-owned stores and will transfer the rights to distribute to 92 independently owned locations to an affiliate of General Parts International Inc. (GPI), a privately held auto supply company. Additionally, Advance will continue to operate two of BWP’s distribution centers in Sutton, Mass., and Delran, N.J. GPI will operate BWP’s other distribution center in Armonk, N.Y.

VIP Parts, Tires & Service To Sell Its Auto Parts Business To O’Reilly LEWISTON, Maine, and SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – VIP Parts, Tires & Service (VIP) has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its auto parts related assets to O’Reilly Automotive. With this agreement, which was expected to be complete on or about Dec. 31, VIP will continue to serve its tire and service customers throughout all 56 locations. VIP has been in the auto parts business since 1976, when the first VIP store was opened in Lewiston, Maine. VIP currently operates 56 stores located throughout Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts as well as a distribution center located in Maine. Founded in 1957 by the O’Reilly family, O’Reilly Automotive operates 3,896 stores in 39 states.

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National Pronto Association Adds Two New Shareholders GRAPEVINE, Texas – National Pronto Association announced the addition of Circle Distributing Inc. and Automotive Supply Center Ltd. to the Pronto membership effective Jan. 1. Circle Distributing was founded in 1983 by CEO and current president General Ralph Cloud. The company started out as a Motorcraft FAD and then added the ACDelco product line in 1988 and today services three states with distribution. Automotive Supply Center is a retail and wholesale parts and accessories distributor on the island of Hawaii.

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AFTERMARKET NEWS

Autopart International Acquires Steinway Auto Parts NORTON, Mass. – Autopart International has acquired all assets of Hempstead, N.Y.-based Steinway Auto Parts Inc. Steinway has provided automo-

tive parts to the commercial market for more than 40 years. Like Autopart International, Steinway focuses on delivering high-quality parts and service to the profession-

al technician. Steinway services its customers from six locations in Manhattan, Queens and Long Island. The addition of these stores will bring the Autopart International store count to 218, up from 197 at the beginning of 2012.

Automotive Distribution Network Joins University Of The Aftermarket Foundation As A Lifetime Trustee

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BETHESDA, Md. – The Automotive Distribution Network has joined the University of the Aftermarket Foundation as a lifetime trustee to help increase awareness of the many professional opportunities available in the aftermarket and grow the foundation’s scholarship program. “We decided to take one small step and contribute to the University of the Aftermarket Foundation to help make education more available,” said Mike Lambert, president of the Network. “We want to support the foundation’s efforts to get the word out that our industry has good jobs available, and not just those turning a wrench, but careers in all aspects of the business for those who are willing to learn.” The Network will take an active role on the University of the Aftermarket Foundation Board of Trustees. David Segal, president of New Hampshirebased Automotive Supply Associates (ASA) will serve as the Network’s representative on the board. Segal, who helped spearhead the Network’s donation, is a former chairman of the Automotive Wholesale Distributors Association (AWDA). “We want to thank Mike Lambert, David Segal and everyone at the Network for their generous contribution to the University of the Aftermarket Foundation and their commitment to help secure the future of the aftermarket through the education of the next generation of industry leaders,” said Rusty Bishop, chairman of the University of the Aftermarket Foundation.

January 2013 | Counterman

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AFTERMARKET NEWS

Casite Names Guess the Car Win $100! AutoZone ‘USA 2012 Retailer of This Month’s Puzzle the Year’ TROY, Mich. – Casite recently presented its “USA 2012 Retailer of the Year” award to AutoZone at the company’s headquarters in Memphis, Tenn. The honor is given periodically by Casite to recognize exceptional work by its retail partners. The award was conferred by Greg White, Casite’s national sales manager, to AutoZone’s Brandi Gardner, category manager, customer satisfaction, performance chemicals and Lucas McKinney, assistant category manager, customer satisfaction, performance chemicals.

Arnott Opens New Texas Distribution Center

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MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. – Arnott Inc. has announced the opening of a new distribution center near Dallas, Texas. Arnott said the new facility is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to enhance customer support and shorten delivery times in North America and across the world. In 2012, Arnott also opened distribution centers in Southern California and Ontario, Canada. The new Texas location will dramatically reduce freight costs and shorten delivery times for Arnott customers in the south central United States, the company said. Prior to opening the new distribution centers, customers in some parts of the central region, on the West Coast and in Canada had to wait five or six days for Arnott 16

January 2013 | Counterman

#60 What vehicle does this picture represent? If you think you know the answer, go to www.counterman.com and click “Guess the Car” on the nav bar. Submit your answer and contact information. A winner will be randomly selected by the Counterman staff from all correct answers. The deadline to enter is Feb. 4. The winner’s name will appear in the next issue. Stay tuned!

Last Month’s Correct Answer:

#59

TrailBlazer Congrats to Laura Perry parts shipped via UPS Ground from Arnott’s main distribution center in Merritt Island, Fla. Now, those same areas are able receive Arnott’s air suspension products in half the time and overnight in some locations, according to Arnott.

