Mechanical Training
Discussion
Hi all,
just wondered if anyone could recommend some training for mechanics.
I'm looking at getting my first car for trackdays (not my first car, just my first "race" car)
I'd like to be able to work on it myself, and of course, I'll learn alot by getting stuck in and just working on the thing, but being taught is also really useful.
Local college only offer full time, but i'm not wanting to change jobs and be a mechanic, and equally I'm not fussed about learning about MOTs and what not. So just wondered if there's a better course I should be looking at or a better way to go.
I've seen the national motorsport academy offers a degree, but again, more geared toward people who are aiming for a motorsport career - I'm 38, I don't think I could keep up with some 20 something running around a car lol.
Is there a qualification I should be looking at specifically i.e. NVQ? City and Guilds. Or should I just get stuck in?
I hoped i'd find a day release type course and do 1 day/afternoon a week at college.
just wondered if anyone could recommend some training for mechanics.
I'm looking at getting my first car for trackdays (not my first car, just my first "race" car)
I'd like to be able to work on it myself, and of course, I'll learn alot by getting stuck in and just working on the thing, but being taught is also really useful.
Local college only offer full time, but i'm not wanting to change jobs and be a mechanic, and equally I'm not fussed about learning about MOTs and what not. So just wondered if there's a better course I should be looking at or a better way to go.
I've seen the national motorsport academy offers a degree, but again, more geared toward people who are aiming for a motorsport career - I'm 38, I don't think I could keep up with some 20 something running around a car lol.
Is there a qualification I should be looking at specifically i.e. NVQ? City and Guilds. Or should I just get stuck in?
I hoped i'd find a day release type course and do 1 day/afternoon a week at college.
I think you'll get more assistance if you can describe what you can comfortably do already, and what you'd like to be able to do. As you say, you don't want to become a general mechanic, you need to be able to look after your new race car.
For example, can you already raise a car to work on it safely using axle stands, and change wheels over? What do you need to be able to do? There aren't many people who'll tackle a full engine rebuild in the pits, but new brake pads perhaps? How about preparing and checking over your car before a race? Coolant and oil changes? Suspension bushes/shocks/springs etc?
For example, can you already raise a car to work on it safely using axle stands, and change wheels over? What do you need to be able to do? There aren't many people who'll tackle a full engine rebuild in the pits, but new brake pads perhaps? How about preparing and checking over your car before a race? Coolant and oil changes? Suspension bushes/shocks/springs etc?
Thanks for the reply. Good points certainly
So I “can” do the basics, change a wheel etc. I do have a background in engineering, but that was on ships rather than cars - so I’ve got mechanical ability just not experience
I think you’ve touched on my concern - knowing what I should do myself and what should be left to professionals. What I should be able to fix on race day and what I need to accept is a day ender and best load the car up and take it to a professional after.
I’d easily fall into the trap of “I’ll just send it to a race garage, get it prepped” and add to my race costs.
Half the battle is knowing what I need to know
So I “can” do the basics, change a wheel etc. I do have a background in engineering, but that was on ships rather than cars - so I’ve got mechanical ability just not experience
I think you’ve touched on my concern - knowing what I should do myself and what should be left to professionals. What I should be able to fix on race day and what I need to accept is a day ender and best load the car up and take it to a professional after.
I’d easily fall into the trap of “I’ll just send it to a race garage, get it prepped” and add to my race costs.
Half the battle is knowing what I need to know
What car will you be working on? Has it already been prepped for racing, or is it still fairly road spec?
Most of what you'll want to work on at the track is fairly straight forward mechanics, and depends on the spares you have etc. The prep work is a bit of a different ball game as things like cages, cut offs etc can be a fiddle and non standard.
Most of what you'll want to work on at the track is fairly straight forward mechanics, and depends on the spares you have etc. The prep work is a bit of a different ball game as things like cages, cut offs etc can be a fiddle and non standard.
I threw myself straight into it with no background. I go by the philosophy that if something is built, then it can be taken apart but my biggest tip is to take plenty of photos as you do it for reference points. I started by doing basic services then onto brake discs and pads. Ill soon be moving onto suspension. There's plenty of vids on youtube to help you along as well. Haynes manuals are okish but only for rough guidance. Never take them as gospel!
