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I work on repairing my wheel cylinders (installing rebuild kits), alternators (replacing brushes), calipers (installing rebuild kits), starters (new brushes) and even repaired a battery temperature sensor by re soldering the thermistor lead wire. I suppose I would try and repair a master cylinder if I ever had a bad one and could find a rebuild kit for it. So far those are the only things I’ve had go bad that I have repaired. No special tools required. Just the normal ones.
I wish I had rebuilt my own calipers on my van two years ago instead of buying rebuilt cardone semi-loaded calipers. Since then I had to replace both calipers again anyways because one leaked and the other seized. I had to turn in my old calipers for the core charge so it’s too late to change my mind. I’m sure I would have had a longer lasting repair buying a quality rebuild kit and doing it myself.
Here is another question. Do you think it is profitable to rebuild these parts ? Cam you make a profit on them ? Please let me know.
I would imagine you can. There are business that sell rebuilt parts but there are many considerations to think about though. My number 1 would be liability insurance if you can get it. Then there’s overhead expenses, cost of supplies to rebuild the part, how you are going to obtain the parts to rebuild, warranty?, shipping costs, core charge or not? These are just a few. You will be unknown so price that you can sell at will have to be low until you have established a name that is recognized. You will have to check everything that will be involved in this venture to see if you can make a profit. I figure I save a substantial amount on my own parts and I have the knowledge of exactly what has been done in the process.
Doing it for yourself versus starting a home-grown business are quite different. Aside from liability insurance as John mentioned, you need to assess your market, talk to vendors that sell reconditioned parts, check the cost of buying used parts that still may work and reconditioning them to factory spec, and figuring out how to warranty the work. Ever read the warranty that comes with a reconditioned part? Ain’t pretty.
Then consider what it would take in terms of time to tear down and rebuild say a starter or some accessory like an AC compressor and what your time is worth along with keeping an inventory of commonly used replacement parts needed to restore like a starter or alternator, oil pumps and consider how many models there are of various parts (as you probably know) like hundreds.
It could be profitable cause as we know SOMEONE out there is making an industry out of this, but pricey to start-up and operate. Small engine repair might be a better way to go.
I wouldn’t imagine it would be profitable unless you were doing a large volume of a specific part at a time. For instance, Cardone isn’t rebuilding one Caliper for 96-02 Chevy Silverado at a time, they are doing dozens or even hundreds. Next week, they do steering boxes for 98-04 Dodge Ram etc.
Here’s a couple of more thoughts I had for you on this question.
I see you’re up by Toronto. If you have the time and you’re really interested in this kind of biz, see if you can find some part-time or even full-time work for an outfit that does remanufacturing in your area to see first-hand how it’s done. At least see if you can get a tour of the joint to see how elaborate or simple it is).Smaller rebuilding shops, maybe specialty type outfits, might contract out some of the more routine fixes after they diagnose the issue. That might help you gain some experience and learn the biz, earn some extra dough and usually working for a smaller shop is much less intense than working for a conglomerate like MOPAR, GM or MOTORCRAFT. Which reminds me, maybe check out some local dealerships and ask their parts guy who they get buy remanufactured parts from to give you some leads on outfits to talk to.
Have fun and remember, wash your hands before returning to work. ;>)
MarkI used to know a guy who sold rebuilt spark plugs at flea markets. He would sandblast em, file the electrodes flat and buff the shells. He made a killing on them.
When I was working at my dads shop, one of the mechanics rebuilt a starter. He was from Mexico. He is the best and fastest mechanic I have ever meet. Been fixing cars since he was six. He told me that in his town it is almost impossible to “replace” broken car parts. So they had rebuilt everything they could. That guy is one bada@$ mechanic and I learned a lot from him.
Someone like that is usually gifted to be able to do what he does. In Mexico and many other places in the world there is no money and some of the vehicles are so old that parts are scarce.
Parts had to be rebuilt or patched up to go back into service.
Not sure on your particular circumstances but seems a better idea just to repair vehicles. I agree with some of the others that you would have to rebuild a large # of parts to make it profitable. I live in a fairly rural area but I know that one particular shop rebuilds starters but they are probably the only shop within 50 miles each direction that does it so they likely make a profit doing it. Good luck with whatever you decide!
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