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AFTERMARKET NEWS

National Performance Warehouse Finalizes Acquisition Of CMA Warehouse In Los Angeles MIAMI – National Performance Warehouse Companies (NPW) has completed its acquisition of CMA Warehouse located in Vernon, a suburb of Los Angeles. CMA Warehouse services customers in Los Angeles as well as the West Coast. CMA Warehouse will maintain its current staff and management to continue to service its customers in its present manner, as well as being able to offer additional lines the company markets on the West Coast. Darrin Morgan, CMA warehouse general manager, commented, “CMA has been a family run operation for over 20 years and we are excited to become part of the NPW family. This acquisition will give us an opportunity to expand our

product offering and enhance our services while still being able to give the quality care to our customers that everyone has come to expect from CMA Warehouse.” Larry Pacey, NPW’s president and CEO, added, “The CMA Warehouse operation continues to broaden and solidify our engine parts and traditional parts selection and places us close to a base of customers in East Los Angeles. Broadening our product mix, improving service and responding to customers’ needs keep with our plans to be a major supplier in catering to jobbers in the western region.” Prior to the CMA deal, NPW also acquired Karbelt in Canada and Motor Warehouse in Sacramento, Calif.

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Over the Counter By Jerry King

January 2013 | Counterman

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AFTERMARKET NEWS

Spicer Universal Joints To Be Carried By CARQUEST Auto Parts MAUMEE, Ohio – Dana Holding Corp.’s Spicer brand of universal joints, including Spicer Life Series premium performance universal joints, are now being sold through CARQUEST Auto Parts, an aftermarket distributor of automotive replacement parts with 3,000 locations throughout North America. “By teaming up with CARQUEST, we are meeting the strong demand for premium aftermarket products from professional technicians and enthusiasts alike,” said Bill Gryzenia, vice president and general manager for the Dana Aftermarket. “The trusted Spicer brand has been around for more than a century, and with the ongoing development in Dana’s premier products, we continue to supply superior technology and quality to meet the unique needs of the market.”

Federated Announces ‘Shop of the Year’ Award Program

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STAUNTON, Va. – Federated is now accepting nominations for the first Federated “Shop of the Year” award. “Federated is looking to honor a ‘top shop’ that has knowledgeable, professional service technicians, while providing superior service and repairs that result in very satisfied customers,” said Phil Moore, senior vice president

January 2013 | Counterman

for Federated. “We also are looking for the winning shop to be a business that is actively involved in the community and has a track record of pursuing and achieving excellence.” For more information or to nominate a shop, visit the Federated Auto Parts website at www.federatedautoparts.com/Sh opOfTheYear.aspx.

Parts Plus To Award Spa Getaway/Gourmet Food Experience Through Car Care Center Sweepstakes GERMANTOWN, Tenn. – Beginning Jan. 15, Parts Plus Car Care Centers nationwide will be offering their customers a grand prize trip for two to an exclusive spa and resort in Sonoma, Calif., as part of the group’s latest sweepstakes promotion, according to Mike Lambert, president of the Automotive Distribution Network. “While Parts Plus has made a concentrated effort to gear some of our Car Care Center promotions toward our growing female customer base, this sweepstakes is ideal because enjoying gourmet food and relaxing in America’s premier wine and spa coastal destination appeals to everyone,” Lambert said. Twenty-five first-place winners will receive a 10-piece gourmet cookware set, while each Parts Plus Car Care Center nationwide will be awarding copies of the New American Heart Association Cookbook to their local customers. No purchase is necessary to win. Entries must be received by Feb. 28, 2013.

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AFTERMARKET NEWS

MANN+HUMMEL To Acquire Full Ownership Of Purolator Joint Venture From Bosch

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LUDWIGSBURG, Germany & FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – MANN+HUMMEL has announced it will acquire Bosch’s 50 percent stake in the joint venture Purolator Filters NA LLC. An agreement to this effect was signed on Dec. 03. Purolator develops, manufactures and sells filters for the automotive OE/OES and aftermarket. In 2012, the business, based in Fayetteville, N.C., generated sales of $240 million. It employs some 1,000 associates. The transaction is subject to approval by the antitrust authorities. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. MANN+HUMMEL and Bosch

January 2013 | Counterman

founded the joint venture in 2006 after buying the company from Arvin Meritor. In the past six years, MANN+HUMMEL and Bosch strengthened Purolator as a major filter supplier in the U.S. With the acquisition of all the shares of the business, MANN+HUMMEL said it will strengthen its OE and aftermarket business in NAFTA as well as its global filter business. Alfred Weber, president and CEO of MANN+HUMMEL, said, “For our customers, Purolator will continue to be a partner with the scale and scope to design, build and distribute leading-edge filtration products and services. Our

company will have one of the most experienced sales and services teams in the filtration industry. In fact, this acquisition will ideally benefit customers, employees and support our company’s strategy to become a global leader in filtration.” Rob Malone, CEO of Purolator, added: “We are committed to strengthen the Purolator brand and to broaden our customer base. This deal gives Purolator unlimited access to MANN+HUMMEL’s knowhow and thus benefits our customers. Purolator represents a strategic fit of portfolio, positioning and people.”

