With the end of spring breathing new life into summer, it seems only fitting Australian Car Mechanic should experience a similar rebirth.
Welcome readers to the first edition under new ownership with exciting roads ahead for the magazine.
Formerly owned by the Mayne Media Group, Australian Car Mechanic is one of many titles recently acquired by Prime Creative Media – the nation's largest and fastest growing B2B publication platform.
You’ll notice some slight changes here and there, but the magazine’s goal of giving readers insights into the top equipment and stories shaping the motor industry will remain at its heart.
But what’s the holiday period without a buying list of things you want to spruce up your workshop for summer?
As you would have seen on the cover, we have an extensive feature on Warren and Brown Tools; a company deeply rooted in Australian mechanics for more than 100 years.
Their wrenches know no equal when it comes to longevity, I’d be shocked if you, the reader hadn’t been the owner of one WBT item or another at some point.
Contributing writer Jamie Gray is back at it again with his Tool Tests.
With Rodney and Andrew from Superior Auto Sports, he had plenty of fun playing about with JBS’ whopping 69-piece socket
and 14-piece spanner sets and their handiness for a plethora of applications.
Things get even hotter when Jamie looks at Hot Devil’s latest blow torch, as well as Arnott’s new air suspension and AEG’s 3/8" ratchet wrench skin.
There’s something intrinsically special about someone’s relationship with a Holden, particularly nowadays.
Contributing feature writer Iain Curry tells us the story of one man’s journey to re-living his ‘70s through a refurbished Torana S.
If you want to take another drive down memory lane, check out Iain’s second story, featuring mechanic Anthony Williams and his 1987 Citroen 2CV Charleston!
As usual, the team at the Institute of Automotive Mechanical Engineers (IAME) brings us valued insight into the state of the industry, particularly around the skills shortage it’s experiencing.
You might have started cranking up the AC already, depending on where in this big, beautiful country you reside.
It’s a good reminder that your, or your customer’s aircon system might be in need of a tune up, and we’ve got a few products that will have you sorted.
Karting might be a bit of weekend fun for some, but for Burson Auto Parts Superkarts racer Nick Schembri it’s in his blood.
The winner of multiple national Superkarts titles tells us his awesome story this edition, including his journey to taking his racing to the international stage.
Whether you’re new to the magazine or a faithful reader, Australian Car Mechanic will continue to entertain and inform you, so sit back relax and enjoy!
Harry Murtough - Editor ACM
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COO Christine Clancy Sales Director Bradley Buchanan Editor Harry Murtough harry.murtough@primecreative.com.au
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Australian Car Mechanic magazine is owned by Prime Creative Media and published by John Murphy. All material in Australian Car Mechanic magazine is copyright and no part may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic or mechanical including information and retrieval systems) without written permission of the publisher. The Editor welcomes contributions but reserves the right to accept or reject any material. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information, Prime Creative Media will not accept responsibility for errors or omissions or for any consequences arising from reliance on information published. The opinions expressed in Australian Car Mechanic magazine are not necessarily the opinions of, or endorsed by the publisher unless otherwise stated. © Copyright Prime Creative Media, 2022
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All articles submitted for publication become the property of the publisher. The Editor reserves the right to adjust any article to conform with the magazine format.
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Brisbane’s Automotion, owned by Andrew and Sharon Jordan, is a classic, sports and European vehicle specialist, home to a beautiful selection of cars, with iconic brands Lotus, Ferrari, Maserati and Alfa Romeo at the fore.
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For more than 100 years, Warren and Brown has been leading the charge when it comes to adjusting and gauging torque.
hether it was working out of a shed in Footscray in 1921, or leading the global tool and network industries today, Warren and Brown has been at the forefront.
Founded by William H Warren and Andrew ‘Andy’ C Brown, the company started life making tools and gear cutting before focusing on the former towards the 1930s.
Since then, you’d be hard pressed to find an Aussie garage without a WBT product.
For WBT Sales & Marketing Manager Ben Ciardullo, the company’s ability to remain competitive for so long can be pinned down to the end customer.
“Considering we have outlasted over 10 decades of innovation is something we will always be proud of,” he says.
“We are proud to be one of the last tool manufacturers in Australia. Over 100 years and still going strong.”
WBT has played a critical role in Australia’s history, manufacturing .303 ammunition during the Second World War, pioneering air pumps for respiratory illnesses between the ’50s and ’90s, and assisting in the rollout of the NBN in 2009.
In 1949, WBT became part of fellow Australian giant REPCO, expanding its scope for manufacturing to include clutch rebuilding and boring bars.
While remaining a true-blue Aussie company based in west Melbourne, WBT is an internationally known brand with offices in the Netherlands and branches across Asia, including a manufacturing arm in the Philippines.
WBT also strives to limit its environmental footprint, with the company constantly identifying ways to eliminate waste production and reduce cycle times.
Many things have changed during the century Warren and Brown has been around, but one thing that hasn’t is its torque wrench design, which has remained the same since the 1940s.
Using a deflecting beam rather than coil spring, the wrench lacks any wearing parts to maintain an unbeaten accuracy of +/-2% throughout its range.
WBT backs its wrenches to maintain pinpoint accuracy for decades after purchase!
“There are very little moving parts in our deflecting beam torque wrench. They’re easy to use, they’re extremely accurate: + or - 2%,” Ben says. “They’re durable and last forever. Seriously, it’s a problem. Once we sell one it’s difficult to sell another to that same person unless it’s a different smaller or larger torque range.
As far as setting torque goes, you can find no better than WBT’s plethora of screen micrometer, micrometer, preset, dial type, deflecting beam, wheel and interchangeable head wrenches.
“We recently exhibited at the Motorclassica show here in Melbourne and we had a good 100 or so people saying, ‘I’ve had one of your torque wrenches for over 40 years and it’s still going strong’,” Ben says. “And there’s a countless amount of folks who have rebuilt their own cars from scratch with Warren and Brown tools.”
If you want a torque or angle wrench that can do it all, look no further than WBT’s extensive selection of digital wrenches.
The simple layout of the tools makes it easy for anyone to set the wrench to the desired force and they are perfect for the automotive, motorcycle, marine, aircraft and light-industrial industries.
As well as an angle value readout, the wrenches can give torque measurements in ft.lbs., in.lbs., Nm or kg.cm.
As if WBT’s bevy of torque tools wasn’t enough, it also has an extensive selection of wheel torque socket and extension bars that can fit into the tightest of spaces to ensure the vehicle is good to go.
Ben says outside WBT’s iconic beam torque wrenches, the company’s scope soldering irons were its other marquee item.
Irons range between 25-800W and come in Robinson and scope models as well as gas soldering equipment and soldering stations or guns.
In short: whatever soldering tool you need, WBT has it.
Its torque wrenches might be the cream of the crop, but WBT doesn’t fall short for regular wrenches and spanners either.
They can come in sets if you make all manner of adjustments in your work, or individually if you need an accurate tool for a specific job.
But WBT’s commitment to tool excellence doesn’t end with 100s of wrenches and a variety of soldering equipment to suit your needs, with the company also boasting a fine collection of hand tools.
WBT has a fine collection of pliers including long nose and removals, as well as other industrial-strength cutters.
With specialised tools comes specialised staff in the team at WBT, whose expertise will provide you with peace of mind as you select the tools you need.
If you require everyday items for your workshop, WBT has you covered with its own array of equipment including ratchets, cooling sealers and pressure testers, among other top-quality items.
WBT’s products aren’t just limited to tools, with the company commanding the technological equipment landscape with its network arm as well. “We are at the forefront of ICT solutions,” Ben says.
“We provide customer-centric solutions, providing to the likes of Telstra, NBN and Aussie broadband for well over a decade.
“We certainly continue to innovate via the telecommunications side of the business.
“We have expanded into data centres in recent years also.”
Helping to keep WBT ahead of the competition in this space is its ability to 3D print prototypes to expedite the production of the real thing.
One thing that’s remained consistent during WBT’s existence is its focus on customer-driven design and manufacturing.
Whether you’re needing industry-leading torque equipment, superior soldering or top-notch networking gear, distributors are located country-wide and are well-stocked to ensure you have the tools you require as soon as possible.
You can find your nearest outlet for WBT products here.
You can browse the many hundreds of tools and networking equipment offered by WBT at wbtools.com.au. ACM
“WE ARE PROUD TO BE ONE OF THE LAST TOOL MANUFACTURERS IN AUSTRALIA. OVER 100 YEARS AND STILL GOING STRONG.”
As trades people, our general technical learning is a combination of specialty learning, perhaps from the workshop where you are employed and an RTO, such as TAFE or other, that is working with a series of competencies to give you a breadth of knowledge around the division that you work – i.e. motor mechanic, heavy diesel, collision repair, motorcycle etc. This general knowledge equates us to that of your local health professional or doctor. Generally, we have a broad brushed knowledge that allows us to carry out general service and repairs on a multitude of vehicles. For many years this general knowledge separated us from the backyarder.
Unfortunately, today, this breadth of knowledge is becoming a little irrelevant when system is becoming more technology based and intermate knowledge of repair is required for efficiency, thus profitability. Recently, I have heard of a lot of cases where people are tackling jobs and falling short of a correct diagnosis or a repair at
the right price to the consumer. When we don’t know exactly what to do, we get the correct result, but with a trial-and-error method. This adds labor time and perhaps unnecessary parts to a consumer’s bill and with higher rates of consumer awareness
about rights, you the practitioner wind up having this debate with a Consumer Protection or Office of Fair Trading officer.
If I can go back to my analogy of the health care professional, they have a raft of specialised services that can either help in the diagnosis or the actual curing of your complaint, at their fingertips.
They are only too ready to write you a referral to one of these specialist areas and we, as automotive practitioners, should take a lesson in this. If the repair on a motor vehicle requires a repair that is outside of our normal scope of knowledge, we should be prepared to engage a specialist in assisting either the diagnostics or indeed the repair of this car.
A mark-up on the sublet cost is a far smoother way to profitability as you can turn your hands to carryout repairs and maintenance on another consumers vehicle that you know so well.
I refer to repairs such as ADAS recalibration, automatic transmission faults and auto electrical diagnostics. We
This edition centers around business efficiencies and profit, not to mention workplace health and safety.
need to always learn, but please pick and choose the jobs that you may be able to gain better knowledge on and not just treat every sublet as a massive loss of base revenue to yourself.
I mentioned WH&S which is where we must make sure that the cars that we hand back to the public are in proper working order as the controls today are relied on by so many consumers and, if they fail or are not calibrated correctly, the consequences could be horrific. A young P-plater told me there was no reason to look over their shoulder whilst driving to check if anything may be in a blind spot because the car has blind spot detection. They asked why the driving instructor wanted them to doublecheck before changing lanes or pulling out from a curb because the car of today does it all for you. Imagine the consequence if that system was incorrectly calibrated or failed.
Consumer confidence is delivered around communication and, I mentioned this in previous articles, with talking to repairers, they are gaining the knowledge that a consumer likes to be well informed. I mentioned this to one of our Business Services members recently and quoted “a picture says a thousand words” and asked the questions: “As a consumer walks into your business, what does that picture communicate to them?” Answer: “I was told that our shop looks horrible.” That conveys
a very poor message to the consumer. Over the last few days whilst visiting workshops
I put myself in the position of a consumer and took in what I was seeing. The same picture was conveyed to me with three out of three workshops. The following words came to mind; messy, disjointed, unkept, disorganised, the list goes on…
This may be your normal work environment and you may know where everything is placed but to a consumer looking in, it sends the wrong message about how you may treat their motor vehicle when in for service. This does not give the consumer confidence about the accuracy of the bill if they believe that labor spent was more about your inefficiencies or organization than active, productive time on their vehicle. This picture may also suggest that if you do not care to keep your workshop in an orderly fashion, how much do you really care about the consumer’s vehicle? There is no doubt that the large franchise groups go out of their way to portray an image of cleanliness and functionality, we all should copy that example.
In each edition I talk about EVs and changes in the industry and I do need to remind all that our shortages in the workforce have been brought about by the terms such as “grease monkey” or the dangers that may lurk within the collision repair industry. Times are changing. We can now start to attract a different group
of individuals to our industry as computer technologies infiltrate the motor vehicle and WH&S has completely changed the collision repair industry.
We need to utilise our younger apprentices and influence them to talk to their younger peers about our evolving industry. No longer are the words from a 50-year-old business owner relevant or enticing to a younger member to come to our industry, whereas our younger team can talk to potential new employees and talk about the exciting developments and technological advancements that might start to attract a whole new gambit of potential practitioners. The IAME continues to support Apprenticeships Are Us which I mentioned in the last edition. We need to use specialists in the recruitment side of our business. Please don’t hesitate to contact them.
For further information please call (02) 9891 6900, visit www.iame.com.au or www.facebook.com/iame.online ACM
Not too many people can profess to be a multiple national motorsport Champion by the age of 20, but Burson Auto Parts Superkarts racer Nick Schembri can.
Nick came to the attention of Australia’s preferred trade supplier of parts, tools, equipment and accessories when he won the Burson Auto Parts Motorsport Australia Rising Star Award in 2019, but his story starts quite a way before that.
The Burson Auto Parts ambassador started racing sprint karts at club level at ten years of age, then progressing to state and national levels. This saw the young racer hone his racecraft skills to win several local, state and national races along with titles events.
