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Shop Press is the news and idea hub for everything related to working on cars and trucks, focusing on repair, technology, and wrenching lifestyle.

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The Only Thing Better Than Making Money Is Not Losing It

Service writers, this piece is aimed squarely at you. You may be aware of many of the costs of doing business. Recognizing potential costs and preventing them from eating into your shop’s productivity is one of the skills that separates a good writer from an...

Sergio Pininfarina: Sculpting Speed and Beauty in Metal (Part 1)

There is little argument that Sergio Pininfarina was a major influence in 20th-century car design. The proof is in the cars … many of them legendary Ferraris. Building on his family’s legacy, he led Carrozzeria Pininfarina into a period where design and engineering...

Best of Shop Press 2025

Another year is in the books here at Shop Press, and we thought we’d take this time to look back at 2025's most notable articles, videos, and more. Here’s what you (and we) loved this year on Shop Press as we head into 2026.Most-viewed overall Our most-viewed post...

Lash is Cash

There are some items on a maintenance checklist that neither mechanics nor writers will recommend. Sometimes that’s because a visual inspection or assessment seems at odds with an overly rigorous service schedule. Sometimes, the condition of the car or the financial...

Clean It or Crack It

Picture this: You’re installing a cylinder head, you’re tightening a head bolt to spec, and you’re feeling good—until crack! The sound every wrench-turner dreads hearing: your engine block saying goodbye to its structural integrity. So, what happened? Chances are, a...

Set the Toe and Go!

“Oh, and it’s pulling to the right a bit. Can you check that out?” If you run a small shop with just one or two service bays, it’s likely you’ve heard this before, since in a small shop the service writer, mechanic, foreman, parts department, and lube tech are often...

Better ops with SOPs

Better ops with SOPs

A standard operating procedure (SOP) is a documented tool designed to provide formal, consistent, and efficient results. Put another way, an SOP can bring order to a process that might otherwise be unpredictable at best and chaotic at worst. And given how dynamic the...
How do you handle billing shop supplies?

How do you handle billing shop supplies?

When I first began writing service at an indie auto repair shop, one line item on the bill was “shop supplies.” We tacked on some percentage of the bill, capping at $19.88. Shows you how long ago that was! Customers would ask about it, and many were angry about the...
Airbag direction – ASE practice questions (VIDEO)

Airbag direction – ASE practice questions (VIDEO)

Airbag direction – ASE practice questions (VIDEO) Description When placing an airbag on a workbench, which is the safest direction for it to face? A) Up B) Down C) To a wall D) Away from a wall More ASE Practice Questions Airbag direction – ASE practice...