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ECH FEATURE By Larry Carley, technical editor

Cabin Air Filter — The Unseen Filter new cabin air filter is something many motorists need but often don’t know it. The cabin air filter (CAF) is not a well-known or well-publicized filter. Close to 90 percent of late-model cars and trucks now come factory-equipped with a cabin air filter, but the original filters in many of these vehicles have never been changed! Depending on the type of filter, recommended replacement intervals can range from once a year or every 15,000 miles up to 3 years or 30,000 miles. Driving on dusty roads would obviously require more frequent filter changes, yet many motorists are totally unaware their vehicle has a cabin air filter let alone how often it should be changed or how to replace it.

The filter’s location can usually be found in the vehicle owner’s manual along with the recommended service intervals. One reason why cabin air filters are so neglected is because the filter is often hard to find. It may be located under the cowl cover at the base of the windshield or inside the HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning) plenum behind the glove box or under the dash. Accessing the filter often requires some disassembly, and some filters have to be folded and unfolded to fit in place. The filter’s location can usually be found in the vehicle owner’s manual along with the recommended service intervals. Some vehicle manufacturer’s (notably GM) have been inconsistent in their use of CAFs. The filters have been used since the 1980s, but on some GM trucks, the filter was discontinued when certain models were updat-

The cabin air filter (CAF) is not a well-known or well-publicized filter. 24

January 2013 | Counterman

ed or changed from one year to the next. In some cases you also will find a cabin air filter listing for a vehicle application that has a slot for a filter but was not originally equipped with a filter. How important is the cabin air filter? A plugged cabin air filter can restrict airflow through the heater, defroster and air conditioner. The filter prevents dust, pollen and other contaminants (down to 1 to 3 microns in size and smaller) from entering the passenger compartment. For allergy sufferers, this is a good feature to have. Filters that have a layer of activated charcoal also can trap odors and other pollutants, making for a more pleasant driving experience in heavy traffic or when passing hog farms, soybean processing plants and other sources that generate nasty odors. Activated charcoal can even reduce the levels of carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen from the exhaust of other vehicles, which can be high in heavy traffic. The concentration of these pollutants can often be several times higher inside a vehicle than outside, which can affect driver reaction time and alertness. So regular CAF replacement can also have a safety benefit. CM

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ECH FEATURE By Larry Carley, technical editor

Engine Control Module: The Brains Of The Operation he Engine Control Module (also called the Powertrain Control Module or PCM) is the brains of the engine management system. It controls the fuel mixture, ignition timing, variable cam timing and emissions control. It constantly monitors emissions performance via its OBD (Onboard Diagnostics) programming, and it oversees the operation of the fuel pump, engine cooling fan and charging system. It also interacts with the transmission controller (if separate), ABS/traction/stability control system, body control module, climate control module and anti-theft system. In short, the engine control module performs a wide variety of functions that are necessary to operate a vehicle. The electronic components inside an engine control modules are fairly robust, but sometimes things can and do go wrong. Shorts in sensor circuits may overload and damage the module. Problems with the moduleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s power supply (too much voltage or not enough) or ground connections can cause it to misbehave. Bad inputs from sensors or other modules may also cause it to malfunction. Corrosion, excessive heat and vibration also can cause harm to the module. When an engine control module

January 2013 | Counterman

fails, it may or may not set any Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs). This can make troubleshooting difficult and often results in misdiagnosis of

a bad computer. Often the real problem is outside the computer such as a bad sensor, wiring fault, power relay or voltage issue. Complete module failures are rare, but failures within the moduleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s various subsystems and memory are more common. A shorted fuel injector, for example, may overload and burn

out the injector driver circuit within the engine control module. If the underlying cause is not found and fixed, it can cause the replacement computer to fail, too. If a bad computer has been accurately diagnosed, replacing it usually requires several steps. First, the replacement computer must be programmed for the specific vehicle into which it will be installed (year, make, model, engine, VIN, trans, etc.). In some cases, the supplier of a remanufactured module can perform this step by providing them with the necessary information. Or, the module can be programmed by the technician using a J2534 passthrough device and scan tool. Programming requires professional expertise and special equipment, and is NOT something a DIYer can do himself. On older GM and Ford computers (1995 and preOBD II), the programming is on a calibration PROM (Program Read Only Memory) chip. The chip has to be removed from the old computer and installed in the replacement computer. On many vehicles, it is also necessary to perform a relearn procedure after the computer has been installed so the anti-theft system will recognize the new computer â&#x20AC;&#x201D; otherwise the engine may not start. CM

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ECH FEATURE By Larry Carley, technical editor