At 14 years of age Nick stepped into his first racing car, a Formula Ford, competing in the Victorian championship along with selected national rounds. On reflection, this was probably a bit too young to make this progression and while he did consider making the move to the Formula 4 championship, the decision was made to return to karting, taking the next step up to Superkarts in 2017.
This proved to be the right decision as Nick became the 2018 125cc Victorian and Australian Superkart Champion simultaneously, a feat that earned him the Burson Auto Parts Motorsport Australia Rising Star award.
Nick then set his sights on competing internationally, finishing a superb second at the 2019 British 125cc Superkarts Grand Prix. What makes this achievement even more impressive is the fact that he was the youngest competitor taking part at just 16 years of age.
According to the Burson racer, after trying many sports, the challenge of pushing himself to the absolute limit was what made him become a Superkart racer.
“I had played many sports and enjoyed them as a kid, but nothing compared to the individual challenge of racing Superkarts. Once you are out on the track you are completely on your own and you have to push yourself harder and harder, lap after lap. It’s a challenge that I have always
loved about the sport,” Nick said.
“I’d really like to continue winning Australian Superkart championships all the way up to 250cc level and then race against the best in the world in the European championships, so there is a lot more that I want to achieve,” he added.
Along with his Superkart ambitions, Nick also likes the idea of taking part in some GT endurance races as a co-driver at events like the Bathurst 12 Hour and other local and international races, while also interested in the Supercars driver development category, Super2.
With the 2022 125ccc Gearbox Australian Superkart Championship added to Nick’s impressive trophy cabinet following yet another dominant performance at Victoria’s Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in August, this Burson Auto Parts racer is one to watch into the future.
For more information visit ww.burson.com.au ACM
“I’D REALLY LIKE TO CONTINUE WINNING AUSTRALIAN SUPERKART CHAMPIONSHIPS ALL THE WAY UP TO 250CC LEVEL.”
Compared to older technology diesel fuel systems, the common rail diesel suffers more from fuel quality issues due to their precision, highperformance engines, high fuel pressures and high operating temperatures than ever before and are unforgiving when it comes to any type of fuel contamination. Even a very small amount of water or particles may wreck the main components such as pumps, injectors, and rails in a fuel system. They’re often non-repairable and can cause catastrophic damage to your diesel vehicle.
With diesel fuel contamination being one of the biggest issues that vehicle owners seem to have to deal with – and being a very expensive issue to resolve, this has become a focus for Responsive Engineering. Their three main products are the Diesel Water Watch, a unique and sophisticated water trap with an alarm system, designed to detect water in the diesel fuel system, Diesel Fill – which prevents miss-fuelling and Responsive Diesel Fuel lubricant and conditioner.
Diesel Water Watch is an Australian invention that was designed specifically for Common Rail Diesel vehicles where it can effectively detect and remove dispersed and free water at high flow rates from the fuel. While most units are sold for 4WD and light commercial vehicles, Diesel Water Watch units can be found on diesel fuel systems used in marine, commercial and industrial applications as well.
The most important feature of the Diesel Water Watch is that it causes no restriction in high-pressure Common Rail fuel systems – unlike the addition of aftermarket filters. And Diesel Water Watch is proudly registered as a “Made in Australia” product.
While Diesel Water Watch will remove and hold most contaminants found in the fuel, Diesel Water Watch is only set to alarm when water is found. For this reason, the Diesel Water Watch has a clear bowl allowing you to monitor your fuel quality and enable you to empty out
the contaminants trapped in the bowl. It is important to keep in mind that, while fuel filters on modern vehicles are very sophisticated, they are primarily designed to remove particles and they are designed to alarm when there is a restriction in the system – not when there is water in your fuel. And that is why – even in older diesel fuel systems manufacturers ran both a fuel filter and a water trap.
Most mechanically minded diesel vehicle owners have tried a variety of fuel additives, often purchased at service stations or automotive supermarkets. And justifiably, there’s always been a lot of scepticism surrounding the use of fuel and oil additives because the sales pitch and advertising on these additives often make claims that they simply don’t deliver on, leaving the vehicle owners disillusioned about their effectiveness.
Responsive Engineering is a small company based in Canberra that has spent many years designing and perfecting Australian inventions that protect diesel fuel systems in vehicles.
Common Rail Diesel engines have been developed to meet modern emission standards, and diesel fuel Sulphur has been reduced for the same reason. But low Sulphur fuel happens to compound another problem…lubricity! At a time when pumps and injectors rely even more on diesel fuel for lubrication, it has been reduced in the fuel.
Responsive Engineering has developed and produced here in Australia; a fuel additive specifically designed to keep Common Rail Diesels performing like new. The team at Responsive Engineering have designed the dispensing bottle to fit into the door pocket, so it’s always in the vehicle (not sitting in the garage at home) and the concentrated formula of 150ml will treat up to 1200 litres of fuel.
The dispersants make the water particles combine with the fuel making it less visible. Because the water particles are smaller but still in the fuel, it flows through filters and water detection units more easily – which causes the same catastrophic damage in diesel vehicles as it would have before the dispersant was used.
Responsive Fuel Additive can quieten noisy injectors, reduce emissions, and improve fuel consumption and the overall performance of your vehicle. Because it is a specialised product, it’s only available from specialised diesel repairers or direct from the manufacturer – Responsive Engineering.
The Diesel Fill physically prevents you from filling your vehicle with the wrong fuel. The prime reason for misfuelling is that the diesel pump filler nozzle is larger than the petrol nozzle. So, any sized nozzle or any form of filler can be inserted into the filler neck of your diesel vehicle.
Diesel Fill’s locking system will only open when a diesel filler nozzle is inserted. This nozzle has the exact dimensions that will unlock Diesel Fill. Diesel Fill prevents any access to the fuel tank either to put fuel in or out without the correct nozzle providing extra security, but with the special locking tool provided with the fuel cap system, the Diesel Fill can be quickly and easily removed or replaced should the need arise. Responsive Engineering has designed Diesel Fill’s cap to be a low profile to match the original fuel cap found on the vehicle, ensuring that the fuel filler door will close without obstruction.
Unlike many similar products available – Diesel Fill has been thoroughly tested to ensure that the materials used cannot cause spark or flame, it is robust to ensure long-term durability and that the design fits and operates correctly on as many vehicles as possible found in the Australian Market.
Responsive Diesel Fuel Lubricant and Conditioner protects your diesel fuel system by coating the components with a powerful nanoparticle lubricant providing an anticorrosion barrier to water and particles while lubricating moving parts protecting diesel fuel pumps, injectors, and all fuel system components. It also has an anti-bacterial biocide in the formula to protect the whole fuel system from microbial growth.
Responsive Fuel Additive does not contain hygroscopic dispersants which are often found in fuel lubricants, especially the ones that claim they chemically remove water – which is not possible.
For more information on Diesel Water Watch visit www.waterindiesel.com.au. To find out all about their full range of products, call Responsive Engineering on (02) 6280 4334 or email sales@responsiveengineering.com.au
Xtreme Clutch is well known for being quick to market with the latest clutch upgrades for high performance vehicles and have been progressively adding to their range of upgrades for the GR Yaris since mid-2021. The brand, which is a part of the Australian Clutch Services group of brands, now has a kit to suit all levels of performance.
Xtreme Clutch initially launched a singlemass flywheel conversion kit for the vehicle at SEMA show 2021. This kit includes a custom-made single mass flywheel, lightweight alloy pressure plate and is available with either a sprung organic or sprung ceramic friction disc. Xtreme Clutch says this kit is ideal for very high-powered street cars or motorsport applications.
“The single-mass flywheel conversion kit is ideally aimed at vehicles that have had significant performance modifications or are being used in motorsport applications such as circuit racing or tarmac rallying,” explains Stewart Furze, Australian Clutch Services Mechanical Engineer.
Xtreme Clutch recently added to the range with an upgrade designed to utilise
the factory dual-mass flywheel. This kit includes a custom 240mm alloy pressure plate designed specifically to bolt to the factory style dual-mass flywheel. This kit offers almost OE levels of dampening for minimal noise and vibration changes, but increases the torque capacity of the clutch to 560Nm, making it ideal for lightly modified street cars.
“The new dual-mass flywheel kit is the ultimate solution for daily driven vehicles that have been modified,” explains Stewart.
“We only look to develop performance upgrades for dual-mass flywheels in very specific vehicles where we require that extra level of dampening. As it turns out, the GR Yaris was the ideal platform to develop this upgrade and we have tested it in-house with one of our vehicles and have seen fantastic driving characteristics and performance.”
The dual-mass flywheel kit is available with a rigid organic friction disc and is also available with a replacement dual-mass flywheel if required.
The final kit in the range is a 184mm twin plate racing clutch designed specifically for motorsport applications that
require a very high torque capacity, but also minimal rotational inertia to improve throttle response. This kit comes with a lightweight alloy pressure plate, 4140 chromoly flywheel and two sprung ceramic friction discs.
Xtreme Clutch also offers service kits for this clutch assembly that can be used to rebuild the kit when it gets to the end of its normal service life, ideal for motorsport applications where higher wear rates are experienced. The service kit comes with replacement friction discs, intermediate plate and main casting, meaning the clutch can be rebuilt by simply resurfacing the flywheel and replacing the internal sacrificial components.
All of the kits in the range include a variety of options to incorporate concentric slave cylinder, flywheel bolts, pressure plate bolts and alignment tool to ensure ease of installation and long-term durability.
For more information on the range of Xtreme Clutch performance upgrades, please visit www.xtremeclutch.com.au or www.australianclutch.com.au
A new range of performance upgrade clutch kits to suit the Toyota GR Yaris have hit the market and are ideal for everything from daily driven vehicles with minor performance modifications, all the way through to purpose-built motorsport applications.
developed for optimal performance under the respective conditions, the all-new EV friction composition accounts for the lower operating temperatures whilst delivering maximum stopping power.
Electric & Hybrid Vehicles are quiet, so the demands placed on the materials from a comfort perspective are even higher than for conventional vehicles. The new friction material and shim for Electric & Hybrid Vehicles is an evolution up from any existing designs, allowing for extra noise and vibration reduction.
The Street Series EV ceramic friction material has low dust (low particle emissions) and is copper-free, ensuring cleaner wheels, longer brake rotor life and a greener, environmentally friendly product. It is ‘N’ rated by the NSFI and has passed the AMECA certification, backing DBA’s commitment to minimising environmental impact and meeting strict US copper content requirements due to be introduced in full by 2025.
Offering the right product for the application has guided Disc Brakes Australia’s product strategy for many decades. Developing a brake pad that is specifically designed for the growing population of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles on Australian roads is therefore the next logical step in DBA’s long history of product innovations.
With the current acceleration in the take up of Electric & Hybrid Vehicles (EVs) over the coming years, DBA has taken up the challenge to develop a new brake pad with materials specifically catering to this growing market segment – the Street Series EV range.
Government legislation in international markets such as the US, Europe and China will see a phasing out of combustion engines over the coming decades.
Electric & Hybrid Vehicles have slightly different braking requirements, necessitating a change of friction material from the current offering. EVs primarily use engine braking, where the vehicle slows down when the accelerator pedal is released. This engages an alternator, which is used
to generate energy that is fed back into the vehicle’s battery pack, a process known as regenerative braking.
At low speed, the regenerative braking does not engage as efficiently and is reliant on the traditional brake system. At the same time, the weight of Electric & Hybrid Vehicles in comparison to conventional vehicles of the same size is substantially higher, resulting in the requirement for more stopping power. Changing to a higher friction co-efficient addresses this requirement. DBA engineers have opted for a friction co-efficient approx. 10 per cent higher (SAEJ522 Dyno-tested) compared with the company’s Street Series pads to produce optimal friction at low speeds.
Secondly, with regenerative braking responsible for most of the retardation of the vehicle, the conventional brakes on an EV operate less frequently and work less hard than that of a ICE vehicle, resulting in lower average operating temperatures and potential residual contamination on the brakes rotors. With all DBA friction material
DBA’s Street Series EV brake pads range features a unique, silver label design for ease of identification. Both the label and the backing plate feature DBA’s unique, trademarked EV logo, giving you the peace of mind you’re buying the best product on the market.
The new EV & Hybrid Vehicle Street Series brake pads are part of DBA’s comprehensive range of over 1,300 SKUs of brake pads, ensuring you always have the right pad for the application.
New Street Series (EV) - Product features in a nutshell
• Silver titanium stripe improves the initial friction co-efficient during bedding in period
• Ceramic, copper-free (NSFI rated) formulation with AMECA certification, backing DBA’s commitment to minimising environmental impact
• OE-style, post-cured process for optimal braking performance over the pad life
• Delivers on safety, low noise, wear resistance and environmental protection as the standards for DBA's approach to development of new products
• Passes the US City Traffic Noise and Wear Test, due to superior noisereduction attributes
• Contains hardware and wear sensors where applicable
For further info visit dba.com.au or call DBA Customer Service on 1800 730 039.
On vehicles fitted with disc brakes, calipers play a crucial role within the braking system, using their hydraulic muscle to squeeze the brake pads against the rotors to safely bring the car, truck or motorbike to a standstill.
Despite their important function, brake calipers can sometimes be overlooked, only coming to the attention of the owner or service technician if they notice that their brakes aren’t performing as they should. Because of where calipers are located on the vehicle, they operate in extremely tough conditions being exposed to dirt, road grime, water and even mud – they must also endure high temperature variables.
