Category Archives: In The Shop

A Big Toolbox Does Not a Good Mechanic Make

Posted on November 21, 2022 by Dan

Walk into a mechanic shop and you’ll see all kinds of different toolboxes. Big, small, new, old, different colors, different brands. Some mechanics seem to see them as status indicators, where you’re only a “real mechanic” if you own a … Continue reading →

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The Worst Car I’ve Ever Worked On

Posted on November 7, 2022 by Dan

In my over eight years of working on cars as a mechanic, I’ve seen a lot of cars in bad shape. Rusty, neglected, dirty, all kinds of problems. But when a car has so many problems you don’t know where … Continue reading →

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Bent Brake Caliper

Posted on October 24, 2022 by Dan

I was working on a Honda Pilot, replacing the rear brake pads and rotors. Everything seemed normal until I took the caliper slider pins out to clean and lubricate them.

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Stuck Rotor Leads to Used Parts Fiasco

Posted on October 10, 2022 by Dan

I had sold rear brakes on a 2014 Honda Civic, and was taking the old rotors off when I ran into a problem. The right rear rotor was sticking on the hub and studs, so I had to hit it … Continue reading →

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Don’t Inflate Tires Until They “Look Full”

Posted on September 26, 2022 by Dan

Far too often, I’m checking the tire pressures on a car and they are way overfilled. Most of the cars I work on specify tire pressures around 30-35 psi, and unless they’re low from a leak, they’re usually somewhere around … Continue reading →

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Don’t Stack Wheel Spacers

Posted on August 29, 2022 by Dan

The same wheels don’t fit every car. The width, diameter, and backspacing will vary depending on the design of the car, as well as the center bore size and lug nut pattern. Sometimes people want to change out the wheels … Continue reading →

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The Scariest Tire I’ve Ever Seen

Posted on August 15, 2022 by Dan

As a mechanic, I see a lot of worn out tires. Usually we’re able to sell tires to a customer before they’re completely used up, but sometimes they’re already bald, or even worn down to cords. Sometimes the tires are … Continue reading →

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A Lot of Organization Goes a Long Way

Posted on July 18, 2022 by Dan

Every mechanic eventually accumulates extra nuts and bolts. Sometimes it’s just a handful sitting on their toolbox, or it’s a box full on the work bench, or for some it’s an entire drawer of their toolbox. Most hardware collections I’ve … Continue reading →

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Aftermarket Trailer Hitch Ripping Out Sheet Metal

Posted on July 4, 2022 by Dan

Some cars have factory-designed trailer hitches available, with well-designed attachment points. Other cars, usually ones that aren’t really meant to do any towing, don’t have factory options, so you’d have to get an aftermarket one. I’ve seen a lot of … Continue reading →

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Be Careful With Your Sparks

Posted on June 20, 2022 by Dan

There are multiple things mechanics do that create a lot of sparks. Some are destructive, some are constructive: metal cut-off wheels, acetylene torches, and welding. When doing any of these, you need to be aware of where your sparks are … Continue reading →

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