Chassis Parts Take A Pounding ike brake pads and tires, chassis parts wear with every mile that’s driven. The rougher the roads, the greater the pounding these parts take. Rain and road salt also can contribute to the early demise of ball joints, control arm bushings, tie rod ends and other steering linkage components. The main problems caused by worn chassis parts are things like road noise, steering looseness, road wander or pulling, wheel misalignment and accelerated tire wear. Worn chassis parts are usually discovered when a vehicle is aligned or when its tires are being replaced. Most ball joints that mate the control arms to the steering knuckle on late-model vehicles are sealed for life and do not require any lubrication. Some replacement ball joints do have grease fittings, and may be recommended for hard-use applications like trucks. If play in a ball joint exceeds specifications, it needs to be replaced. Worn ball joints should not be ignored because if a ball joint pulls apart when it fails, the suspension will collapse and the driver may lose steering control. As a rule, load-carrying ball joints wear out before non-load carrying joints. Ball joints are usually replaced in pairs (both lowers, both uppers or all four on vehicles that have SLA suspensions). Rear

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January 2013 | Counterman

ball joints on independent suspensions wear, too, and should also be replaced in pairs. On some applications, the ball joint is an integral part of a “unitized” control arm assembly so the entire control arm must be replaced if the ball joint is bad. On most other applications, the ball joint can be replaced separately. It may be bolted, riveted or pressed in place. A faster replacement alternative is to sell your customer a “loaded” control arm assembly that comes preassembled with a new ball joint and bushings and is ready to install. It saves installation time and reduces the risk of installer error. Many ball joints are secured with Torque-To-Yield (TTY) bolts. These are essentially one-use fasteners because they stretch when they are tightened. If reused, there is a risk of breakage. New bolts are recommended for these applications. Worn tie rod ends will affect tire wear more than anything else. Like ball joints, the tie rod ends need to be replaced if play exceeds specifications. Tie rod ends should also be replaced in pairs (both outers or the inner tie rod sockets with rack & pinion steering, or both outers or inners with recirculating ball steering). New tie rods or tie rod sleeves also may be required. The wheels must be realigned after the new tie rods have been installed. CM

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ECH FEATURE By Larry Carley, technical editor

Belts Are Need-It-Now Items elts are a staple in every automotive parts store. Belts are a wear item, and when they fail your customer needs a replacement NOW. The only trick to selling belts is to make sure your customer gets the correct one for his engine. The replacement belt must be the same type as the original, with the same length and width. Consolidation of part numbers allows a little fudging on belt lengths, but not much. There are three basic types of automotive belts: V-belts (used mostly on 1980s and older vehicles), flat serpentine belts (used on most current vehicles to drive all or most of the engineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s accessories) and OHC timing belts (for overhead camshaft engines). The V-belts in older vehicles tend to wear at a much faster rate than flat serpentine belts for a couple of reasons. One is that V-belts grip with the sides of the belt. If there is not enough tension on the belt, or the belt or pulleys are worn or oily, the belt will slip, wear even faster and rapidly fail. Belt life is typically 30,000 to 50,000 miles. With serpentine belts, the belt grips with both the flat top side of the belt and the V-grooved underside. The larger surface area provides more grip to reduce slippage and wear. Original equipment serpentine belts and many quality brand aftermarket belts for late-model applications are made of long-life synthetic materials such as EPDM, which does not crack as it ages. A high-mileage EPDM belt may still look like new, but the grooves on the underside may be worn. Many of these belts can last up to 100,000 miles, but they do not last forever, so they do need to be inspected for wear. Belt tension is maintained automatically on most serpentine belt applications via a spring-loaded tensioner. The tensioner keeps the belt tight to reduce slippage and wear. But tensioners can weaken, corrode and jam, resulting in belt flutter, slippage and noise. By the time the belt needs to be replaced, chances are the vehicle could also use a new tensioner. OHC timing belts also wear as the miles add up. On the older applications (1990s and back), the timing belts were not as durable as the belts they use today. Replacement was typically recommended every 60,000 miles to minimize the risk of belt failure. On the newer OHC engines, the recommended replacement interval for the timing belt is usually 100,000 to 125,000 miles. Timing belt replacement is not something that should be postponed. On â&#x20AC;&#x153;interferenceâ&#x20AC;? engines with close valve-to-piston clearances, a belt failure can be catastrophic and cause expensive valve damage. So customers should be advised of the wisdom of replacing their OHC timing belt BEFORE it fails! CM

The only trick to selling belts is to make sure your customer gets the correct one for his engine.

January 2013 | Counterman

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ECHANIC CONNECTION By Gary Goms, commercial accounts editor

In most cases, the condition of the disc brake caliper determines the success of a brake pad and rotor replacement.

designed to reduce rolling friction by retracting the caliper piston a few thousandths of an inch from the rotor after each application, it’s important for the o-ring to remain as pliable as the day it was new. Last, the interface between the caliper piston and the O-ring is the primary wear point in the caliper assembly. Most caliper pistons eventually corrode or produce fretting wear at the O-ring interface. At this point, I think it’s fair to point out that the cost of the piston and seal alone usually exceeds the cost of a remanufactured caliper.