Given these demanding operating parameters, it makes sense that they should be closely inspected at the same time as brake pads and rotors are checked or replaced.
Savvy technicians may even be able to identify poorly performing calipers by inspecting the brake pads. Uneven wear (inner to outer) can potentially be caused by a caliper problem, as can uneven wear across the pad face.
Calipers are made up of many components including a piston(s), seals, dust boots, locking bolts, slide pins and mounting brackets – several of these are moving parts which can make them susceptible to seizing or failure.
One of the first components to inspect if there’s an issue with a caliper, or as part of caliper servicing, are the slide pins. Even though there’s a protective rubber covering
the slide pins they’re still exposed to brake dust build-up and corrosion, which will hinder the calipers from sliding properly.
If the slide pins don’t move freely, they should be removed, cleaned with a wire brush or sandpaper to get rid of any debris, grease and corrosion, and then a heat resistant lubricant such as Bendix Ceramasil should be applied before refitting.
Sticking pistons can also lead to problems in calipers. This can be caused by corrosion in the piston bore or the piston itself. If the piston sticks it may not apply enough pressure to the brake pads to safely bring the vehicle to a stop. Alternatively, if the piston sticks when retracted, it can cause brake drag and pull the vehicle to one side, while also leading to premature brake pad and rotor wear.
Depending on the type of caliper, corrosion inside the piston bore can be cleaned or honed (cast iron calipers), allowing the piston to again move freely. Unfortunately, the same process can’t be
Most drivers accept that brake pads, brake shoes, disc brake rotors and brake drums are ‘wear and tear’ items that will need periodic replacing, but what about brake calipers?
IT NECESSARY?
used with aluminium calipers, as sanding will remove the protective anodised coating inside the bore, which ultimately will cause even more corrosion.
If any corrosion is evident on the pistons themselves, these should be replaced. Steel pistons feature an anti-corrosive coating while aluminium variants have an anodised coating. If these coatings are abrasively cleaned, the coating will be compromised and the corrosion will return.
Other potential wear items are the synthetic rubber caliper piston seals and dust covers. While they provide a good level of protection, they are unlikely to last the life of the vehicle, becoming hard and brittle over time and after long-term exposure to heat. Once brittle, the seals and dust covers will crack, letting in debris and moisture while also losing ability to hold pressure in the case of the seal, which could result in a brake fluid leak.
Given the potential problems that can arise within brake calipers, it pays to inspect them during vehicle servicing – this provides the opportunity to address any maintenance concerns before bigger issues occur.
For more information free call the Bendix Brake Advice Centre on 1800 819 666 or +61 3 5327 0211 from overseas (8am-5pm Monday to Friday AEST). Alternatively, e-mail the Bendix team at brakeadvicecentre@bendix.com.au or visit www.bendix.com.au ACM
Bapcor is excited to announce their Naming Rights sponsorship with Simon Christie’s 4WD ProTips for season 4 for their brands – Direction Plus, Protex and REMCO.
Simon Christie is no stranger to Bapcor and has been working with Roadsafe for the past couple of years as sponsor of his show – “Life Off Road”.
“It made sense for us to reach out to Simon when we were considering expanding our presence in the 4WD market,” says Sarah Cartlidge – Bapcor Specialist Group Manager – Brands.
Bapcor looks forward to building these brands with Simon and his audience by providing industry and product knowledge within their specialist areas of 4X4 diesel protection, batteries, and brakes.
4WD ProTips is a weekly half-hour program that aims to help viewers get the most from their vehicles and adventures. “This is a great opportunity for our brands to be featured on Simon’s show, he has been in the industry for over 18 years”, says Sarah.
“The show is designed for beginners and intermediate 4x4 drivers with a focus
on education. It’s all about how to set up your vehicle. Which products to select, how to fit and to operate them, where you can take your rig and how to get the most from it.” Creator and presenter of 4WD ProTips
Simon Christie continues: “You’ll pick up a lot from our program each week including
updates and news on local events, special offers, giveaways, and prizes plus regular features like the Your Rig segment”.
The series kicked off Monday, October 10th at 7.30 pm on Foxtel (channel 137) with key episodes featuring Protex, Direction Plus, and REMCO during the season.
Direction Plus filming
in
To find out more visit www.protexparts.com.au, www.directionplus.com.au and remcoenergy.com.au/where-to-buy-/ ACM
We have both the JBS 69-Piece Socket Set and 14-Piece Spanner Set for this test drive. Both these sets have proven industrial performance and have been built to provide lifelong, reliable use in busy workshop conditions. For our testing, we have paid our good mates Rodney and Andrew from Superior Auto Sports in Mona Vale another visit.
They have been using the JBS tools to rip into some client servicing and repairs to give us valuable feedback on their experience with these tools. Andrew and Rodney service regular vehicles as well as building and servicing a wide range of engines for various private race teams, from modern to historic race cars.
The rigours and demands placed on workshop hand tools are nothing short of extreme. Socket sets and spanners, in particular, need to be built to meet and exceed these harsh conditions. That’s why JBS has invested in the maximum construction and design quality for their tools and sets for workshop mechanics and technicians.
This solid 69-piece Socket Set has a long list of features that combine to make this kit a real asset to any workshop. The sockets and accessories are manufactured from chrome-vanadium steel and are fully polished. They don’t just look the goods, but you can feel their design and construction quality. They meet the hardness and torque requirements (BS4006 and ASME B107.1.2002 and ASME B107.5M.2002), and to keep these babies safe and together (sixes ranging from 4mm up to 19mm), the set is supplied in a steel case.
The kit includes ¼", 3/8" and ½" DriveMetric and A/F. Chatting with Andrew from Superior about how this kit performed, he shared, “I’ve got to say I have enjoyed using this socket set. The ergonomics and shape of the grips, the crisp click of the quick-release rachet, and overall quality and strength of the chrome-vanadium steel make this a real workshop-worthy investment.”
Andrew continued, “We have and still do own JBS hand tools in our workshop, and they have lasted extremely well over the years. You can really swing off these tools when required, and they stay true and strong. They survive drops and knocks and just keep on performing.”
This set includes 14 Combination Ring and Open-End Spanners ranging in size from 6mm up to 19mm. Again, they are manufactured from polished chromevanadium steel so you can trust this spanner set’s strength and longevity and the are supplied in a nylon pouch clearly
labelled with spanner sizes keeping this set well-organised and safely secured will be a breeze. The combination of the metric open end makes them a quick and reliable option for a massive range of tasks.
Asking Andrew about his experience with the 14-piece spanner set, he shared: “Using these spanners to load up and really tighten nuts is excellent. I have been using them also after I have used batterypowered torque wrenches. This shows how much strength and load you can apply
to these spanners. It doesn’t matter how advanced power tools get, every mechanic or technician will always still need a top quality spanner and socket set.”
Investing in top-quality hand tools like these JBS products is something that once you do, if you take good care of your tools, you should only have to do once in a lifetime. Knowing that JBS has invested in the maximum quality should give most customers confidence that JBS has your back with these industrial, tried and tested tools. The steel case and nylon pouch are also welcomed inclusions that should keep your tools well-homed for decades to come. You got to be happy with that!
“YOU CAN REALLY SWING OFF THESE TOOLS WHEN REQUIRED, AND THEY STAY TRUE AND STRONG. THEY SURVIVE DROPS AND KNOCKS AND JUST KEEP ON PERFORMING.”
Hot Devil’s new ‘3 in 1 Blow Torch and Soldering Iron’ is another innovative product designed for multi-faceted use, with its adjustable head with eight different angles across a 90-degree range – making it the perfectsized tool to be able to position in tight areas around engine bays and battery compartments. It’s also quick and easy to fill with Hot Devil’s quality Butane Gas
cylinder.
Ignition of the torch couldn’t be easier or safer with a single red switch and trigger squeeze to get things fired up. This dual process stops accidental ignitions. To extinguish the flame, simply release the same red ignition switch. A solid stand (and removable) foot at the base of the torch allows for stable and secure use of the torch on tables and work benches, allowing you to hold and position your work around the self-standing torch.
To use the torch as a soldering iron, simply unscrew the torch head (when cool) and insert the soldering tip. Repeating the same process to ignite the soldering iron will have you working on your detailed soldering jobs and electrical work.
The safety function on the ignition trigger is well-positioned and will do a great job of stopping accidental ignitions and wasted gas. The actual process of the ignition was easy and fast. Adam shared, “This van is typical of the types of fitouts I can do on vans. Today we have soldered lighting cables, USB cables and heavier-duty battery connections. The
soldering iron heated up quickly and reached a perfect temperature (400°C) for these connections. The adjustable head and removable base allowed me to comfortably hold the tool in my hand to position the torch in the perfect position or stand the tool on the bench or floor, without fear of it falling over and burning someone’s new carpet or floor. The heat is also perfect with the side adjustment for various-sized wires and cables.”
refill
For tradies like auto electrician Adam Cummings, owner of ‘On the Road Auto’, his days are filled with soldering and heat-shrinking wires and cables on customer's fit-out vans.
So, when we brought down Hot Devil’s new 3 in 1 Blow Torch and Soldering Iron, Adam could see the value and advantage of using this versatile product from the get-go.
The 1300°C burn temp on the torch makes it perfect for a wide range of uses from plastic and metal tubing, heat shrinking, loosening nuts and bolts to electrical and plumbing work. Adam was working on a van with about half a dozen wires that needed to be heat shrunk after his soldering was complete. Watching him work with speed and precision, you can see how vital this tool is for someone in his profession.
“Being a mobile business, having fewer tools to carry around daily is important, so having a versatile and flexible product like this is awesome. It holds plenty of gas and the blow torch has impressive temperatures for all my work needs. But I can also see this being perfect for getting the fire pit at home or the campfire going on the weekends.”
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY It’s the fast set-up speed and flexible use that’s going to make this 3 in 1 torch from Hot Devil such a winner for many trades. You will get plenty of burn time, and the Hot Devil butane canister’s refilling process is easy and quick. Turning the torch upside
down to reveal the underside of the base, you will find the refill nozzle. By pushing the refill canister down onto this nozzle several times, you will be filled up and ready for action in no time at all.
“WATCHING
The AEG Brushless 3/8” Ratchet Wrench Skin brushless motor has been designed and manufactured to provide maximum power, runtime and driving efficiency. Producing 74Nm of torque for high torque demands and applications, this little ripper isn’t going to disappoint. An LED sight light illuminates dark work areas, and the forward and reverse selector allows for better control and use in a wider range of applications. An onboard belt clip allows on-person storage and the Lock on switch, near where the thumb sits, is to allow for manual breaking of hard to crack fasteners, which has a max torque of 156Nm.
From its balance, ergonomics and design to its delivery of power, this AEG 3/8" wrench won’t disappoint.
We tested the tool with both the 2Ah and 4Ah Force battery. The 4Ah seemed to balance the tool the best.
Trigger feel and placement was perfect, with a relaxed and natural grip.
The AEG is well-balanced and light, making it a dream to work with, especially in tight or awkward spaces. Weighing in at an impressive 1.1kg without the battery, you will barely notice the tool attached to your hip in between tasks. But don’t let this fool you into thinking this 18V Brushless 3/8” Ratchet Wrench Skin isn’t up to the challenge in serious workshops. To prove it’s well suited to pro use we headed down to Superior Auto Sports/Superior Automotives, where Andrew and Rodney not only offer general repair and maintenance for the local community, but also provide high-end motorsport services for a range of clients Australia wide, including build, rebuild and high-end dyno tuning services.
AEG has the needs of mechanics and panel beaters firmly in mind with the latest addition to its 18V range – the brand new Brushless 3/8” Ratchet Wrench Skin.
It really doesn’t matter how balanced or lightweight a tool is if it doesn’t have the torque or power to undo nuts and bolts in a professional workshop. We asked Andrew how the AEG stacked up for power.
“This wrench has been great,” he said. “I have been working on several cars in the workshop with the 18V Brushless 3/8” Wrench, and it’s well balanced, especially with the 4Ah battery – which I actually preferred over the 2Ah cell.
“As well as feeling great in the hand,
it had the power to undo everything I would expect a 3/8” wrench to handle in a professional workshop. I’ve been working on both suspension and an engine removal, and the AEG has been quite surprising to be honest, in the best possible way. With its 74Nm of torque, great grip and excellent power delivery from the combination of the Fusion brushless motor and Force batteries, for the money I think every workshop should have one.”
A 3/8” wrench is a tool that has actually become more of a go to for mechanics in particular, rather than, say, an impact driver. That’s due to its vertical-handle configuration providing excellent access into tight and narrow workspaces.
“The light is well placed on this wrench,” offered Andrew. “A lot of the time the light is designed to point upwards, but AEG has decided to direct the LED light forward, providing a better illumination of the workspace.
“I also like the grip and trigger positioning. It allows optimum leverage. As the tool only weighs in at 1.1 kg without the battery, it still feels solid and robust. If you take care of your tools this AEG should last very well in workshops. I’ve only just found out AEG actually has a three-year warranty on its tools and even longer on its batteries, so I’m even more impressed with the AEG range in general.”
It’s always great when a tool outperforms the expectations of mechanics who use tools all day every day, and the AEG
Brushless 18V 3/8” Ratchet Wrench has done that. From its balance, ergonomics and design to its delivery of power, this AEG 3/8” Ratchet Wrench won’t disappoint.
