Shop Press

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

From the creative minds at:

FEATURE STORY

Hot Off the Press

Torches for courses: which heating tools should a mechanic own?

The oxyacetylene torch is the cornerstone of any shop’s torch selection, and for good reason. Oxyacetylene is the industry standard for heating and cutting with a flame. With some practice and a little know-how, this time-honored tool can handle virtually any torch...

A few tips for ball joint removal

I was thinking about some of the stumbling blocks I had when I began turning wrenches a long time ago, and I recall ball joints sticking out as problematic. I could not for the life of me understand why other mechanics considered them “gravy work.” And that’s because...

Automotive professionals vs. popular auto myths! (VIDEO)

Description Spend any amount of time in the auto repair industry, and you’ll hear customers sharing strange ideas about the “right” way to drive and care for their vehicles. We assembled a list of common and confusing advice, then asked the gang to weigh in on some...

Five things to know when working on HID headlights

While working on some high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights this week, I realized that soon many younger techs are likely to be inexperienced with these lighting systems—and it’s not their fault. In the transition years between halogen lighting and the LED era,...

What’s the best way to move tools about the shop?

I was recently off my feet due to some unplanned surgery. Normally I go stalking around the garage like the proverbial bull in the china shop, but not lately—my ankle was a mess. Have you ever had an injury or illness serious enough to impact the way you make a buck?...

The best way to help customers find your auto repair shop

Description If your customers can’t easily find your location, hours, or contact information, you’ll clearly struggle to earn their business. That’s why creating and updating your Google Business account is both one of the simplest and most important things you can do...

Which type of salvage yard do you prefer?

Which type of salvage yard do you prefer?

In the world of salvage auto parts, most yards fall into one of two camps: you-pull-it and full-serve. You-pull-it yards are just what they sound like: bring your tools; you’ll be removing the parts you need. Full-serve is just the opposite; you call up and either...
VIDEO: The fastest way to remove a wiper arm

VIDEO: The fastest way to remove a wiper arm

VIDEO: The fastest way to remove a wiper arm Description We’ve all gotten stuck using a pry bar, the smallest two-jaw puller in the toolbox, or a block of wood and a mallet to free a wiper arm, but there’s an easier way—a Dorman Wiper Arm Tool. Watch as...
Serviceability Hall Of Shame: captive chassis mounts

Serviceability Hall Of Shame: captive chassis mounts

In today’s SHOS, I’d like to discuss captive chassis bolts. You’ll find these holding things like subframes and control arms to unibody chassis, and probably in some other spots, too. In this article, I’m showing the way Dodge chose to mount the first-gen Dakota cabs...
Don’t do dangerous stuff: a reminder to be safe in the shop

Don’t do dangerous stuff: a reminder to be safe in the shop

Dear Past Me, Stop doing dangerous stuff in the shop. Love,Future You That was basically all I wanted to write for this piece. I am of an age where I am still young enough to do dangerous things, and I am also old enough to realize how many are stupid. I was raised in...
The fastest way to remove valves from a cylinder head (VIDEO)

The fastest way to remove valves from a cylinder head (VIDEO)

Removing valves from a cylinder head should be done carefully if you have a notion to reuse the valves, springs, collars, and keepers. A spring compressor is the right tool for the job. That said, in my salvage yard days, I learned a trick I still use today if I’m...