Reman Caliper 101 ince the popular introduction of disc brakes into the domestic market during the 1960s, the symptoms of a defective disc brake caliper haven’t changed. In the vast majority of caliper failures, the caliper piston sticks in the caliper bore, which causes the brake pads to drag against the brake rotor. The driver recognizes a sticking caliper piston as a brake pull or steering pull. On the other hand, a technician might recognize a defective brake caliper as the cause of excessive brake pad wear or as a broken caliper bleed screw. During the early 1970s, disassembling the caliper was always frustrating because the caliper pistons were normally rusted into the caliper bore. Assembly was equally frustrating because the piston had to slip past the caliper dust boot and piston O-ring at the same time.

January 2013 | Counterman

The trick to installing the piston into its square-cut O-ring was to use a one-foot length of 2-inch board to “wobble” it into place. Given the above conditions, this is why a modern remanufactured caliper “loaded” with new brake pads is a true bargain when doing any professional brake repair. Caliper Failure Points The main failure point in any caliper is the dust boot that prevents water and dirt from entering the caliper bore. Even one small pin hole in the dust boot will eventually cause the piston to seize. Keep in mind also that modern, lightweight brakes can routinely exceed 500 degrees F. operating temperature. These high temperatures eventually harden both the rubber sealing boot and the squarecut o-ring located inside the caliper. Since the caliper o-ring is actually

Installation Tips When installing any reman caliper, it’s important to lubricate the caliper guides and all metal contacting surfaces with synthetic caliper grease. It’s also important to install all new brake pad shims and mounting hardware as required. For safety’s sake, all mounting bolts should be lightly lubricated and torqued to specification. In addition, the brake hose should be inspected for weather-cracking. When installing the remanufactured caliper, always use new copper sealing washers to seal the hose to the caliper. Base-bleeding a new reman caliper usually requires a pressure or vacuum–actuated brake bleeder. In any case, follow the auto manufacturer’s recommendations for base-bleeding the brakes. On some applications, the anti-locking braking system (ABS) unit must also be bled by entering the ABS bleeding mode with a professional-level scan tool. In this mode, the scan tool activates the ABS pump and valves to push air out of the system. CM

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ECHANIC CONNECTION By Gary Goms, commercial accounts editor

Radiators Do Double-Duty hen we consider the amount of heat produced by burning gasoline, it’s a miracle that the modern radiator can cool an engine as well as it does. While the majority of heat produced by internal combustion is vented into the atmosphere through the exhaust system, the remainder is absorbed by engine coolant circulating through the engine’s water jackets and cylinder heads. The hot coolant is then pumped into the radiator, where heat is transferred through the radiator core tubes into the cool atmosphere. The radiator also must do double-duty because frictional heat produced by moving automatic transmission parts is transferred into the radiator through a transmission oil cooler built into the radiator header tank.

As you might suspect, rust and scale build-up inside the radiator tubes seriously reduce the radiator’s ability to dissipate heat into the atmosphere. Clogging caused by dirty coolant or by gasket material and sealants flaking away from the engine also reduces the cooling capacity of the radiator. In addition, the radiator’s delicate aluminum cooling fins are often damaged by airborne road debris, which additionally reduces the radiator’s cooling capacity. Radiator Construction Most early vertical-flow radiators were made of an upper “header” tank soldered to a brass header plate holding the radiator core tubes in place. The lower plate and outlet tank was of similar construction. Unfortunately, vertical-flow brass radiators were heavy, expensive and environmentally challenging due to the liberal use of lead-based solder. The cooling capacity of most radiators can be in-

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Any vehicle with more than 100,000 miles on the radiator is a perfect candidate for a radiator inspection and evaluation.

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MECHANIC CONNECTION

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creased by adding extra rows of core tubes. While single-row radiators can cool a small-displacement engine, up to four rows of core tubes are required for heavy-duty applications. In terms of increasing cooling capacity, adding more than four rows of core tubes generally produces diminished returns. Consequently, the frontal area of the radiator becomes more important in determining cooling capacity. Additional cooling capacity can be achieved by manipulating the shape and density of the aluminum cooling fins inserted between the core tubes. But, when the cooling fin density becomes too great, air flow through the radiator is reduced at normal road speeds. During the 1960s, most auto manufacturers adopted the horizontal-flow radiator design that is used to this day. Most horizontal-