• 0-250rpm no-load speed
• 81dB sound level
• 1.1kg without battery
AEG ONSITE Reach out to the AEG Onsite team at www.aegonsite.com.au or call 1300 AEG ONSITE to book a site visit now. They’ll deliver and transact direct to your site! ACM
www.mechanics-mag.com.au
“WEIGHING IN AT AN IMPRESSIVE 1.1KG WITHOUT THE BATTERY, YOU WILL BARELY NOTICE THE TOOL ATTACHED TO YOUR HIP IN BETWEEN TASKS.”Andrew from Superior Automotives was impressed with the power and weight of the AEG. The LED work light is positioned forward instead of straight up, and it gives better illumination of the work area. Andrew worked on both an engine removal and suspension repair with the AEG and found it perfect for 3/8”-drive applications.
With an extensive line of highquality products for 35 vehicle makes, you can be sure to find just what you need to fix your suspension at Arnott. Offering a choice when repairing and replacing failing air suspension system, you can either choose from Arnott remanufactured struts which provide O.E. functionality or Arnott designed and assembled brand new replacement air springs, struts, shocks, or air suspension compressors.
Arnott’s over 27,000sqm manufacturing plant is located in Merritt Island on Florida’s Space Coast. The facility is located on a 21-acre campus, just a few short miles from the Kennedy Space Centre and Port Canaveral, which offers the company an excellent gateway to global shipping and logistics.
Australian customers can order via 3 Points Classic, hsy and SWEA in Australia. Alternatively, the online ordering process is quick and easy with parts arriving 3-5 days after ordering, making the range of Arnott products as popular here as they are internationally.
For close to 35 years, the Arnott family has been the innovator in air suspension replacement products. Today, Arnott Inc.® is the global industry leader in manufacturing quality aftermarket replacement air suspension products and accessories.
The bustling facility includes a brand new
6,000sqm ‘Research and Development’ centre with test equipment, multiple auto lifts, a video and photography studio, and its own Mazak multi-tasking CNC machine for creating and testing new parts. In addition, Arnott houses an air-conditioned production facility which includes multiple Mazak Integrex series CNC machines. The Integrex series offers the most advanced and sophisticated 5-axis CNC machines on the market and is an integral part of Arnott’s unparalleled production capabilities. These impressive, fully robotic machines eliminate multiple setups, improving and ensuring part integrity and efficiency. The expansion and the addition of this sophisticated new machine facility enabled Arnott to not only increase productivity, but also improve on their already lofty quality control standards.
For our testing we caught up with Andrew from Superior Auto Sports who was working on a 2011 Land Rover Discovery installing both Arnott front and rear air suspension along with a brandnew Arnott Compressor.
Arnott Industries is the global leader in aftermarket air suspension products for your luxury car, truck or SUV, producing and testing their own air springs, air struts and shocks, magnetic ride shocks, air suspension compressors, coil spring conversion kits, dryers, solenoid valve blocks, ride height sensors and electronic bypass modules.
As most of you would have experienced over the years the risk with buying third party parts is that a lot simply just don’t fit or fit well, requiring time consuming customisation to get the parts to fit. Arnott’s engineers have put in the time, so you don’t have to. Chatting with Andrew about the installation process of the new front and rear suspension he shared, “I loved the ease of fitting the Arnott air suspension, it went on without any of the dramas most of us have experienced before with other brands – which for a busy workshop is a dream scenario.”
Andrew continued: “The parts are engineered and assembled in the USA. You get an OE quality and fit. These guys have been doing air suspension for 30 years, it’s what they do and if you have any concerns if you haven’t used them before, all products come with a limited lifetime warranty which backs all air springs, struts, shocks, coil spring conversion kits and compressors.
If you have experienced dramas with compressors in the past, either being noisy or simply not being reliable or not working as expected, replacing yours could be just what you need to get that ride quality back again. “We see customers come in that have tried to use expensive repair kits on their compressors with almost no air being
produced, when the best solution by far is simply replacing the compressor for an Arnott unit. The team at Arnott is great to deal with and know their products inside out. The Arnott products last longer due to their high quality and just fit better and allow for faster installations,” said Andrew.
Once you have experienced the Arnott range and their way of doing business you will become a customer for life. They tick all the boxes that as a mechanic or workshop owner you want, from customer satisfaction to improved staff efficiencies and reduced installation times, and when your customers come back to you loving the improved performance and ride of their vehicle you will understand why the Arnott brand has been going from strength to strength over the last decade.
• Over 30 years' experience
• Limited lifetime warranty
• Engineered and assembled in the USA
• Sophisticated new machine facility
• Producing high quality components for 35 vehicle makes
• Replacement air springs, struts, shocks, or air suspension compressors ACM
Culminating in the development of Milwaukee® REDLITHIUM™ION batteries, the company has continued to revolutionise the industry with their relentless innovation of battery technology for power tools.
REDLITHIUM™-ION batteries have a unique, patented design, enabling them to power through the harshest job site conditions – from extreme temperatures to vibrations and drops.
They feature shock responsive separators and a rubber overmold that also helps to protect the battery.
Sophisticated REDLINK™ PLUS Intelligence battery electronics monitor individual cells for maximum life and provide temperature and overload protection that delivers optimised performance based on the tool and battery pack combination. This Milwaukeeexclusive technology enables advanced
communication between batteries and tools, allowing for ultimate productivity.
M12™ REDLITHIUM™-ION batteries have the performance and durability to power a range of sub-compact cordless power tools. With system-wide compatibility across more than 90 M12™ cordless solutions, transportation professionals can rely on
M12™ REDLITHIUM™-ION batteries to support various work from repairs and bodywork to detailing.
M12™ REDLITHIUM™-ION batteries are available in 2.0Ah, 3.0Ah for low voltage applications and 4.0Ah and 6.0Ah for higher voltage applications. The company has also just introduced the next breakthrough in the M12™ system with the new M12™ REDLITHIUM™-ION HIGH OUTPUT™ 2.5Ah Compact Battery. This battery delivers 25 per cent more power and runs 25 per cent cooler than the M12™ REDLITHIUM™-ION 2.0Ah Compact Battery. The new HIGH OUTPUT™ Battery is built with a resistant housing, providing increased protection against exposure to common oils, greases, and solvents often found in garages and workshops.
For more information, visit www.milwaukeetool.com.au
Milwaukee Tool was the first company to introduce lithium-ion cell technology to the power tool industry, starting an industrywide transition from NiCad to Lithium.
Sustainability is playing an increasing role in our day to day lives, as we look to make conscious decisions based on how our actions will affect the environment in years to come. This is particularly prevalent in the automotive industry, with the rise in electric vehicles on our roads and an increasing consideration for CO2 emissions produced by various forms of transport. Many of us are looking for ways to be more environmentally conscious and reduce our impact on the environment.
Emissions, and the impact of running a vehicle, is gaining greater attention in recent years. However, there needs to be further consideration and awareness for what happens to our vehicles once we are finished with them.
In Australia more than 800,000 vehicles are de-registered each year. Most of the components from these vehicles are recyclable – generally over 95 per cent can be either reused or repurposed. This is where the automotive recycling industry
steps in, or as many would know them, ‘auto wreckers’ or ‘dismantlers’. With new safety standards and a higher turnover of vehicles, the automotive dismantling industry has changed significantly in recent years. Traditional wrecking yards are becoming less common and being replaced with more commercial set-ups, where professional dismantlers remove usable parts from the vehicle and supply to customers through the same sales channels as new parts. In addition
to the environmental benefits, this also creates a broader parts supply network for mechanical repair shops.
From these discarded vehicles, anywhere between 20 - 100 parts are removed, depending on their demand and usability. Typically, engines, transmissions and driveline components are the most popular items removed from vehicles. Smaller parts such as suspension, steering and auto electrical components are also commonly available from auto parts recyclers.
One supplier leading the industry is ACM Parts, with their extensive Reclaimed parts range, which includes recycled parts to suit a wide range of makes and models. ACM Parts has production facilities in all major cities across Australia that dismantle more than 10,000 cars per year. These parts are tested, cleaned and packaged before arriving on the shelf at one of their four distribution facilities across the country.
Looking for parts? Give ACM Parts a call on 1800 226 727 or visit acmparts.com.au
Recycled automotive parts – building a sustainable future.
Celebrating 50 years in Australia.
Thanks to our team, both past and present, and our c u stomers for their s up port throughout the years.
Here's to the next 50 !
Applying the brakes in a vehicle that has a well-maintained braking system, should provide the driver with a feeling of confidence and complete control.
During braking, if there’s any vibration being felt through the steering wheel or as feedback through the brake pedal, it could be ‘brake shudder’ – it’s a sign of problems within the braking system, and as well as being annoying, it reduces braking effectiveness.
Brake shudder can be caused by several things, but normally it’s because the disc brake rotors have been affected by Disc Thickness Variation (DTV). If the discs are unevenly worn, as the brake pads come into contact with the surface of the rotor, vibrations occur.
If the shudder is noticeable through the steering wheel, this normally indicates that it’s the front disc brake rotors that are affected. If the shudder is felt as a pulse through the brake pedal, this usually points to an issue with the rear rotors.
If disc brake rotors have not been installed correctly – perhaps because of uneven lug nut torque, damaged studs or debris between the hub and rotor – lateral rotor run-out can occur. This causes side to side movement as the rotor rotates rather than the rotors circulating through an even plane. Lateral run-out leads to excessive wear at certain points on the rotors because of clamp force variations due to the calipers applying varying pressure to the pads on the misaligned surface.
Brake calipers that aren’t working correctly can also contribute to brake shudder. If a caliper is holding the pad against the rotor when the brakes aren’t applied, this can lead to the rotor wearing unevenly as well.
A third possibility is incorrect fitment
of brake pads. When installing a new set of brake pads, it’s important to properly bed them in. Subjecting new brakes to full operating conditions without having done this can lead to extreme thermal shock which can permanently transfer some of the brake pads’ braking compound to the rotors, making them uneven.
If Bendix brake pads have been selected, this bedding in process is not needed, as Bendix pads contain high friction Blue Titanium Stripe technology, which is designed to rapidly mate with the rotor when the brakes are first applied.
Once the initial cause of the brake shudder has been identified, steps can now be taken to rectify the problem, and to make adjustments to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
In the case of incorrect fitment of the disc brake rotors, with the rotors removed, the hub face should be inspected and cleaned, to make sure that it’s free of debris. Rust and scale deposits can be
tackled with WD40 and sandpaper – the surface needs to be flat and clean, as does the inner surface of the brake rotor. If the studs are damaged, replace them.
If the old rotors are within the allowable thickness for refinishing, they can be machined to restore a flat surface. If not, new rotors should be installed. To ensure a correct fit, a dial indicator should be used to determine that the rotor has been fitted between OE tolerances which typically should be less than 0.10mm.
If it’s the brake calipers have been identified as the source of the shudder because they’re constantly holding the pad against the disc, it’s likely that seized slide pins are the culprit. These can be removed, cleaned and regreased using a suitable lubricant such as Bendix Ceramasil. If the caliper is still binding, it may need to be rebuilt or replaced.
Drivers shouldn’t put up with brake shudder, and it’s advisable that they visit a mechanic or specialist brake centre as soon as possible, to ensure a much safer and enjoyable drive.
For more information free call the Bendix Brake Advice Centre on 1800 819 666 or +61 3 5327 0211 from overseas (8am-5pm Monday to Friday EST), e-mail Bendix at: brakeadvicecentre@bendix.com.au or visit www.bendix.com.au
Vibrations while braking – known as ‘brake shudder’ – are caused by several factors. ACM talks to Bendix about several possible reasons behind this issue and how to best address it.
as unlocking the brakes and wheeling the gantry out for removal or wheeling in position ready to lower for installation.
Unlike the conventional engine crane lifters, which generally cannot lift an engine completely from a standard 4WD, this Girder Rail Gantry System has an adjustable height of up to 3.6 metres, giving you the height and flexibility to fully remove or install an engine without the usual struggle associated with other lifters.
This great product has a clearance width of 2.3 metres between the frames, so it is wide enough for cars, even the largest 4WDs and off-road vehicles. Plus, with the added versatility of four swivel caster wheels with brakes, the MGT-1TGC is too easy to manoeuvre and secure in place.
•
f you need to remove or install engines and gearboxes from vehicles on regular basis for your mechanical workshop or garage, Hare & Forbes Machineryhouse has the perfect solution for you to make this job significantly easier, quicker and importantly with more accuracy and control.
The MGT-1TGC Mobile Girder Rail Gantry System with a 1-tonne x 3 metre chain
block and comparable 1T rated girder clamp is definitely an essential tool to have for engine removals or installations and even moving heavy items around the garage or lifting them onto your bench. Simply connect your engine and gearbox combination to the chain block and lift to the desired height, then it is as easy
For more information, please visit: www.machineryhouse.com.au/k090
never
Half a century ago, Peter Perfect stormed to a solo victory at a wet Bathurst 500. Car and driver – Brock and the Holden Torana – became instant legends that year, giving an extra layer of appeal to any LJ Torana birthed in 1972.
This is one such car. Not as beastly as Brockie’s GTR XU-1 version, but no less eye-catching in factory Lone O’Ranger orange. It never used to look this spectacular, and does so today thanks to a magnificent restoration – centred on maintaining plenty of the Torana’s originality – overseen by Victorian Leo Nech.
