Undercar Specialty Warehouse in Dayton Ohio

It only takes a thief a few minutes with a battery powered reciprocating saw to cut your converter out from under your car or truck, but the replacement bill can be a whopper.

We started out as a supplier of exhaust systems for South West Ohio, and expanded into everything else to fix your car after becoming firmly established as the price leader for exhaust systems in Dayton.

So, if the thieves steal your exhaust, we empathize with you, and can at least help you get the replacement converter at the best possible price.

Catalytic converter thefts climbing across U.S.
Their catalytic converters were stolen, too, in a crime rising rapidly across the country, from riverside parking lots in Cincinnati to highways along the California coast.

Stolen converters, which contain small amounts of the precious metals platinum and palladium, follow copper wire and sewer grates on the long list of metal items targeted by thieves who want to cash in on climbing metal commodity prices.

“The second I turned it over, and it sounded like a tank and a Harley, I knew exactly what had occurred,” said Boyer, 33, an assistant technology director at a downtown business.

Stories like Boyer’s are increasingly common as converter thieves slip under vehicles with battery-powered saws, sometimes in daylight, and in a matter of minutes leave unsuspecting drivers with rumbling exhaust systems and shocking repair bills.

The thefts were a sporadic problem nationally until about a year ago but have grown to a near-epidemic, said Frank Scafidi, a spokesman for the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Scafidi received an overwhelming response when he recently questioned bureau agents.

“Everybody was seeing reports of this, hearing reports of this, talking to the local cops — all over the country,” he said.

Police in one northeast Ohio community say they had about 75 converter thefts this year…

No comprehensive national totals are available on converter thefts, which are usually lumped into theft or vandalism categories. But anecdotal evidence shows a growing problem around the country, said John Nielsen, director of the AAA’s Approved Auto Repair and Auto Buying Network.

The converters, which reduce harmful emissions, have been standard equipment since the mid-1970s, and some newer vehicles have up to four.

Five years ago, platinum and palladium traded respectively for about $608 and $208 per troy ounce, a metal measurement slightly larger than an ounce. Platinum now goes for $2,083 per troy ounce, and palladium draws about $468 on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Prices have increased with demand as use of catalytic converters grew and platinum jewelry gained widespread popularity, said Larry Manziek, executive director of the International Precious Metals Institute, a Pensacola, Fla.-based trade organization. In the last year, electronic trading of platinum also increased, making the metal an easier investment while taking more of it out of circulation to ensure those funds, he said.

Scrap yards usually pay $50 to $100 per converter, but industry experts say the price varies among buyers and didn’t draw much attention until recent years, said Bruce Savage, a spokesman for the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, a trade organization.

Converter replacement costs are much higher, ranging from about $200 for a universal model to $1,000 or more for dealer-made parts.

Boyer paid $572 and plans to spend $360 for converter protectors. He’s now so wary that he put off buying a new vehicle and instead started driving an older and lower-riding car to work.

Since January, 43 converter thefts were reported in downtown Cincinnati, compared with eight during the first half of 2007, said Lt. Mark Briede, police spokesman. The police plan to analyze crime data to determine when and where extra police presence might prevent thefts.

Jackson Township police in northeast Ohio are working with other jurisdictions to track down culprits — some 75 converters have been taken in their area near Canton this year. The idea that the converters can equal quick cash for drugs or groceries in a downturned economy might contribute to the rise in the crime, township police Maj. Dave Zink said….

It’s bad enough someone stole your converter, but don’t get robbed twice by paying too much for a converter- call us at Undercar Specialty Warehouse and check our low prices on catalytic converters.

Filed by Undercar Specialty at 12:26 am under Catalytic Converters
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I needed to replace the front brakes on a 1999 Chevy Prizm (Toyota Corolla). This works for 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 Prizm’s and Toyota Corollas- same design, same brakes and pads.

First step was to check prices and find that Undercar Specialty warehouse had the best prices-which they did. I called some other auto parts stores around Dayton and here are the prices they quoted me:

• Autozone: Ceramic pads – $38.99 / Rotors – $18.49 ea.
• John’s Auto Parts: Ceramic Pads – $46.62 / Rotors – $18.54 ea.
• Advanced Auto Parts: Ceramic Pads – $39.99 / Rotors – $24.96 ea.
• Genuine Auto Parts: Ceramic Pads – $51.71 / Rotors – $29.95 ea.
• Carquest: Ceramic Pads – $35-$60 / Rotors – $23.00 ea.