January 2013 | Counterman

core radiators crimp an aluminum core tube assembly onto plastic header tanks, which are sealed to the core with rubber gaskets. In conventional cooling systems, the inlet connection is located at the radiator top while the outlet is located at the diagonally opposite corner. In contrast, reverse-flow radiators found on some high-performance sports cars flow from bottom to top. Generally, the inlet connection will be smaller than the outlet connection. When To Replace Given enough time and mileage, rust, scale and debris will eventually clog a radiator’s core tubes. A lifetime of road vibration, thermal stress and pressure cycling may also cause the core tubes to crack due to metal fatigue. Engine boilovers can also lift sludge from the

bottom of the engine’s water jackets, which will rapidly clog an older radiator already full of rust and scale. Consequently, any vehicle with more than 100,000 miles on the radiator is a perfect candidate for a radiator inspection and evaluation. If the coolant is excessively rusty or the radiator core is excessively damaged from road debris, it’s time to consider replacing with a new, OE-fit radiator. To prevent clogging the new radiator, it’s always best to flush as much of the old coolant as possible from the engine before installing the new radiator. When installing new coolant, it’s usually more convenient to install 50/50 premixed antifreeze and water. This will ensure a lifetime of good performance from the newly installed radiator. CM

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Track Talk NASCAR Short Track Aces to Light Up Daytona

Beach” trophies are replicas of the trophy bestowed u p o n i n f a m o u s throttlestomper Fonty Flock for Back to the future: NASCAR’s next generation of drivers will winning compete for 1954 trophy replicas at the Battle at the Beach. on the Daytona beach circuit in 1954. With the addition of the “I always like old trophies Battle, Daytona International and the history of NASCAR Speedway is the first track to and where it comes from and feature every level of NASCARwhat it began as,” said sanctioned racing at its facility, Pulliam, who lists Dale as the short-track teams join Earnhardt Sr. as his racing the three national NASCAR inspiration. “I think that's an Series and the Grand-Am important part of this sport. To Series at the famed speedway. see that trophy being a replica “It's our first foray into shortof one of the first ones given track racing,” said Daytona out, that's really neat. It would International Speedway Presibe pretty sweet to take that dent Joie Chitwood. “Now thing home.” we've got this new two-day event on Monday and Tuesday of race week, and we're really excited.” Tickets for the UNOH Battle at the Beach, along with all other Speedweeks 2013 events, can be purchased online at www. daytonainternationalspeedway. com or by calling (800) PITSHOP. Stay up to speed on the latest news by following hashtags #NASCAR, #DAYTONA500 and #NASCARBattle.

For 2012 NASCAR Whelen All- youngest K&N Pro Series West American Series national Champion in history; Chase champion Lee Pulliam, being Elliott, son of two-time locked into the starting field Daytona 500 champion Bill for the Late Model race at the Elliott; and Joe Gibbs Racing 2013 UNOH Battle at the developmental driver Darrell Beach is the opportunity of a Wallace Jr. young racer’s lifetime. “This is all about the stars “For me as a driver, the of tomorrow vying for glory opportunity to go to Daytona at Daytona International is a really big deal,” Pulliam Speedway,” said George said. “This is probably going to Silbermann, NASCAR vice be my only opportunity to run president of regional and at Daytona, so it’s going to be a touring series. “During two big deal for a lot of us.” days and nights of intense Pulliam, a Semora, N.C., competition, fans will be able native, will be among many of to see today’s aces of short NASCAR’s up-and-coming track racing and some great stars getting a chance to com- young talent.” pete at the legendary Daytona Racers will compete on a .4International Speedway during mile oval track on the famed Speedweeks 2013. Superstretch of Daytona The bright lights of the International Speedway. The “World Center of Racing” will ultimate prize? A piece of shine on the stars of NASCAR’s throwback hardware. regional and touring series, as Inaugural “Battle at the Daytona International Speedway hosts the inaugural UNOH Battle at the Beach Feb. 18-19, 2013. The two days of racing will be headlined by three non-points special events – the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, NASCAR Whelen Modified tours and the Late Model division of the NASCAR Whelen AllAmerican Series. Joining Pulliam at the event will be many of NASCAR’s up-and-coming stars, including: NASCAR K&N Pro Series East champion Kyle Larson; 17-year- The inaugural 2013 UNOH Battle at the Beach will be the destination for fans to old Dylan Kwasniewski, the get a glimpse of NASCAR’s stars of tomorrow. Follow NASCAR Performance on Twitter and Facebook www.twitter.com/NASCARauto ■ www.facebook.com/NASCARPerformance

By Kimberly Hyde, NASCAR

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS

Schaeffler Group USA Inc. is pleased to announce the release of the 07-202 LuK RepSet®. This clutch kit was developed for the 2005-2010 V6, 4.0L, Ford Mustang in response to a national dealer inventory shortage and high aftermarket demand. LuK is dedicated to bringing a steady flow of product improvements and innovations to both the original equipment and the replacement markets. Every LuK RepSet® is 100 percent functionally tested and guaranteed to meet OEM performance specifications. The 07-202 clutch kit contains everything you need to get the job done right. The all new components in-

clude: clutch, disc, flywheel, release bearing, slave cylinder, pilot bearing, spline tool and lubricant. John McKenna, engineering manager for the Schaeffler Group USA, said, “We want LuK to be the brand of choice for clutch repair. Schaeffler is continually adding breadth of coverage for all our brands — INA, FAG and LuK — and strives to be a system solution provider to our distributors in the North American marketplace.” The 07-202 is available now. Contact your LuK distributor to place your order today. Visit www.Schaeffler-Aftermarket.us to receive the most up-to-date catalog and product information. Schaeffler Group USA Inc. is a leading partner to the automotive and commercial vehicle replacement parts markets in North America. The group, which includes the LuK, INA and FAG brands, offers a broad range of technologies for engine, transmission and chassis applications.