The 69 year old has quite the history with Toranas. Some 50 years ago his first car –
an orange LJ – met a tragic end. Thieves pinched it while he was inside a Frankston hotel, they were promptly chased by the police, panicked, and wrapped it around a pole. “It was my pride and joy,” Leo said. “I loved the shape of them. They looked good back then and certainly still do today.”
He’s had a busy business life in the intervening years, but Leo always harboured dreams of restoring a Torana to replace his wrecked example. “About four years ago my son started looking for one, and we found this two-owner car sitting in a garage with little rust,” Leo explained. “The husband of the lady selling it had passed away, and thieves had damaged it while trying to steal its badges. She decided she should sell it, but told me I’ve got to keep it the same colour!”
That wasn’t going to be easy. The tired 1972 Torana S was originally dull beige and was very much showing its age. Besides, there was much to be done before then. “We were able to drive it home, albeit with a great deal of smoke coming from the exhaust,” said Leo. “The interior needed
Leo Nech’s first car – a Holden LJ Torana – was stolen and crashed in the early 1970s. Fifty years later a restoration project has rekindled that first love.Leo Nech, owner of a restored 1972 Torana S. Leo’s Torana still sports its original Holden 173cu in (2.85-litre) six-cylinder.
a great deal of work – the seats had rips everywhere and the dash was cracked.”
Looking at pre-restoration photos of the Torana helps us appreciate the stunning transformation. It’s gone from a ‘Nanna special complete with chips, dents, bent chrome side strips and crummy seat covers to an immaculate, polished chrome street cruiser. Surely the previous owner would forgive Leo’s decision to opt for the brighter bodywork when it went off to the spray booth.
Being time poor, Leo enlisted the help of specialists to do much of the restoration. The Torana was striped to a bare shell and the engine, gearbox and suspension removed for rebuilding. “In my spare time I was tasked with sourcing and restoring
parts as we wanted to keep the car as original as possible,” said Leo. “This was often a nightmare. I managed to find a guy with a little shed full of parts in Melbourne, but mainly bits and pieces came out of South Australia.”
The idea was to repair parts where spares couldn’t be located – a cracked heater box and stuffed horn for example. “There’s nothing wrong with Rare Spares, but they’re all manufactured overseas, and I wanted to keep things as they were,” he said.
Take the cabin. The original steering wheel and dash are still in place, but now refurbished to look better than new. “A guy in Adelaide hand-painted the silver line around the dash and heater controls,” Leo said. “You can’t buy replacements for those anymore; you’d only get something wrecked that’d probably be worse that you’ve already got.”
The ripped old brown seats have been expertly re-covered in black, carpets and headliner are new while the chrome handles and steering column stalks look concours good. The original radio was sadly too far gone, but in its place, a period-looking Bluetooth head-unit covers the audio. “I’ve programmed it just to play 70s and 80s music so when I drive it, it
takes me back to the era,” Leo said.
Peer under the car and under the bonnet and you’ll find a gleaming painted gearbox and engine too, helping this Torana look museum ready. The original Holden 173cu in (2.85-litre) six-cylinder still powers this 50-year-old, mated to a three-speed column-shift Trimatic auto. Leo said he considered a V8 swap, or fitting triple Webers to the six-cylinder, but decided to keep things as standard for originality sakes.
With suspension, brakes and that fabulous respray all complete, Leo says the work took over three years to complete.
“THE FIRST DRIVE OUT OF THE WORKSHOP MADE ME FEEL LIKE I WAS BACK IN THE 1970S.”
A labour of love, maybe, so does he regret not buying an already-restored Torana from the outset? “Not at all,” he said. “It’s a good feeling to have something so original and being involved with the work to keep it that way. With an already-restored car you don’t know if they’ve used genuine or overseas parts or how thorough they’ve been. I know what’s gone into this car as we’ve restored it from scratch.”
A compromise to the originality is seen with the wheels, but again, it’s hard to blame Leo for replacing the small, original steel rims and Holden hubcaps with
gorgeous period Monaro items.
“The first drive out of the workshop made me feel like I was back in the 1970s,” Leo explained. “It’s a Sunday car for the wife and I, it handles great and purrs along. I’ve got such nostalgia for it as I look across the dashboard; it’s like going back in time.”
It must be like getting reacquainted with your first love. It’s almost fifty years since Leo’s first LJ Torana was stolen and wrecked, but finally he’s back behind the wheel of his dream car. Time to make up for lost time. ACM
What’s your car crush? Old Falcons? Mazda rotaries? Classic Jaguars? We all have our ‘thing’ but Anthony Williams’ tastes are eclectic to the extreme. I’ve known Anthony through the racing scene for many years, and each time our paths cross he seems to be driving – or repairing – something different: usually European or some giant sedan I’d forgotten existed.
He calls himself a hobbyist mechanic, but this 31-year-old’s knowledge, expertise and track record reveals more than a little talent. He works real estate in Gladstone, but the unpredictability and stress of that job means he’s often finding calm and headspace with his head under a bonnet or temperamental gearbox.
He sent me a message recently stating: “I have officially run out of garage space.” The list? “There are three (Peugeot) 205s and a (Volvo) 740 in the shed; a (Volvo) 240 on the driveway and an Opel (Astra) in the garage. The (BMW 5 Series) E39 will be coming home shortly and I need to find space for a (Citroen) 2CV.”
It’s like an automotive European Union in his shed – although no MGs or Minis, thanks to Brexit. “I’ve always been into cars since Hot Wheels were the main vehicles of choice,” he says. “And my Dad was a
massive car nut who always had something interesting. When I got my licence, I learnt rather quickly I’d have to fix them myself or pay other people. I didn’t like the idea of that, so I had to figure it out myself.”
His first car was a Volvo 240, starting an enduring love affair with the model. “I love the idea of it being a bit of an anti-car,” he explains. “It’s not particularly sporty or stylish as most teenagers would be
lusting after. I liked to do some drifting in the early days, so it being rear wheel drive was a big thing.”
He mentions the Volvo had the driving dynamics of a wet sponge, but it was his introduction to simple mechanical work. He did oils and filters, then when things started breaking, he’d work out how to fix them.
A move to Sweden accelerated his learning. He helped do a rotary engine swap, then lent a hand on an engineering project transplanting a Volvo 740’s turbo engine into the back of a 1980s Mexican VW Beetle. “That was sufficiently weird,” Anthony says, “so I helped with minor fabrication and testing. I’ve got a lot of enthusiasm, and what I lack in aptitude I make up for with brute force!”
Anthony reckons the Swedes are talented at car tuning and modifications as they “have very little to do inside for six months of freezing and dark, so they jump into something mechanical.” He was living with a friend who owned a street racing team, including running a 500hp Lancia Delta Integrale. “It needed rebuilding regularly due to it being Italian and fairly highly strung,” he says.
His own Scandinavian cars included an Opel Senator and Peugeot 205 GTi, the
As antidote to his day job, Anthony Williams hits the shed to work mechanical magic on his European classics.
latter starting an obsession with the hot hatch icon. “I did my first timing belt, water pump and clutch change on that 205 as I had access to a garage and tools,” he explains. “I had friends around if I cocked things up, which gave me confidence to dive into it and demystified a lot of things.”
On his return to Australia, was he tempted to pursue a mechanical career with his new skills? “Not really,” he says. “I know the idea of turning your hobby into a job sounds wonderful, but then you’re forced to do it for money, and that has no real appeal to me.”
While real estate became his day job, his mechanical work continued apace. After almost exploding the V6 in his VS Commodore ute, he transplanted a GM L67 supercharged V6 in its place. “I bought the engine and engine crane and thought I’d figure it out,” he says. “I needed a bit of help, but for the most part I had it in and running myself after doing the wiring loom, ECU change and all else associated with dropping in a new engine and gearbox. But it being a Holden it wasn’t exactly complicated – I wasn’t rebuilding an old Italian V12 or anything.”
Next came a Mercedes-Benz W124 300E 24v, bought as it was the most powerful but, unfortunately, also the most complicated. “As
Anthony's Slough-built 1987 Citroen 2CV Charleston is, believe it or not, about to be used as a hill climb race car in absolute factory-spec. Brave boy.
much as I loved 7000rpm bouncing off the limiter, the engine didn’t enjoy this as much,” Anthony says. He ultimately went through a stage of buying four or five cars a year – mainly cheap Europeans – fixing them up and selling them on for extra pocket money.
BMW E39 5 Series sedans were his fixeruppers of choice. “They have common faults like speed sensors, ABS modules and window regulators, but once you figure them out and fix them a few times it’s easy work,” he says. “I also did an Audi A4 with the worst interior I’ve ever seen – it’d been smoked in since the day it was first sold. I had to rip out the interior, headlining, seats and carpet. By the time I fixed it, it felt nice and new.”
Such varied skills mean Anthony’s comfortable and confident being up to his elbows in oily bits. “Cars are good therapy,” he says. “Being in the shed is my getaway.” Alongside his collection of Peugeots is his recently acquired French snail – a Citroen 2CV. Incredibly, he plans to race this at an upcoming hill climb. “My goal is to beat someone; I don’t care who it is,” he laughs. “Its body roll can be described as biblical, but weirdly they handle quite well, are quite predictable and well balanced.”
Racing a classic 2CV fits with Anthony’s belief of just giving things a go, no matter how hard. “If a job seems too daunting, just figure out what needs doing, get the right tools and give it a crack. You’ll soon find out if you can or can’t do it, but at least you’ve tried.” Solid, sage advice. ACM
“I’VE ALWAYS BEEN INTO CARS SINCE HOT WHEELS WERE THE MAIN VEHICLES OF CHOICE.”
Imagine you’re a car company launching a new vehicle. You’ve jetted in a pack of motoring journalists eager for test drives; photographers and videographers are set to document this memorable event and soon there’ll be positive stories and reviews flooding newspapers, magazines, websites, social media and YouTube. Marvellous. Unless, of course, the vehicle breaks. Or gets stuck. Or anything else that’ll spoil the show.
With dual-cab 4x4 utes making up an ever-increasing chunk of Australian new car sales, launching or showcasing these multi-talented vehicles is imperative for car brands. Take the Mazda BT-50.
loyal following, owners don’t just want to know how it performs at the work site or cruising the highway; many want to see how it goes over the rough stuff. That often means tough terrain and remote locations, vastly increasing your chances of “will not proceed” dramas. Proper preparation and experienced experts mitigate such problems, and that’s exactly what we encountered this month as Mazda invited journalists to sample the 4x4 BT-50 on the sandy tracks and open beaches on Queensland’s K’gari Fraser Island. It being the world’s largest sand island, organising such an odyssey isn’t to be taken lightly.
Troy Bennett is just the sort of chap you want helping to co-ordinate it. Off-road expert, rally driver, problem-solver, safety guru and event planner… he also knows how to use a set of spanners when things get tricky. Chatting to him, it appears those sticky situations are few and far between, mainly due to considered preparation –imperative for such events.
Troy divides his time between homes
We all know what proper preparation prevents, and Troy Bennett takes preplanning to the next level on a Mazda BT-50 event on K’gari Fraser Island.
Outback NSW, near Mildura. From here he runs the annual four-day Sunraysia Safari Cross Country Rally, the largest rally in Australia in terms of competitive distance (1200km). His father was a mechanic and did forest rallying in the 1970s and 80s, campaigning Ford Escorts, Datsuns and Nissan Stanzas.
“I grew up in a workshop, which was fantastic,” Troy explained.
“I was given an apprenticeship with Bob Carpenter, the godfather of cross-country rallying, very much like the Dakar Rally. I took time out of Uni to go out and learn how to run an Australian safari, splitting the next few years between education and rallying.”
He was involved with Mitsubishi’s crosscountry rally program, driving a Pajero iO which he owns to this day. “It’s a tiny thing, effectively a Lancer in a wagon body with a transfer case,” he said. “It’s a little rocketship with turbocharger and direct injection, so is huge fun to drive.”
Across the years Troy’s worked as a rally and performance driving trainer, did durability test driving for Holden, was Motorsport Australia’s safety adviser and currently helps numerous car companies with engineering calibration. He’s also
much in demand for an expedition like Mazda’s sandy showcase.
“We hope for the best and plan for the worst,” he said. “We’re very risk averse, and focus a great deal on the lead work. We’re probably OCD about planning contingencies.” Troy and his colleagues conducted a number of reconnaissance trips to Fraser Island (good work if you can get it), looking at route options, timings, the difficulty of the tracks, weather implications and possible diversions.
“For the event we carry a paramedic, satellite telephones and UHF radios,” he explained, “as well as coordinating with local emergency services so they know where we are.”
But what about specifically preparing the vehicles? As the journalists were reviewing BT-50s the public can buy, it’s key to keep them in factory specification for fair evaluation. “The cars are standard, as that’s the point of it,” Troy explained. “Our pre-prep has a Mazda approved technician go over the BT-50s, make sure they’re all to specification, tyre pressures are the same between them all, fluid levels are right and puts the scanner on them to ensure there are no fault codes.”
You
always
Tyre pressures for the Fraser Island drive was agreed upon: 24psi due to plenty of rain making the sandy tracks hard-packed and much easier to navigate than really soft sand. Lower tyre pressures mean better grip, traction and comfort, and is something all owners should be across when sand driving.
