Reverse Bleed Your UTV

by Tagan Johnson | Jan 14, 2020 | 101 Tech Tips, Home Page Featured

This cry for help sound familiar?

“I’ve spent at least 12 hours trying to bleed the brake lines on my UTV, but the pedal still goes to the floor. Today I went to the store to get a vacuum pump. I must have run 3 bottles of fluid through the system and still nothing. What am I doing wrong?”

Sale!

Getting a perfectly firm pedal is a must have when out exploring new trails and flying through your favorites at top speed. Many people are having a hard time getting all the air out of their lines using traditional bleeding methods leaving a mushy pedal. There is really only one proven way to get that perfect pedal every time and that is by reverse bleeding the brakes. Reverse bleeding was originally designed for tough-to-bleed cars and trucks but recently it has been reveled as the only way to go with the fast growing UTV market.

Reverse bleeding pushes the trapped air, that can be so hard to get out with the abrupt curves in the brake lines, up and out the master cylinder. The air is naturally trying to rise and trying to pull it down when it doesn’t want to go that way can sometimes feel impossible. Working with this flow, as opposed to against it, results in a one man 5-10 minute process instead of potentially endless shenanigans. This reverse bleeder is perfect for UTV techs and weekend warriors alike.

Click Here to learn more about reverse bleeding process.

OUR LIST OF MUST HAVE BRAKE TOOLS | PLUS A CHRISTMAS GIFT

by Tagan Johnson | Dec 17, 2019 | 101 Tech Tips

It is true that brake jobs can be done with basic tools but it is also true that you can take a file to your knuckles and punch calipers in your spare time. Life is full of choices that all have consequences positive or negative. This list will help you make good choices, cuss less, and smile more.

1. A ratcheting pad spreader like this one from Blue Point. Yes, a C clamp and other things work but this makes life so much easier and much more efficient.

2. A bleeder that works every time. Having one tool that does the job of 4 is as good as it sounds. This bleeder can be used to reverse bleed, vacumn bleed, pressure bleed, and bench bleed.

*MERRY CHRISTMAS!! CLICK ON THE PICTURE AND ENJOY 60% OFF.

3. Wind down wasted time in your shop with a Pneumatic wind back tool. Hook it up to an air hose and a couple turns later you are ready to drop those pads in.

4. No one wants to work on drum brakes but the reality is you probably can’t avoid it. A simple kit like this one can make all the difference.

5. A rusted bleeder screw can really slow the process up and cause frustration. The Break Free goes in an air hammer and helps make loosening the bolt/screw quick and easy.

There is a lot to deal with as a mechanic and it is hard work. If anyone deserves to have a slight edge it is you, the list isn’t exhaustive but it gives you a start. Anything to add to our list? Comment below. Click on any of the pictures for more info. Good luck!

Can You Reduce Automotive Comebacks To Just 1%?

by Tagan Johnson | Sep 4, 2019 | 101 Tech Tips

Image result for angry customer automotive

Does your shop have too many comebacks?

Common reasons for comebacks

All auto shops have had exceptions to the rule, but generally comebacks can fall into one of three categories.

Miscommunication between Techs, Service Advisors and Customers
Inadequate quality control system in place
Improper tools or parts

Solutions

Get communication right! Make sure to communicate the system you want to use in the shop with clarity. The expectations should be clear. The right system will have technicians and managers communicating as frequently as possible. Most successful shops use an inspection checklist on paper or electronic form.

Image result for automotive shop meetings

Try this. Chances are there is a training problem that, if solved, will reduce comebacks. As a team, you can implement a new comeback prevention system or improve your current one. If you want to make this transition smoother try creating a small survey asking the shop team who the responsibility of comebacks should fall on, what could be done to reduce comebacks and how to effectively work through them. The accountability will be much clearer and help slow down the diagnosis process to make sure things get done right the first time. After collecting information from your survey help guide your team toward an efficient comeback prevention system. Training could take place with a team meeting and followed up with an improved inspection checklist.

Some ideas include:

Calculate comeback rate. For comeback rate you can divide the customers that came back by the total number of customers.
After every vehicle is completed a manager or someone who didn’t perform the work can inspect the work.
The hours lost for the mistake could be deducted from the employee responsible for the comeback.
Make sure the right tools and parts are used for the job. E.g. BrakeStrips are proven to reduce comebacks significantly by providing a visual aid for the customer. Learn more here.
Religiously keep track of where and with which services the comebacks are occurring. Consider discontinuing a service that often results in a comeback.

TRY BRAKESTRIP