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Another Solution… from LuK, the world’s leading OE clutch manufacturer!

counterman.com 39

EEPING IT SIMPLE By Gerald Wheelus

Work Ethic Can Be Taught he definition of “work ethic” has not changed much over the course of the past 90 years. Work ethic is part of our history. A strong work ethic is easily spotted. And while some people don’t have it, the good news is it can be taught. Some of us learn it by putting hay out at 4:30 a.m. every morning in the cold at the age of 10. Some learn it by saying, “I want a job and don’t care what it is as long as it is not bailing hay in the 105-degree June heat of Texas.” Maybe it is a combination of both. Either way, work ethic is not natural; sometimes, it has to be drilled into us. Many times when looking around three to five different stores within a group of 10, it is apparent who had to earn it and who had it given to them. Folks do not inherently set out to do a bad job. I honestly believe that. However, folks come to our little “parts world” and find that we do not have it as easy as they think. That in turn translates to: “I took an $8-an-hour job and you really expect all that of me?” That is the attitude that sets the winners and losers apart. Here’s a good question:

T A strong work ethic is easily spotted. And while some people don’t have it, the good news is it can be taught.

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Gerald Wheelus is general manager of Edgewood Auto Parts, Edgewood, Texas.

January 2013 | Counterman

“Do you really think that is all you will ever make working for this company if you prove your place?” Part of the problem is that too often too many are sitting around watching another person do what is “not my job; it’s theirs!” The best example is when you have a longterm employee who feels they’ve paid their dues and “deserves” the opportunity and the new employee who feels they have to “earn” theirs. Here you have two opposite ends of the stick. One has become comfortable and the other is striving to be that next store manager or get the pay raise they deserve. Again, “I took an $8an-hour-job and you really expect all that of me?” Work Ethic — the Gerald Version: Take the job at hand for what it is worth. You took the job, do it to the best of your ability. If that is not recognized, then point it out to whomever needs to know. Even when you know you are doing your supervisor’s job for them, let it ride. The truth will come out sooner or later. CM

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OUNTER-TECH By Mandy Aguilar

Counter-Tech: Don’t hide — the online identity based economy is here We have all decided to drop the façade, step in front of our pseudonyms and proclaim our true selves daily on Facebook, Twitter and blogs.

Mandy Aguilar is a regional vice president for Jacksonville, Fla.-based The Parts House.

he Web has become social, we all know it. Just eight years ago, Facebook was nothing but an embryonic idea in a single sophomore brain at a dorm in Harvard. Today, it boasts 1 billion users. How do you archive such exponential growth? Clearly, having the “vision” is key; however, this was not a single man’s accomplishment. The power of the network, and more to the point, the power of a network of people, helped Facebook’s creator, Mark Zuckerberg, revolutionize the Web. Oftentimes tech vision alone cannot overcome human reality. Marc Andreessen is indeed a man of vision and little has escaped him in the new tech world order. An über tech venture capitalist and creator of Mosaic (the first Web browser and precursor to Netscape), Andreessen was asked about not having a social component in that first browser. Way back then, the Web was ruled by anonymity; hard to believe, this was less than a decade before Marc Zuckerberg first thought of Face-anything in Cambridge. Adding any sort of social component to a browser could compromise the user’s identity, so this created deep concerns for Mosaic’s creators. Thus, their social vision was purposely sent to the bench to allow anonymity to play the lead role in those early days of the Web. How many of you remember your first Web pseudonyms? This was a thrilling new angle the Web brought to our lives. You no longer had to be plain old John, Mary or Mandy; you could recreate yourself on the web as MustangTuner, purrKitty14 or TrekCapt1981. Back then, our AOL or CompuServe usernames became our Web personas; allowing us to freely to roam the Web in chat rooms and bulletin boards without being recognized. Before any of

January 2013 | Counterman

this, pseudonyms were the refuge of covert action in history and literature in America: Publius secretly gave us the country’s framework in the Federalist Papers and Mark Twain still makes us wonders centuries later, if Mr. Clemens actually penned all those stories by himself ... Today, we are different, as if by collective instant-dogma we decided to change (John Lennon would be mad; we’ve gone from instant-karma to instant-dogma in a generation). We have all decided to drop the façade, step in front of our pseudonyms and proclaim our true selves daily on Facebook, Twitter and blogs. We post our names, our pictures and our thoughts out there daily, or even by the hour like so many Twitter-philes do. Not only have we stepped out of the latent shadows of Websecrecy, we have brought our businesses with us. Our companies are now very public signposts on the information highway. Why have we collectively agreed to do this? Publicity perhaps? I’m certain this is a big part of it. The trick for us is in figuring out what to do with this newfound publicity. As business owners, we want to turn this publicity into more business; however, that’s easier said than done! Managing social sites in an efficient manner is no easy task. Starting a Facebook page is easy; turning that presence into more filter, harmonic balancer and coil sales is not. Coming up with a plan to leverage social media has spurred some interesting, complex and, oftentimes, passionate arguments in our company. I know we are not alone in this; similar debates are raging across the business world. I have put myself squarely in the middle of this debate, not only in my business, but out here on the public stage as well. At times, this makes me a target for the op-