Troy said after many years working with Mazda he knows the BT-50 is highly unlikely to present any problems. “We know it’s capable and are confident in the quality of the vehicle. But you always
must be prepared for the unexpected. The standard and experience of the driver makes a huge difference when offroading.” I’ve no idea why he looked so accusatory at me at that point.
The most likely problem on such events is, as expected, flat tyres. Thankfully, no flats on our two-day test on Fraser Island, where the biggest drama was the cake tin emptying too quickly at morning tea. It made carrying a technician, numerous spares and a paramedic with us seem like overkill, but that’s why these guys are the professionals.
I noticed the BT-50s were thoroughly cleaned each evening, despite journalists set to go sand driving again early the next morning. “You have to factor in lots of salt and sand for somewhere like Fraser,” said Troy. “We wash the cars down each day to protect the life of them: salt water’s the enemy of all vehicles. Get salt water in a terminal and all of sudden you’ve got a fault code, and interlinked systems mean the whole dash can soon light up like a Christmas tree.”
Supplies are also key. “On rallies I carry way too much stuff,” Troy said. “Plenty of water, coolant, oil, radiator hoses, drive belts and at least two spare tyres. I convince myself they’re all needed. All of the lead up work before the event begins means it should run smoothly. We’ve got contingencies if someone gets injured, there’s a technician if there’s a break down, and a couple of back-up cars. That way we ensure the safety of participants and vehicles.”
Most of these learnings have come from a life spent in one of the hardest and most punishing forms of motorsport – cross country rallying.“I’ve learnt if you’re not prepared with the right equipment, and the right vehicle prep, you’re going to have a really bad time,” said Troy. Motoring journalists? Well, they get to have the good time as others have already done the hard work for them. ACM
There’s a plethora of amazing advances in vehicles across the decades, but developments in aircon might be the most under-valued.
My first car was built in 1993, and comparing that raggedy (yet beloved) rust bucket breathing hot air to the veritable arctic breeze of modern cars is night and day.
Alas, modern air conditioning in cars is only as good as the tools keeping them in check, and mechanics need to keep on top of the latest systems for upkeep.
Holidays bring out the best, and worst in
cars and the last thing you as a mechanic want to do is waste time mulling over aircon recovery.
Mechanics don’t want to be wasting time on repairs, much less copping it if they don’t fully fix an issue.
With technology being as advanced as it is these days, simplifying the aircon diagnostics and repair with the tap of a finger is a welcome sight for workshops.
Having a system that can diagnose issues like vacuum leaks, or identify and handle multiple refrigerant variants is a must.
Much like any problem with ‘nonessential’ vehicle issues, if they’re not fixed sooner, the owner (and mechanic) will rue the day later when auxiliary systems start to become affected.
With so many systems and tools in the market, we’ve highlighted the best of the best when it comes to making your life a breeze.
Whether it’s refrigerant recovery machines that have a better memory than an African Elephant, or thousands of specialty climate control tools, the next few pages have got you covered!
Christmas holidays are bound to push many air conditioning systems to the brink, thankfully the team at LAUNCH TECH AUSTRALIA has you covered.
The company’s latest product is the PLV-200 Automatic AC Service Station, which aims to be your one-stop shop for refrigerant recovery or filling as well as vacuuming and oil injection.
The PLV-200 is equipped with two 10kg refrigerant tanks to save you time on replacing tanks. Making it all the more efficient is its ability to handle both R-134a and HFO-1234yf refrigerants.
With immense efficiency comes unparalleled accuracy with the PLV-200 sporting a recovery rate as high as 96% in terms of minimising refrigerant loss during changes.
The system’s Android-based colour touch screen system is an operator’s dream, featuring a simple one-click interface ensuring you’re not getting lost in a sea of menus.
As if the PLV-200 wasn’t already your do-it-all system, the SCM program fitted tool comes with its own printer and refrigerant database of each model.
Once it’s all plugged in, the automated procedures will handle any process and doesn’t require you to operate panel valves in order to complete its task.
The PLV-200 even has you covered when it needs a check up with an automatic service reminder after 600 operations.
• Fully automatic in recovery/vacuum/ oil injection/charge
• Automatic air purge
• Vacuum skip in “auto mode”
• Automatic service reminding after 600 operations
• Vacuum leak test
• UV dye injection
• Hand valves free
• Pressurization to speed upused oil discharge
• A/C database included, update through USB port
• Thermal printer
• Condenser and cooling fan
• Heater band
• Work with R134a or HFO1234yf (pre request)
• Android System
• Inbuilt refrigerant identifier (Optional)
Launch products are distributed throughout Australia by LaunchTech (aka Powerlift Equipment), who have been operating since 2002 out of Western Sydney. For more than 20 years, the company has offered a
plethora of LAUNCH equipment including scan tools, ADAS, vehicle hoists, wheel aligners, tyre changers, wheel balancers to battery testers and flushing machines.
The only downside to the PLV-200 is local supply, with only four remaining to be purchased in Australia!
Make sure you get in quick, because the remaining systems can be purchased for a special price of $3990+GST, discounted from the RRP of $4990+GST.
The deal gets even sweeter, with purchasers receiving a VSP-800 Endoscope valued at $225+GST absolutely free!
The scope is specially built to help technicians peek into every nook and cranny of a vehicle, providing real-time viewing directly from camera to screen.
The VSP-800 is the thorough mechanic’s best friend, featuring the ability to record and save videos and images for later.
With summer just around the corner, your workshop needs an A/C service station that’s as efficient as you are and comes with a friendlier price tag.
to February. First prize monthly winners have the chance to take home $20,000 worth of prizes which include a Camping Pack (November draw), Water Sports Pack (December draw), Active Pack (January draw) or a Relax Pack (February draw). All second prize winners across each month win a YETI pack worth $2000 and third prize winners will each take home a $500 fuel voucher*.
With more than 750 additional part numbers available this season, Alcius is sure to have the parts to keep you moving. A dedicated light commercial and heavyduty range has since been developed to meet the specific needs of the expanding customer. The range expansion comes hand in hand with Alcius’s dedicated service, leading innovation and category expertise. The latest expansion in the Alcius range continues to provide customers with a blend of quality aftermarket products and all the OE manufactured brands.
“The Alcius climate control product range provides Australian automotive repairers with a total one-stop air conditioning parts solution,” says Bapcor Group Category Manager Mark Caldone.
Alcius’s comprehensive and accessible range of automotive climate control components are specifically designed to withstand the demands of the Australian climate, guaranteeing confidence in the technical and performance quality. The commitment to quality is underpinned by a 24-month extended warranty*.
Continuing its commitment to ranging the most automotive cooling and climate control components in Australia, Alcius is launching a national trade promotion across its entire product range from November 1, 2022 to February 28, 2023.
Ensuring that specialist AC and general repairers have the parts they need when they need them throughout the busy summer months, trade customers have the chance to do something cool this summer when they spend with Alcius. For every $300 spent on any Alcius product*, trade customers will receive one automatic entry into monthly draws to win their share of over $30,000 worth of prizes. There are a multitude of prizes available each month from November to February.
Three lucky winners will be randomly selected each month across November
Alcius products are supported by the strength of Bapcor, Australasia’s largest automotive aftermarket trade supplier. Participating Bapcor trade outlets include BaxtersMTQ, Burson Auto Parts, JAS Oceania, Truckline and WANO.
*For more information, terms and conditions, visit www.alcius.com.au
Make the most of the Alcius product range and their summer promotion launching in November and running through to next year in February.
DO
Before and during that process, RYCO had already been conducting its own research on testing engines to their limits with certain particulate sizes and incumbent filtration products.
Behind the fanfare, adrenaline and excitement the Supercars brings, there are tonnes of moving pieces. While the casual viewer is regularly overwhelmed by big brand names and logos, Supercars’ official filtration partner RYCO will be playing a particularly critical role in the competition’s future.
Supercars has unveiled its new GEN3 series for 2023, which will hearken back to motorsport’s touring roots by using cars similar to their everyday, commercial counterparts.
Muscle cars such as the Chevrolet Camaro
and Ford Mustang will need to not only go faster, but longer maintenance intervals will mean they’ll also need to go farther.
GEN3 race cars will need the best when it comes to oil, air and fuel filters, and major partner RYCO has them all good to go.
RYCO has been working with the teams in the pits, the Supercars analytics gurus as well as the engine builders to get an understanding of the shortcomings of current filtration products, as well as the limitations they create for the cars.
RYCO’s Melbourne-based team of experts designed their own filters for fuel, oil and air filters specially built to maximise filtration efficiencies and engine life while providing peak competitiveness for super cars.
Their developments have been backed up by a bevy of global collaborators who assisted in identifying the latest technology filter medias which could deliver and meet the requirements for a Supercar-standard vehicle.
RYCO’s mission statement is ‘to create the world’s best oil, air and fuel filters for racing vehicles’ and with such a rigorous and thorough design and testing process, you be hard-pressed to find any failings.
The latest Supercars series will sport the best filtration systems in racing thanks to the competition’s partnership with industry-leading RYCO.
If they’re good enough for Supercars, they’re good enough for your vehicles.
RYCO’s selection of fuel, oil and air filters have proven they can take both the Mustang and Camaro to the heights they’ll demand in GEN3 after extensive testing in racing conditions and at RYCO’s lab.
With all doubt or concern dealt with, Supercars teams and officials were quick to praise the reliability of RYCO filters and make the switch from conventional racing filters.
“The RYCO ‘control’ oil, fuel and air
filters provide long-life performance for GEN3 engines,” Supercars Engine Projects Manager Craig Hastad said.
Supercars’ experienced Head of Motorsport, Adrian Burgess said: “RYCO’s innovative, world-first filtration technology will enable the Gen3 series the best chance of ensuring engine mileage and as a result will significantly improve sustained race performance for teams”.
When it comes to extending the life of an engine with filters – the finer the better. RYCO general manager of engineering and innovation Alastair Hampton said engine testing so far with the three filters had yielded amazing results.
“I was at KRE Race Engines the other day and they’d been testing the Camaro engine in the (United) States where it ran six simulated Bathursts in a row. It had zero power loss,” he said.
“The philosophy’s working and it’s really pleasing to see our hypotheses we had at the start of the project playing out in real life.”
Unlike other fuel filters that use course particle pleated metal screens, RYCO’s fuel filters use a rolled element fine-micron media.
Alastair said the design for the fuel filter needed to strike a balance of having finer particle filtration than an everyday engine, whilst allowing for maximum fuel flow and strength.
“A typical fuel filter would be in the range of 15-18 micron. We targeted below 8 micron, that’s because we wanted to extend the life of these sensitive fuel components,” he said.
“The rolled element gives us a lot more media area, which means we can achieve that brief of overall high filtration with high flow and a strong element that can withstand that high demand the vehicle will have for it.
SPECS: • THREAD SIZE: M14 x 1.5 (compatible with dash 6 and 8)
Sporting a 100% synthetic media for finemicron filtration as opposed to your usual cellulose-based system.
“We wanted to keep the oil as clean as possible knowing there’s always going to be some fine particles coming in from potentially the air filter and going in through the blow-by,” Alastair said.
“With the oil filter, there wasn’t really a limit to how fine we wanted to go. What we did was find the best media there is available today.
“That’s the full synthetic media that can achieve about a 20 micron nominal filtration efficiency. The big benefit of synthetic media filtration is it’s still very efficient at 5 microns.
“The design philosophy was having that fine mircon filtration without the expense of flow … that’s what drove the design of that SynTec oil filter.”
Setting itself apart with its honeycomb construction, RYCO’s air filter has a hydrophobic nano-fibre coated media.
“These Supercar engines are consuming between 20,000-30,000L of air per minute. If the air is contaminated, that adds up really fast and that can do significant damage to expensive racing engines,” Alastair said.
“We wanted to turn the design for traditional performance filters on its head. We wanted to create a filter that was much finer than a typical passenger car filter, to do that we had to look at the finest particle medias available in 2022.
“We wanted to package as much media into a certain space so we could use a fine micron nano-fibre media. We elected to go for a honeycomb construction … this filter is filtering down to about 5 micron which makes it the finest filter on the GEN3 Supercar.”
For RYCO’s Executive General Manager Stuart Chandler, the partnership was a was a sign of future growth between the company and Supercars.
“I am extremely excited by our new partnership with Supercars as the ‘official filtration partner’ of the category through being the ‘control’ supplier of oil, air and fuel filters,” he said.
“In addition, this partnership cements RYCO Filters as the premium motorsport
filter brand in Australia and New Zealand.
“The accomplishment would not have been possible without RYCO’s brand promise of adapting to demanding conditions, along with our unwavering commitment to innovation. I thank everyone involved in helping us achieve this success.”
While fielding a team and cars in the Repco Supercars Championship sees competitors showcasing the most advanced cars in the field, it comes at a cost.
Teams are often billed hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars in repairs and regular maintenance.
GEN3 aims to balance the high-octane competitiveness Supercars is known for with increased longevity and performance on vehicles which are more suited to racing on civilian roads.
The series takes somewhat of a sidestep back to touring car competition roots that had everyday sport cars supped up for racetrack usage. ACM
“GEN3 RACE CARS WILL NEED THE BEST WHEN IT COMES TO OIL, AIR AND FUEL FILTERS, AND MAJOR PARTNER RYCO HAS THEM ALL GOOD TO GO.”
