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

Time-Saving Tip for Bleeding Stubborn Brakes (VIDEO)

Time-Saving Tip for Bleeding Stubborn Brakes (VIDEO)

Some brake jobs can turn into headaches when small air bubbles get trapped within the caliper itself. To resolve the problem, you could pump the brakes over and over, or you could try this handy suggestion to free the air bubble and move on with the brake bleed process.

read more

Hot Off the Press

Shop Profile: Hansville Repair

It’s a small village, but Hansville, Washington makes a grand first impression. As Hansville Road crests a hill and descends into town, a breathtaking panorama unfolds—Puget Sound, Whidbey Island, and distant Mount Baker stretched across the windshield like a...

Mastering the Numbers

Running an auto repair shop is about more than just fixing cars. While providing top-notch service is essential, managing a truly successful business also depends on understanding and acting on the financial barometers of the operation. One of the most important of...

Don’t Overlook This Step When Servicing Brakes (VIDEO)

Description A brake service job isn’t complete unless the reservoir cap’s diaphragm has been pushed back into place. This simple step is easy to forget, but it helps to reduce brake fluid contamination and ensure proper system function.Related Videos

Watch This Video On Dry Sump Oil Systems

Recently, I was talking with Shop Press head honcho (Chief Bottle Washer—Ed.) Lemmy about something I wasn’t familiar with: dry sump oil systems. If you’re a newer tech who hasn’t worked on any high-end sports cars, you also might not be familiar with these systems....

Tariff Talk: A Look Backwards at The Chicken Tax

Well, the mood’s been a little heavy with all the talk about tariffs as of late. There’s an automotive tax that’s been around for a long time that is a perfect thing to mention if a conversation is getting uncomfortable. And if you’re a car nut, you should at least...

Watch This Video on the Inventor Who Put Lead in Gasoline

Recently, I went down an internet rabbit hole about why gasoline once had lead in it and how it got removed. In my searches, I found this video on inventor Thomas Midgley Jr., who not only invented leaded gasoline to combat engine knocking but also synthesized...

Tools beyond the basics for DIYers

by | Mar 18, 2025

Except when it comes to mountain bikes and drum kits, I’m frugal (read: cheap) by nature, so I’m not the kind of guy who would blow a chunk of change on tools that I will never use. I’m also keenly aware of the limitations of my skills when it comes to automotive repairs. That doesn’t mean that I wasn’t like a kid on Christmas morning when I brought home this nifty new toolbox, a gift from a close friend who’d had enough of my incessant whining about my ancient, overloaded junker that hobble-wobbled across my garage floor like the shopping cart I pulled out of the supermarket corral yesterday. I can’t begin to express the joy I felt when I transferred my lifelong collection of hand tools from the creaky shallow drawers of the old chest to the smooth-as-glass ball bearing-enabled drawers of the new. Even my oddball assortment of wrenches that had multiplied like rabbits over the decades fit like soldiers in parade formation. Beautiful.

I don’t own a torque wrench. I don’t own a tap and die set. And the last thing a guy with my inexhaustible zeal for new, potentially dangerous hobbies needs–without the benefit of any prior training–is a welder. Or anything that makes fire, for that matter

That said, I can’t disagree with any of the recommendations in this very helpful video. Nick and Andy made some solid choices for items that elevate the shop tool inventory of just about any DIYer who wants to level up beyond kicking the tires of his vehicle when it won’t start. I’ll go so far as to say that I see an inexpensive borescope in my future arsenal because I’m tired of pretzeling my aching body into weird positions to peer into the dark recesses of my engine compartment or undercar.

I don’t think I’m unique, and I believe Shop Press readers would agree that there are two basic types of backyard mechanics. There’s the type exemplified by Nick, Andy, and Liam, any of whom could probably build a car out of the parts they’d find if they were helo-dropped into a salvage yard in an episode of a yet-to-be conceived reality TV show. And then there are folks like me who make up the majority of enthusiasts. In much the same way we’ll readily treat our common cold with over-the-counter medicine, we’re also smart enough to know not to attempt our own cardiac surgery. We know that when it comes to anything beyond the basics, we need to turn to the professionals.

The articles and other content contained on this site may contain links to third party websites. By clicking them, you consent to Dorman’s Website Use Agreement.

Related Articles

Shop Press Comment Policy

Participation in this forum is subject to Dorman’s Website Terms & Conditions. Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline feedback
View all comments

Get Articles In Your Inbox

Subscribe to receive a monthly email summary of our latest Shop Press stories.

Shop Press

I agree to the above privacy statement and T&Cs

Thanks! You're now subscribed.