Auto Crafts Center puts the brakes on

  • Published
  • By Tech Sgt. Charlie Miller
  • 47th Flying Training Wing public affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The Auto Crafts Center held a front-brake class at their main car repair facility inside building 525 on Saturday, Jan. 16.

"This class is taught just once a year, but we do have other car care classes quarterly," said Luis Jimenez, assistant manager of the Auto Crafts Center and class instructor.

"We have many options available for everyone here at Laughlin that can help keep their cars running smoothly."

Saturday's two-hour class, attended by seven Airmen and one spouse, was designed to give Airmen the basics on how to accomplish a complete front-brake job. Replacing worn out brake pads, inspecting and replacing the rotors, checking the brake lines for wear and damage and what to look for around the front wheel assembly were taught.

"When I was a kid, I remember my dad working on the family station wagon and I came here to learn how to do brakes on my own," said Capt. Jeff Hedgpeth, an 87th Flying Training Squadron instructor pilot.

It was Capt. Hedgpeth's Nissan Altima that served as the car for the students to work on. The auto center uses one of the students' vehicles to repair during the hands-on portion of the class.

"The brakes were squeaking pretty bad," said the captain.

The students were given the opportunity to work together and remove the old brakes and rotors, inspect the wheel assembly, and install the new parts, all under the watchful eye of Jimenez. At some of the more difficult points, Jimenez stepped in and either demonstrated how to proceed or showed the students what a mechanic would do.

"To actually see a technician do the hard parts was great," said 2nd Lt Eric Butler, a student pilot assigned to the 84th FTS. "I have an older car and something always needs to be fixed. I've done a lot around cars but I've never seen a complete brake job performed before."

Jimenez said that the next class will be held in the spring and will focus on how to tune up your vehicle.

"We will cover spark plugs, spark plug wires, how to change your air filter and much more," said Jimenez. For further information, call the Center at 830-298-5844.