Fuel
Ryco is proud to be the Official Filtration Partner of the Repco Supercars Championship. Along with being engineered, developed, and tested at its Melbourne Laboratory, Ryco’s range of GEN3 Control Parts deliver outstanding filtration and extended engine life without compromising flow or performance. So, when your everyday passenger, 4x4 or commercial vehicle needs the same protection as a Supercar, be Ryco Ready.
Mechanics and other motor vehicle workshops, like many businesses, contain confidential information whether it’s internal or externally with clients.
The ATO and Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) has released a series of tips to ensure you’re on top of your business’ cyber security isn’t breached and held ransom by hackers.
MFA (multi-factor authentication) is a system by which your identity is confirmed through at least two authentication processes.
This can include a text or email to you with a code, or many companies use an app that generates a code that frequently refreshes.
With at least two barriers to prove someone’s identity, the chances a hacker
can access their confidential information are decreased significantly.
This could be hackers, or something you do by accident, but there’s nothing worse than data being deleted forever.
This could be customer or employee data that’s been accumulated across years, and would be disastrous should it be erased.
You can set up back-ups on any operating system, application or device, but the best route is to back up to an external device such as a password protected hard drive. Alternatively, you can also set up a cloud-based location to back up data to.
This one’s a bit of a no-brainer, but making sure your software (and
hardware) is up to snuff is crucial.
Out-of-date systems are prone to cyberattacks due to the abundance of known weaknesses and chinks in the armour that have been discovered over time.
We’re all guilty of putting off an update until the 11th hour, but doing it as soon as you’re notified can save you major headaches in the future.
If your business uses a website you may want to ensure the domain name isn’t at risk of being copied.
Earlier this year, Australian domains were given the chance to register their site under .au rather than .com.au, .org.au, .net.au etc.
While it made for snappier options for your website name, it also meant cyber criminals could steal your site name and set up a fake site featuring your BUSINESS NAME.au to entrap current or potential customers.
Domains could be reserved up until September 20 2022, but now it’s open season. You can still register a .au domain via any auDA accredited registrar, which can be found at auda.org.au/ accredited-registrars.
You can find out more info about .au domains at cyber.gov.au. ACM
Recent cyber-attacks and safety breach events have made it all the more vital to be protecting your business and its clients.
Much like many industries, mechanics are dealing with dwindling supply to the tune of about a 33,000-worker shortage according to the MTAA (Motor Trades Association Australia). This is despite having some of the best apprentice numbers nationwide compared to other trades.
While a number of solutions were tabled, there were a few those in the motor trade should pay particular attention to. This included partnering with the Tech Council of Australia to provide a free national virtual work experience program. The initiative is designed to provide awareness on possible tech-based careers to those facing a range of barriers such as location.
The Federal Government also agreed to enter a Digital and Tech Skills Compact with businesses and unions. The Compact would see Digital Apprenticeships established to pay workers as they learn entry-level tech roles. There would also be equity targets in place for businesses that have been behind in terms of their digital and tech assets.
Targets would be put in place for businesses that sign said Compact would then need to employ a certain proportion of workers through the Digital Apprenticeships scheme.
A Labour Force Survey has also been commissioned through more funding to ABS to identify and overcome barriers
and incentives arounds skills shortages.
The Summit also delivered a Memorandum of Understanding with the Business Council of Australia to boost employment outcomes and increase work pathways for people with a disability.
Areas the summit agreed to work on included working with all levels of government to address the many barriers to employment faced by disadvantaged groups. A plan has been put in place from the summit with key stakeholders to implement a VET blueprint to grow a healthier workforce from that pathway.
VET qualifications and micro-credentials would also get a revamp to make sure the courses are offering what industry’s need. This includes creating a formal framework and consolidated VET qualifications for work-based learning and micro-credentials. These plans were tabled in addition to $1 billion in Federal-State funding towards fee-free TAFE as well as 465,000 fee-free TAFE locations.
For more information, visit treasury.gov.au ACM
The Federal Government’s Jobs and Skills Summit in September provided plenty of food for thought among trades including the motor industry.
to as “time positioned” bushings. This is where the centre hole is offset rather than being dead centre of the bushing. The complication here is when pressing in a new bushing, the positioning of the bushing is absolutely critical and if pressed in only a few degrees out can lead to alignment issues, harshness, noise and most importantly, shortened service life of the bushing. This usually leads to a come-back job that no workshop needs.
To eliminate all of these issues and create a better result for your customers, while saving workshop time for your business, you can replace the complete suspension arm and get the job right the first time.
Roadsafe offers a vast range coverage across almost five million vehicles for these innovative suspension repair components. Applications cover local and imported passenger vehicles, 4WDs, SUVs and light commercial vehicles, with the range constantly expanding to meet Australian car parc replacement requirements.
The Roadsafe Replacement Control Arm range includes upper arms, lower arms, radius arms and strut rods across both front and rear replacement applications. The quality of these automotive aftermarket suspension components is backed by a 40,000 kilometre, two year warranty, ensuring that you are providing your customers with a premium level repair.
Roadsafe, one of Australia’s leading undercar component suppliers for the automotive aftermarket for more than four decades, offers a suspension replacement innovation that saves workshop labour time and money while ensuring an accurate and complete control arm and related bushings replacement.
Roadsafe Replacement Control Arms ensure that general automotive technicians and suspension specialists are fitting a completely brand new, OE quality specified control arm as a bolt in replacement with no pressing required.
The use of Roadsafe Replacement Control Arms reduces suspension component fitment issues, by eliminating the process of fitting new parts into unknown worn components.
Whether the reason for repair is worn suspension arm bushings or a worn ball joint, the other components fitted to the
arm have done exactly the same amount of work over its lifespan, so in reality while still serviceable, these components could be on borrowed time, requiring dismantling a second time in the near future.
Another complication with modern vehicles is the use of what are referred
This complete Replacement Control Arm range joins the premium quality Roadsafe suspension component product portfolio that has been a mainstay of the Australian auto repair industry, available from Burson Auto Parts and other quality independent auto parts resellers nationwide for more than a quarter of a century.
For more information about the Roadsafe complete replacement control arm range call (03) 8687 1700 or visit www.roadsafe.com.au
Save time and money with Roadsafe complete replacement control arms.
CoolDrive Auto Parts is cementing its position in the Engine Management scene, with an industry-leading offering of products and components, tools and accessories, technical training and resources.
CoolDrive’s Engine Management product offering is headlined by AFI, an established brand of automotive petrol and diesel engine management components.
The specialised AFI engine management program consists of a diverse range of both genuine quality and aftermarket components to suit a huge array of vehicles and applications.
All of AFI’s components match, or exceed, the OE specifications when it comes to performance, reliability and longevity.
Complementing AFI are leading global brands including Denso, Bosch, Continental, Delphi, NTK, Walker, Nissens, BorgWarner, Valeo and Turbo Master Australia.
With CoolDrive only expanding into engine management a few years ago, its offering is extensive with all manner of equipment and parts available to its customers.
The product portfolio includes a huge array of fuel pumps from inline external fuel pumps to internal fuel pumps and fuel modules as well as high-pressure GDI fuel pumps, and common rail injection pumps.
While diesel-specific components include suction control valves, exhaust gas temperature sensors, injector washer kits, pressure limiting valves and diesel fuel rail assemblies.
Adding to the turbochargers, throttle bodies and vacuum pumps, is also an extensive range of sensors, including oxygen sensors, cam and crank sensors, MAP and boost sensors, air mass meters, knock sensors, pedal position sensors and more.
Capping off the range are common rail diesel and petrol fuel injectors, spark plugs, glow plugs, ignition coils and lead sets, variable valve timing solenoids, along with EGR valves, EGR coolers, oil coolers and more!
Of particular note is the ‘exact match’ XS Injectors range, a game-changer for performance tuners seeking precision.
XS Injectors have been designed
therefore modern workshops need the right equipment to help identify the fault correctly and quickly with the right fix, the first time.
For example, the Bosch KTS, which is a leading diagnostic tool featuring Pass-Thru programming/coding capability and the ESI[tronic] 2.0 diagnostic software. This not only helps identify the fault, but supports with guided tests, known fixes and service information including wiring diagrams and service repair manuals.
to revolutionise flow testing and data matching and are the most accurate injector sets available on the market.
While typically allowable performance tolerances can be up to nine percent, XS Injectors offer unparalleled matching, with tolerances within one percent on flow rate and two percent on dead times.
CoolDrive’s expansive tools and equipment range assists workshops in diagnosing engine faults and to tackle issues with greater confidence, efficiency and profitability.
As vehicle systems, especially engine management systems, become more complex to contend with stricter rules on emissions and better fuel efficiency, it is getting harder and lengthier to diagnose vehicle faults.
This can result in poor profitability,
Additional new products at CoolDrive include the AFI Diagnostic Smoke Machine to help identify air leaks, and the AFI Walnut Blaster, which uses the natural power of walnut powder to remove carbon deposits from the inlet manifold.
Carbon deposits cause engine management faults and premature failure of components. Carbon build-ups in the engine inlet manifold, EGR and DPF systems can be prevented with regular maintenance using industry-leading cleaning solutions such as those from Terraclean as an on-car treatment and Cataclean as an in-tank pour-in treatment.
CoolDrive’s partnership with GYS has seen its Powerduction Induction Heat Tool products available, which can be useful for removing seized components such as spark or glow plugs.
Another essential advanced diagnostic offering is the PicoScope range, the perfect PC Oscilloscope for measuring and testing
virtually all the electronic components and circuits in any modern vehicle.
A PicoScope turns a workshop’s PC into a powerful diagnostic tool, allowing users a view of the changing signals inside wires, directly onto the screen.
CoolDrive also supports workshops with three Electronic Repair Centres, which service all of Australia from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.
The state-of-the-art centres provide a unique testing and repair service, covering
everything from obsolete early model systems to the latest in high technology.
Highly trained staff have the expertise to test, diagnose and repair a wide range of systems, from ABS modules, ECU units, ignition and climate control modules, as well as security systems and complicated security integrated engine control systems.
A trusted partner to workshops, CoolDrive also hosts a number of specialised training events across the country, with multiple events held this year, and more to come in 2023.
These training events provide attendees opportunities to hone their skills and learn new vehicle system technology from the industry’s leading trainers and experts.
Complementing these training sessions, but within the workshop, is CoolDrive’s new technical resource platform, CoolData.
CoolData enables the professional workshop to diagnose, maintain and repair vehicles and trucks with technical drawings, a unique electronics data module including wiring diagrams and guided tests, and intelligent diagnostics called VESA.
The areas covered with the CoolData system including Identification Data, Adjustment Data, Vehicle Maintenance, Repair Offerings, and Electronics and Engine Management.
Some of the many benefits of CoolData include detailed step-by-step maintenance instructions, estimated repair times and guided diagnostics to help a workshop boost productivity and improve workflow.
For further information on CoolDrive Auto Parts and its product and service offerings, visit www.cooldrive.com.au
The specialised product range of AFI’s Petrol and Diesel Engine Management program consists of a diverse range of quality components to suit a huge range of vehicles and applications.
cooldrive.com.au
Available from
www.mechanics-mag.com.au
Global lubricants leader Castrol has launched ‘Castrol on Mars’, an entertaining and informative new podcast series taking listeners inside the minds’ of a diverse range of innovators and pioneers.
Each tells their story about what it takes to perform in some of the most extreme conditions on the planet – and even in outer space.
Available on all major podcast platforms, the eight-episode series includes commentary from astronauts Sandra Magnus and Robert Thirsk who describe how they dealt with the extremes of outer space, while Sarah Cruddas, a space journalist, international TV host and awardwinning author, discusses what NASA’s Mars Perseverance Rover is contending with during its extraordinary mission.
Castrol’s oils and lubricants are currently performing 250 million miles away in temperatures as low as minus 153 degrees Celsius on NASA’s Mars Perseverance Rover. These include Castrol’s specially developed Braycote greases and Brayco oils which provide essential lubrication to scientific instruments, including a weather station, ultraviolet spectrometer and laser micro imager.
Closer to home, Formula E’s Sam Bird and World Rally’s Gus Green-Smith describe what it takes to claim victory behind the wheel in top-level racing, while David Eyton, bp’s former head of innovation and engineering, gives his perspective on the challenges faced by engineers and scientists when developing products that need to stand-up to extreme pressures.
The ‘Castrol on Mars’ series has already received the top award in the
‘Documentary’ and ‘Technology’ categories at the prestigious Communicator Awards.
Elizabeth Jones, Castrol Global Communications, said: “Our new podcast series highlights what’s required to perform in some of the most far-flung, extreme environments.”
“Through engaging and personal stories from some of the world’s adventurers and individuals, workshops can utilise these assets to build trust, win sales and enhance their connection with the wider Castrol brand.”
Whether chosen by NASA or workshops back here on Earth, Castrol’s products can always be trusted to deliver performance under even the most demanding conditions.
To learn more visit www.castrol.com.au
launches new podcast series – ‘Castrol on Mars’.
very workshop uses grinding compounds, particularly highquality reliable products such as JB Weld Valve Grinder so it should come as no surprise that this product flies off the shelves of HPP Lunds – the Australian distributor for all JB Weld products.
After launching the JB Weld Valve Grinder in March this year, the shelves were bare within 10 days. Stock has been replenished and it’s time to order some for the workshop cupboard.
