Category 1: Shop Essentials & SOPs
This color-coded container is used to dispose of oily rags to prevent spontaneous combustion.
What is a Red Oily Waste Can?
The "P" in a tire size like P225/65R17 stands for this.
What is Passenger?
This dashboard light shaped like a horseshoe with an exclamation point indicates this.
What is Low Tire Pressure?
This component acts like a "pivot point," connecting the control arm to the steering knuckle.
What is a Ball Joint?
This is the most common type of steering system used in modern passenger cars.
What is Rack and Pinion?
Before raising a vehicle on a two-post lift, you must ensure these four points are hitting the manufacturer’s recommended locations.
What are Lift Points (or Jack Points)?
This is the name for the heavy spots on a tire/wheel assembly that cause vibrations at high speeds.
What is Imbalance (or Static/Dynamic Unbalance)?
This type of TPMS uses the ABS wheel speed sensors to "guess" if a tire is low based on its diameter.
What is Indirect TPMS?
The main job of this component is to dampen the oscillation (bouncing) of the springs.
What is a Shock Absorber (or Strut)?
These components connect the steering rack to the steering knuckles.
What are Tie Rod Ends?
This standard procedure should be performed every time a vehicle enters the shop to document its current condition.
What is a Pre-Work Inspection (or Walk-around)?
This measurement on a tire tells you how old the tire is and is usually expressed in a 4-digit code.
What is the DOT Code (or Date Code)?
This type of TPMS uses a battery-powered sensor mounted inside the wheel.
What is Direct TPMS?
A growling or humming noise that changes with vehicle speed is a classic symptom of this failing part.
What is a Wheel Bearing?
Many modern vehicles have replaced hydraulic power steering with this type of system to improve fuel economy.
What is Electric Power Steering (EPS)?
This tool is used to ensure fasteners are tightened to the exact manufacturer specification, preventing over-tightening.
What is a Torque Wrench?
To achieve a proper "Dynamic Balance," weights must be placed on both the inner and outer parts of this.
What is the Wheel Rim?
After rotating tires, this process must be done so the computer knows the new location of each sensor.
What is a TPMS Relearn (or Reset)?
This suspension part is designed to reduce "body roll" during cornering.
What is a Sway Bar (or Stabilizer Bar)?
This steering angle refers to the inward or outward tilt of the top of the tire when viewed from the front.
What is Camber?
When using a floor jack, you must always use these before crawling under the vehicle.
What are Jack Stands?
This is the distance between the centerline of the wheel and the mounting surface of the hub.
What is Wheel Offset?
This component of the TPMS sensor should usually be replaced every time a tire is changed to prevent leaks.
What is the Service Kit (or Valve Core/Seal)?
This type of suspension uses a combined shock and coil spring unit as a structural member of the car.
What is a MacPherson Strut?
This is the "self-centering" steering angle, often compared to the front wheels on a shopping cart.
What is Caster?