An automobile chassis is the most significant component of any automobile. If you wish to enter the business of automotive chassis components and automotive frame components, you need to have adequate knowledge about automotive chassis and automotive frame parts.

If you are an automobile chassis supplier, or have car frames for sale, you need to keep your knowledge up-to-date in order to grow your business. In addition, if you own an automotive maintenance workshop, you may want to educate and train your workforce about handling automobile frame components and chassis parts. Furthermore, if you wish to pursue a career in auto mechanics, you can enroll for certification courses at recognized institutions.

To acquire information about vehicle chassis and frame components, you can:

1. Learn the basics of automotive chassis and frame components
2. Subscribe to magazines dedicated to the automotive industry
3. Join certification courses in auto mechanics

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Understand the basics of the automotive chassis and frame components

If you are a beginner in the field of automotive chassis and frame components, you can learn the basics by reading useful information on the websites of some data publishing organizations and business-to-business (B2B) marketplaces.

I recommend: Automotive Online is a reputable B2B marketplace that provides basic information about automobile chassis and frames. Integrated Publishing, an online source for technical information, offers useful information about automotive frame components and chassis.

Opt for certification courses that provide education about automotive chassis and frame components

You can educate yourself or your staff by joining certification courses in automotive mechanics that include useful knowledge about automotive chassis and frame components in their syllabi.

I recommend: The big name in training certification for auto parts and repair is the National Institute for Automobile Service Excellence. ASE offers testing and certification for parts specialists and undercar specialists. WyoTech, a recognized technical institute of Corinthian Colleges, offers a certification course in motorsports chassis fabrication. Professional Career Development Institute (PCDI) offers a certification course in auto mechanics that includes detailed knowledge about car chassis, automotive chassis mounts and automotive frame components. In addition, Penn Foster Career School offers various diploma courses in automobiles such as ‘Auto Repair Technician’, ‘Auto Detailer’ and ‘Auto Body Repair Technician’.

Subscribe to magazines to gain the latest knowledge about automotive chassis and frame components

As the automotive industry is very dynamic, there are constant developments in the design of car chassis and car frames. For successful sale and purchase of automotive chassis and frame components, your knowledge of new developments in the industry is crucial. Subscribing to magazines dedicated to the automotive industry can help you keep your knowledge up-to-date.

I recommend: Kit Car is a magazine dedicated to the car industry, which also offers a buyers’ guide for cars. You can subscribe to SAE International, a magazine dedicated to automotive engineering. In addition, Automotive Design & Production, a magazine by Gardner Publications, can give you necessary updates on the automotive industry.

Automotive chassis and frame components are important elements of the vehicle you drive and repair. As an automotive repair specialist, it is your duty to stay on top of the automobile chassis industry and offer the best automotive frame components and car chassis to your customers.

There are many types of automobile frame components available from a vast array of automobile chassis suppliers. To offer the best automotive repair and customization services, you should:

1. Decide on the chassis and frame services you will offer and the supplies needed to complete those tasks.

2. Find a reputable chassis and frame distributor from which to purchase quality materials.

3. Ask for discounts, warranties and solid return policies when working with chassis and frame manufacturers and distributors.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Decide on the auto frame and chassis repair services you'll offer

You need to offer the same services most repair shops offer for auto repair. This will keep you competitive as long as you should price your services and parts competitively for your local market. Also, consider offering a little something extra to pull customers from your competitors, like offering car frames for sale.

I recommend: Eliot's Complete Auto Care Shop provides website visitors an extensive amount of information you can use to compare the services you should offer and the way you would put policies into place to protect and honor your customers. Scott Sherman has been in business a long time and his business, Scott Sherman Auto Care, prides itself on the services offered and the policies projected.

Find a reputable automotive chassis and frame supplier

Automotive chassis and frames have specific installation guidelines that must be met, requiring specific certifications and skill sets the installers will need at your repair business. This will boost your company's reputation to have employees who are fully certified. You should look for the same solid reputation in a chassis and frame distributor.

I recommend: Johnson Bros. Metal Forming Company offers custom frame services perfect for creating aftermarket or custom frames, like those use with off road vehicles. Ameristar Manufacturing has many services dealing in fabrication of chassis including sheet metal fabrication.

Ask for discounts, warranties and solid return policies on chassis parts and frames

Don't be afraid to ask about discounts, extended warranties and return policies. By protecting your business materials, you are also protecting your customers from problems with the materials used in their automotive chassis and frame components installation or repair.

I recommend: Order from Car Parts Wholesale to save even more money and order in bulk for make and models you get often or to sell over the counter for do-it-yourself customers. Auto Parts Giant is another auto parts wholesaler that has a lot of auto parts as discount prices, they offer a large selection of chassis and frame components.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Always warranty your work for a set period of time. This is important to protect both your business and your customers. When dealing with chassis and auto body frames, your work is crucial for the legality and safety of the customer and their passengers.

In the automotive industry, the terminology of the past is not necessarily the terminology of today. Studying automotive chassis and frame components key terms gives you the current definitions so you don't confuse yourself and others when working on a vehicle.

Use your knowledge of automotive chassis and frame components key terms to effectively communicate with distributors and customers when working on cars, trucks and other vehicles. This demonstrates your professionalism in keeping current in the automotive industry.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Body in white

The body in white, also called BWI, is a vehicle's main structure. Manufacturers generally make it from welded steel pressings, making a solid, stiff and strong frame.

I recommend: ANSYS addresses the changes in BWI as manufacturers attempt to meet government fuel-efficiency regulations. It highlights the use of simulation in body-in-white design.

Chassis

This term refers to the frame of a car, but modern usage defines it as all the components connecting the body in white, from the wheels to the steering and the engine. Examples of these components are the suspension and subframe.

I recommend: FTM Studio offers a look into automobile chassis history. It covers decades from the 1940s through the 1980s.

Suspension

The suspension is a component of the chassis of a vehicle. It includes parts such as the wheels, shock absorbers and springs that connect to the vehicle's axles and wheels. The system is mechanical.

I recommend: TechInsights, a Division of United Business Media, offers articles highlighting the design of suspension in the chassis.

Differential

The differential is the part of the chassis that allows the wheels on a vehicle to rotate at different speeds, using gears for situations such as turning a corner. It does this while giving each wheel an equal amount of torque.

I recommend: TheAutoChannel takes a look at how Ford utilizes a differential in the Ford Focus.

Cab and chassis

This terminology refers to specialized chassis components outfitted with bodies for vehicles such as trucks, motor homes, ambulances and fire engines.

I recommend: Sunrise Equipment Company offers a number of cab and chassis vehicles for rent, lease or buying. It has images of many of the cab and chassis models on its website.

Driveshaft

The driveshaft is the chassis component that transfers power from a motor or engine to the parts that need it. It generally does this through a rotary motion.

I recommend: ClassicTruckShop.com offers tips for working on the driveshaft part of the chassis. It recommends tools, offers tips on setting up the chassis and offers information on testing.