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.

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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...

Chrome Overload: GM’s “Mistake of ’58”

I love chrome and mid-century automotive design. But I recently found a video that made me question my belief that there’s no such thing as too much chrome. The video is called “Mistake of '58: The GM Chromemobiles and Far Out '59s” from YouTuber Ed’s Auto Reviews....

Hand in Glove: EV and Hybrid Service Safety

Note: Working on high-voltage systems should only be performed by a trained professional. The Dorman Training Center offers automotive training programs tailored to your shop’s needs and taught by ASE-certified instructors. Learn more at:...

Symbol of a Stumble: Edsel’s “Horse Collar” Grille

Throughout the history of automotive manufacturing, there have been some notorious flops. Cars such as the Yugo GV, DMC DeLorean, Ford Pinto, and Pontiac Aztek are still remembered by many as symbols of automaker stumbles. Today, I want to talk about a design element...

Don’t Get Hung Up on Hanging Calipers

​Whether you’re turning wrenches for a living as your nine to five — or just for fun as your five to nine — chances are you’ve needed to get a brake caliper out of the way and keep it there for a while. As most of you should already know, hanging a brake caliper from...

Average U.S. vehicle age reaches new record high, again

Average U.S. vehicle age reaches new record high, again

Does it feel like the cars and trucks in your repair shop keep getting older and older? Well, that’s because they are. The average U.S. vehicle age is now up to 12.5 years, according to a recent analysis by S&P Global Mobility (formerly IHS Markit). That’s a new...
Right to Repair gains momentum in Maine

Right to Repair gains momentum in Maine

The state motto of Maine, “Dirigo,” Latin for “I lead,” is being embraced by the members of the Maine Right to Repair Coalition who find themselves at the vanguard of a movement to ratify legislation that protects independent repair shops. Last February, a referendum...
Which road maintenance fleet has the best snowplow names?

Which road maintenance fleet has the best snowplow names?

Asking the public for creative input can sometimes be an effective way to crowdsource ideas and foster community engagement. Or, it can be an exercise in large-scale trolling, as we saw with the infamous tale of Boaty McBoatface. Nevertheless, over the past few years,...