I headed to the warehouse at 1654 Springfield Street in Dayton to pick up a set of ceramic pads- I bought the “Undercar Certanium brake pads” (no relation to USW) for $37.93 and the rotors- 2 for $31.02 ($15.51 ea)

I also picked up some Permatex “Ceramic extreme brake parts lubricant” (it’s purple) for $12.94 (it’s way more than I’ll need- but, I want these brakes to feel like new).

And I got some brake cleaner (Braklean) for $2.26

You will also need the tools pictured below. (Jack not pictured) Basically, a 14mm and a 17mm socket, a screwdriver (or something to pry with) and the lugnut wrench from the tool kit- or an impact wrench.

First step is to jack up your car. If you don’t know how to do this, there are many resources on the web, such as this one.

I like to wear the rubber gloves to keep my hands clean-and not have to worry about caustic chemicals on my skin.

Once your car is jacked up pop off rim cover (if you have one) with a screw driver. Now you have access to the lug nuts on your wheel. My car had four. You can use a socket or an impact wrench to remove them. Many cars will come with a kit that has a small jack and the correct wrench to fit your wheels. Check your trunk under your spare tire. Once the wheel is off place it to the side.

With the wheel off you should be able to see the caliper. This is the cover that goes over the whole brake/rotor system. There should be a square window here so you can inspect your brakes. You will see a disk in the center, then the brake pad, then the brake pad backing, then the piston. Refer to the picture below to see where they all lay out on my Prism.

To loosen the pads, you need to separate them from the piston. Use a flat head screw driver to pry the piston back.

Sometimes this window is big enough so you don’t have remove the caliper to get at the brakes, but on my Prism, I needed to remove the caliper to get at the brakes. There are two bolts that I need to remove to get the caliper off. Use a 14mm socket wrench for this. One of my pads was broken in half and separated from the backing.

The next step is to remove the anchor. Mine was very rusty so I used 17mm socket with a long bar to get some good leverage.

Once these 2 bolts are removed, its time to get out the rotor. You should just have to pull it out. Set it aside.

Back to the caliper: Now pull the slides out of your caliper and apply the lubricant on them and on the spots that touch pads.

Unpack your new rotors and place them side by side on the ground and admire the new one.

Pick up the new one and place it back on the anchor where the old one was.

Reattach the rotor to the anchor with 2 lugnuts just to hold it in place- and slide your new brake pads into the caliper and make sure they are in contact with your new rotor. Most people think this is wrong, but the pads will keep continuous contact with the rotor.

Reattach the caliper, and look through the window. Note that these pads are thicker now and you can’t even see the backing.

Now remove the 2 lug nuts that were holding on the rotor- and put the wheel back on, with all 4 lugnuts.

Tighten the lugnuts- put the cover back on.

Congratulations, you are done! Now just pump the brakes a few times to get them primed and tight. They should feel loose for one or two pumps, and then tighten up. Take the car out on a slow easy run and make sure everything is working smoothly.

Now go have a party with all the money you just saved. Invoice #1232211

Gallery of images used in post

Filed by Undercar Specialty at 4:36 pm under Brake Repair How-To, Geo Prizm/Toyota Corolla
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It’s not everyday you get paid to fix your car, but, that’s what we’re going to do. You buy your parts from us, then make a video or document your how to repair your car or truck with our parts and we’ll send you back some money!

It’s a crazy idea, but, why not share your knowledge and our great prices with everyone?

We don’t know how many of you will think this is a great idea- but, we’re going to give it a shot. The real winners will be the ones who post the best or most popular posts, we’ll be giving away good stuff and gift certificates to the people who help the most people out.

So, what are you waiting for? Order some parts- install them and get money back! Please remember, we’re a bunch of mechanics not web gurus- so if you can’t find the part in our online store (and we’re working on getting more stuff online) just give us a call. We’ll be happy to get you a price and ship it to you.

Thanks and happy posting.

Filed by Undercar Specialty at 3:49 pm under Undercar Specialty
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We started out as a supplier to professional muffler shops- carrying everything you need to work under the car. It wasn’t long before people started asking us for more and more things. So from starters to struts, brakes to belts, Undercar Specialty Warehouse has what you need to get under your car- and under the hood.

We pride ourselves on having car people on staff. Guys who know what we have and what it’s for. So if you have a question, or some hard to find parts, give us a call or send us an e-mail.

We’ll be posting information on new parts, new solutions and tricks and tips of the trade. So, bookmark our RSS feed- and who knows, maybe you’ll be the first to hear about some really great special pricing just for our readers.

Thanks for stopping by Undercar Specialty Warehouse- exhaust, brakes, and a whole lot more. As we like to say- the right part at the right price.

Filed by Undercar Specialty at 8:49 pm under Undercar Specialty
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