posing view; you know, the one that subscribes to hiding your company from Web users — also known as customers. Turns out not everyone is ready to assimilate social media and have retreated behind a wall of privacy concerns. And guess what? Many of them are right with regard to privacy issues. “Guts and all” is not the best strategy for your company’s Web presence, but hiding in a brick and mortar cave is perhaps even more dangerous. We all need to figure a way to drop the vestiges of the pseudonym era and let our customers find and engage us on the Web. Most customers already dropped their fake Web-IDs and are ready to engage us online on a new identity-based economy. Are you ready to identify yourself? This is terra incognita for all of us, you are not alone in that. We just bolted out of the starting gate, so I say hurry up and get social before your customers start “socializing” with other companies. Learn by your online mistakes (just like in the real

world) and collaborate with as many people as you can. This perhaps is the biggest lesson I have learned in social marketing: There is power in a group. The tech-intelligentsia will evoke Reed’s law again and again on this, which asserts that “the value of a network increases dramatically when people form subgroups for collaboration and sharing.” Simply put, what MIT’s computer scientist David P. Reed tried to capture is the notion that the usefulness of social networks will scale exponentially with the size of the network. Now think about that concept, exponentially scaling up your customers. Tell me you don’t like the sound of that! Our customers, vendors and competitors are all in a mad dash to form groups, subgroups and online communities to flesh out a way to make sense of the social media opportunities now present in our businesses. Join the crowd and make sure you don’t leave your company behind a pseudonym. CM

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Visit Mandy’s blog: www.mandyaguilar.com

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NEWS EXTRA

Polk Now Accepting Applications For The 2013 Polk Inventory Efficiency Award All automotive aftermarket companies including manufacturers, retailers and distributors are eligible to apply for consideration.

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – This marks the ninth year Polk will recognize and reward outstanding process improvements relative to inventory or supply chain efficiency in the automotive aftermarket. All automotive aftermarket companies including manufacturers, retailers and distributors are eligible to apply for consideration. Past winners include: ● Affinia Group ● Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance ● Automotive Parts Headquarters ● Dayco Products ● Federal-Mogul ● Gates Corp. ● Hastings Manufacturing Co. ● NAPA Auto Parts ● O’Reilly Auto Parts ● Parts Depot Inc. ● Tenneco ● The Timken Co. ● Uni-Select ● Veyance Technologies Winners will be announced during the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium May 21-22 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare near Chicago, Ill. To apply, visit www.polk.com/iea-app. The submission deadline is Feb.

January 2013 | Counterman

25, 2013.

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counterman.com 47

ROM THE PUBLISHER By S. Scott Shriber

2013: Here we go… ell, the New Year is upon us and if you have read previous year-end columns, you know how I feel about planning for the upcoming year. I am sure you have all done your planning and are working at attaining the goals you have set for yourselves and your businesses. That is no small task in of itself, and if you have already done it, my hat is off to you. If not, there is still time to look at what you want to do and make a plan. As the ad says, “Just Do It!” In the publishing business, it is imperative that we are planned out a year in advance. That gives us the ability to have the best editorial and stories available for you from the most knowledgeable sources. Of course, we also need the ability to add in pertinent stories on issues that crop up throughout the year. We all know in this business and economy there will be lots of changes and hot topics during the year. You can count on Counterman to be on the scene and have the most up-to-date info to help you assist your customers. That’s why we have someone at all major industry events. If you are looking for

W In the publishing business, it is imperative that we are planned out a year in advance. That gives us the ability to have the best editorial and stories available for you from the most knowledgeable sources.

current information just visit us on the Web at Counterman.com or sign up for our twice-weekly newsletter. Additionally, all previous content from our past editions is available for free on the website. We feel it is our job to be the best resource possible for our readers. We are dedicated to constantly bring you the latest products, procedures and trends in our industry. This year, we have a jam-packed editorial lineup, covering everything to help you better serve your customers. Technical articles on subjects like belts, brake pads, O2 sensors and everything in between. If you need to know about it, you can count on us to have the information you need. Whether you are a single-store owner or part of a multi-store chain, you will find relevant and productive information on our pages. However you choose to get your information — magazine, web or newsletter — we have you covered. If you have a particular subject you would like to read more about, just drop Mark or I a note and we can research it for a future article. Thanks for being a loyal reader and have a great 2013. CM

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Drop us a line S. Scott Shriber at sshriber@babcox.com Mark Phillips at mphillips@babcox.com

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