Valve grinding is a common job when repairing or refurbishing an engine and critical for the proper functioning of valves and seals. Smoothing out the valve will enable it to seat properly and so seal the valve in the cylinder head and seal the engine’s combustion chamber. When closed, valves need to be air and liquid tight. Therefore, it’s very important to purchase a high-quality valve grinding compound, not
only will it give a good finish, but it will be faster and easier to use. That’s exactly what JB Weld Valve Grinder promises.
JB Weld Valve Grinder is a water-based odourless and abrasive paste designed to aid in valve grinding and lapping operations
on engines to remove burrs, surface defects, deposits and corrosion.
The paste combines four grit sizes so that the application begins at a coarse 120 grit, then grinds down to 150, 180, and then a fine 200 grit for a fast and smooth finish.
www.mechanics-mag.com.au
OE suspension manufacturer
KYB has commenced the global release of ‘in-demand’ replacement steering components to the automotive aftermarket industry. Supported by KYB’s 50+ years of designing and manufacturing steering components for OE customers, this extensive experience has enhanced the development and quality of the KYB aftermarket range.
Within the Australian aftermarket, five KYB Steering product groups will be initially stocked by NGK Australia which include:
“These components are crucial parts of a vehicle’s steering and suspension system and must be in excellent working condition, as they have great influence over a driver’s ability to maintain vehicle control and comfort,” explained Larry Coulthard, Group Product Manager for KYB.
Steering and suspension components have a long-standing partnership given both product groups are generally
integrated to work cohesively with each other. As KYB is the brand of choice for suspension products within the Australian aftermarket, it goes without saying using the manufacturer and designer premium steering components is a smart approach.
KYB are well regarded for their vehicle specificity, making each part ideal for its corresponding make and model.
Larry Coulthard concluded, “Just as it is with our suspension components, our process rings true with KYB steering components. Perfect fit first time, every time. KYB has been steering you in the right direction for over 50 years!”
To view the full listing of products please visit www.kyb.com.au
replacement steering components to the aftermarket.
Australian footwear icon Blundstone recently undertook a significant research project over several years to identify the real needs of safety footwear users – what they wanted in their boots and the problems they were experiencing with their current safety-boot choices.
The research led to a collaboration with the University of Tasmania’s School of Health Science’s Biomechanics experts. This body of work looked at the movement of the foot within a boot and resulted in the creation of RotoFlex – a range of boots where stability meets the freedom to move, allowing the wearer’s foot to rotate and the ankle to flex to avoid injury. These truly new ‘whole-ofboot’ designs were built from the ground up and created to address the concerns of wearers highlighted in the research.
The RotoFlex range of boots features a biomechanically conforming sole design, GripTek®, which utilises a unique TPU tread pattern and super cushioned midsole, with zoned support carefully designed for all-day stability, comfort and optimum grip.
“The sole has been designed with extra width in the heel and toe area to help stop ankle rolls, which is one of the key contributors to time lost. This new design also means users exert less energy when walking, which in turn reduces fatigue –another contributor to workplace injuries,” explained Adrian Blandford, Blundstone’s Global Work & Safety Range Manager.
All six styles feature a water-resistant upper, lightweight, compression-resistant composite toe cap, and an all-new zoned
airflow footbed, AirCell®. The AirCell footbed is uniquely constructed with specialised zoning, designed to activate ventilation, allowing air to be pumped through channels to the heel, arch of the foot and between toes, offering moisture control and cushioning comfort as the wearer walks and moves, with the end result of no more sweaty feet.
The overarching comfort system, SoftCell®, utilises a combination of specialist materials and a unique biomechanical footcradling design to increase stability, balance, comfort, and manoeuvrability, while reducing ankle-slip risk and fatigue.
An Australian first, the RotoFlex range also features Infinergy®. This E-TPU material is a super-elastic energy foam from BASF which is soft but resilient – providing enhanced cushioning and reducing the impact of every step taken.
Available now, RotoFlex delivers a strong foundation from the ground up, providing unbeatable fit and unrivalled comfort, perfect from day one.
Blundstone – stability meets the freedom to move with RotoFlex.
Taking
In today’s competitive world the need to keep machinery well maintained, operative and generating revenue, and subsequently profitable, is critical now more than ever. Keeping productivity up, running and maintenance costs down, and reinvesting in production equipment is sound business practice and a discipline that works in each and every business’ favour over time.
With these points in mind, Alemlube is pleased to announce the imminent release of the Alemlube 630A 20V lithium-ion cordless grease gun. It’s next-level greasing.
Designed and engineered by Samoa in Spain (Europe’s number-one workshoplubrication-equipment manufacturer), the 630A cordless grease gun offers users dual flow rate modes delivering 160g/min (high) or 100g/min (low), and maximum grease pressures of up to 10,000psi (700bar), enabling operators to undertake plant and machinery greasing more quickly and effectively than has been the case in the past.
The optimised electric motor increases battery life, creating more power, thereby enabling greasing to be undertaken through blocked and dirty grease points with a minimum of time and effort.
Durable pump design with quality components ensures a long service life with overpressure and overload protection part of the clever European engineering and design solution.
As well as providing operators with information in regard to how much grease
The multi-function LCD displays how much grease is left in the cartridge and how much charge is left in the battery.
has been put into a bearing, pin, bush, seal or slide, the multi-function LCD also lets the operator know how much grease is left in the cartridge (grease level) and how much charge is left in the battery (battery level).
Supplied standard with 2 x 2Ah lithiumion batteries which can be used to dispense up to 16 x 450g cartridges of grease, a 4Ah battery capable of delivering up to 32 cartridges before battery recharge is required is also available as an upgrade option for high-volume users and sites.
Three-way loading (cartridge, loader pump or bulk fill), the 630A has a builtin LED work light with on/off control and coupler, and a 1.1m flexible extension holster with robust rubber feet providing stability on flat surfaces.
Also included are a plastic, moulded, anti-corrosive carry case which helps to reduce the likelihood of foreign particle ingress into the operator’s valuable plant and machinery, a 2Ah spare battery, a battery charger which recharges the battery in as little as 70 minutes and a shoulder strap to minimise operator fatigue. They’re all supplied standard.
For further information on the new Alemlube 630A 20V lithium-ion cordless grease gun – covered by a 5-year warranty – contact your local Alemlube distributor or the Alemlube branch closest to you now.
Original units have been known to leak coolant either externally (from around the flanged joints on either side of the cooler) or internally, whereby coolant leaks into the engines intake system – pulled along by the recirculated exhaust gasses. Both of these failures are cause for EGR cooler replacement.
Goss has re-engineered the PX Ranger cooler and developed a new manufacturing process to produce a superior product which is less prone to cracking or leakage. Unfortunately, using a quality replacement part is only half the battle – installation of these units requires additional inspections and a very concise coolant bleed procedure.
Inspect the failed unit to determine the cause of the original failure.
• A leak due to corrosion will require the cooling system to be flushed before installation of the new unit
• A split core may have been triggered by over pressurisation. Be sure to check for cylinder combustion leaks
• A leaking coolant hose can draw air into the system resulting in hotspots and poor flow through the cooler
• Make sure the heater core has not been bypassed. This practice removes a critical part of the cooling system –again resulting in reduced flow through the EGR cooler
• Check if the EGR valve itself has not been blanked off. The EGR needs to function to ensure correct and efficient cooler operation.
When installing the new cooler, replace the mounting bolts with new units and torque to manufacturer specifications using mild strength thread locking compound as they are prone to vibrate loose causing the cooler to crack.
Vacuum bleeding is the only way to guarantee that there are no airlocks within the system during coolant fill. This will prevent repeat failure of the cooler.
Attach the bleed adaptor to the coolant fill point and open the air valve. After a few minutes of operation, the coolant hoses will flatten, and the pressure gauge will stabilise with a negative value. Close the valve and disconnect the shop air supply. Monitor the gauge for a few minutes for any rise in pressure. This indicates
an air leak that must be rectified before continuing. If the gauge remains at negative pressure during this interval, then the refill process can begin.
Keep an eye on the coolant level in the fill container – do not let the suction hose lift air or you will need to start again. When the gauge rises to zero the system is full with no air locks. Start the big Fords engine and allow it to warm up.
Confirm the thermostat opens by checking temperature at both top and bottom hoses. Remember to recheck for any leaks through a full temperature cycle of the cooling system.
GOSS is a leading provider of Genuine Alternative aftermarket and Original Equipment Supplier (OES) parts. With over 75 years sourcing and developing the world’s leading OES and aftermarket parts, GOSS prides itself on offering workshops the Genuine Alternative.
To find your nearest GOSS stockist visit www.goss.com.au for product details, catalogues, technical documents, news, and other important information. ACM
The Ford PX Ranger is a popular work and weekend truck –as proved by the incredibly high number sold globally each month, and like all mass-produced vehicles these vehicles exhibit common failures after a period of time. The achilles heel of this mighty truck is its EGR cooler.
Being under the pump in your workshop can come in many forms whether it’s an increase in demand, a complex fixer upper or dealing with a stressful customer.
The build up can leave you exhausted and strained, impacting not only your other tasks but your personal life as well.
These psychosocial hazards and risks are considered the same as physical under Australian work health and safety laws, according to Safe Work Australia.
Both psychosocial and physical hazards are closely associated, meaning poor mental health can lead to increased risks in terms of physical hazards which can be incredibly serious, especially when it comes to the mechanics industry.
Recently, Safe Work Australia revealed that 9% of serious workers’ compensation claims are due to work-related mental health conditions.
Furthermore, an average of 7,984 Australians receive compensation for mental health conditions related to work each year.
Safe Work Australia has released tips in identifying and helping you keep on top of the psychosocial hazards in your business, after National Safe Work Month was held in October.
Here are Safe Work Australia’s four steps in preventing and managing psychosocial risks at your workplace.
This step is all about familiarising (or re-familiarising) yourself with your garage or workshop.
Have a chat with your workers and listen to what they have to say about the workplace, as well as notice how they interact with one another. Conducting a survey is another way to gauge how your colleagues are going in the shop.
Not just the employees, but the workshop itself might be worth a look over as well to see if there’s anything that might impact morale.
Psychosocial hazards caused at work can include:
• Demanding work
• Lack of support or role clarity
• Lack of recognition or reward
• Traumatic events
• Isolated work
• Unsafe physical environment
• Aggression, bullying or harassment
• Poor workplace interactions and relationships.
This is the part where you see what around your business could be conceived as a hazard.
Maybe one or two of your employees
gave you feedback about a work-related issue causing them grief, or you noticed a few co-workers were visibly frustrated. about something.
Other issues may need further looking into and require a formal assessment.
As the owner or manager, it’s now up to you to eliminate and control risk where you can. This can be easier said than done in some cases, but ultimately some hazards might be simply fixed by a conversation or change in approach/attitude to an issue.
The goal here is to minimise the risks a hazard may have on impacting your staffs’ mental health.
Once a hazard has been identified, assessed and controlled, the fourth step is all about making sure it doesn’t become a hazard again in the future.
It’s up to everyone, especially the owner/ manager, to keep on top of issues with regular check ups and reviews of control measures in place.
With the holidays just around the corner, mechanics are packed to the rafters with jobs to get ready for summer.
Australasia’s largest automotive cooperative, Capricorn, has been a part of the Australian and New Zealand automotive repair industry for almost five decades.
In addition to the Trade Account, Travel, Capricorn Service Data and more, becoming a Capricorn Member also makes you eligible to become a Member of Capricorn Mutual, a mutual offering risk protection for automotive businesses.
According to Jim Glossat, CEO Capricorn Risk Services, “Having been involved exclusively in the automotive aftermarket industry for decades, we do have a far better understanding of the risk protection cover that our members need. This has enabled us to structure custom made protection that ensures the strongest possible cover when it is needed.”
Designed exclusively to meet the unique needs of automotive businesses, Capricorn Mutual offers a range of risk protection options to cover all requirements. General business, equipment and personal insurance products found in the market are very general and do not consider the intricacies of the automotive repair industry. Few businesses require the constant upgrading of equipment and technology needed to remain competitive, compared with today’s automotive repair and service industry.
Capricorn Mutual’s exclusive nature means it also puts Members first. “Being a
Mutual – whereby Capricorn Members are the owners of the business as well as its customers, means that we can focus solely on our purpose, which is to support our Members in their greatest times of need, without having to worry about external investors wanting their share of the profits,” Mr Glossat stated.
“Any profits earned are invested back into the business in the form of additional products and improved pricing to ensure our Mutual provides a product that Capricorn Members need at a highly competitive price,” Mr Glossat added.
An additional benefit for Capricorn’s 25,000 plus Members is that all payments for CML protection are made through the Capricorn Trade Account, thereby earning Rewards Points.
To find out more about how you can access Capricorn Mutual protection that you can trust, or to become a Capricorn Member, visit www.capricorn.coop
KYB has over 60 years’ experience in designing and manufacturing critical steering components for OE customers. With this experience, KYB has commenced the global release of ‘in-demand’ replacement steering components to the aftermarket.
Just like KYB’s suspension products, the new Steering range is also vehicle specific, making each part ideal for its corresponding make and model. First fit first time, every time!
* in accordance with PAS 2060, see www.castrol.com/cneutral for more information.
The C02e emissions are calculated in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol’s Product Life Cycle Standard and includes life cycle emissions. The demonstration of carbon neutrality will be assured by an Independent Third-Party and certified to BSI’s PAS 2060 carbon neutral specification. See www.castrol.com/cneutral for more information.