If, as you say, you have an engineering background, you can remember "lefty-loosy, righty-tighty", you can read a book, and watch videos.
Then, just get a car, buy a manual, watch youtube, get a tool kit, and go for it, there is nothing you are likely to do to the car that would be "rocket science".
There is always the PH collective for other questions.
Then, just get a car, buy a manual, watch youtube, get a tool kit, and go for it, there is nothing you are likely to do to the car that would be "rocket science".
There is always the PH collective for other questions.
The University of YouTube will be enough if you get something reasonably common and aren't a complete numpty.
Most tasks have more than one way of tackling them, a Haynes isn't the worst thing to have with you as a point of reference.
A decent sized phone or tablet so you can take photos and review them if needed etc.
Most tasks have more than one way of tackling them, a Haynes isn't the worst thing to have with you as a point of reference.
A decent sized phone or tablet so you can take photos and review them if needed etc.
Agree with everyone that YouTube and research is enough for 99% of it. Short of full engine and gearbox rebuilds any half competent Muppet can strip a car and stick it back together with no formal training and all of the information is available online somewhere.
Besides, a course will only be on a general vehicle, you'll end up looking up how to do what you want to do on your particular car anyway so you might as well just start with YouTube and skip the training
Besides, a course will only be on a general vehicle, you'll end up looking up how to do what you want to do on your particular car anyway so you might as well just start with YouTube and skip the training
I agree with everything already said but would like to add a bit or 2.
1. allow plenty of time to do any job,
2. be prepared to walk away and come back another day if it all starts to go a bit pear shaped.
3. work in a comfortable place (not by the roadside in the snow)
4. make sure you have the right tools for the job before you start.
5. Buy an impact wrench.
6. make sure you buy an impact wrench.
I started messing with cars in the 70's and have fixed all my cars since then. I am completely self taught and there is not much i haven't done over the years.
1. allow plenty of time to do any job,
2. be prepared to walk away and come back another day if it all starts to go a bit pear shaped.
3. work in a comfortable place (not by the roadside in the snow)
4. make sure you have the right tools for the job before you start.
5. Buy an impact wrench.
6. make sure you buy an impact wrench.
I started messing with cars in the 70's and have fixed all my cars since then. I am completely self taught and there is not much i haven't done over the years.
Loads of good information above, and if you've an engineering background, as other posters have said, you'll be fine - the nuts and bolts are just going to be a bit smaller...
I think if it were me, I'd start trying to break the problem down into tasks that you might want to do at home in preparation, and the things you might want to have a go at trackside. Others with experience of racing will be able to offer more help and add to/subtract from the lists below, but certain parts of the car are going to get much more of a kicking than usual, some of which ought to be an easy track-side fix, others less so.
Again, as another poster said, much will depend on the car. |f you're doing a Top Gear and racing a BMW 330D it won't have spark plugs...
Trackside:
Spark plugs
Coil
Spark leads (if it has them - modern engines tend to be coil-on-plug)
Tyres
Brake pads
Basic electrical repairs: crimp tool, crimps, insulation tape, fuses
Perhaps some bits and pieces to hold an exhaust pipe together if it falls off
Fan/Auxiliary belt
At home:
In addition to the above, changing coolant/ water pump
Flexi brake hoses
Brake discs
Timing belt (if it has one)
Clutch (if it has one)
Suspension components such as:
Shock absorbers
Springs
Wishbones
Bushes
CV Joints and boots (FWD/AWD cars probably)
Obviously you don't have to learn how to do all that at once, and there will be much guidance on the weak points of your car (unless you're building your own), and maybe on your car some of those jobs will be exceptionally unusual for the part to fail, and others will be an arse and you'll send it to the garage anyway.
Couple of other quick points:
It's worth buying decent tools. Doesn't have to be SnapOn for everything, but I'd probably aim for Halfords Professional range as a baseline minimum. Also make sure you've got things like Plusgas on hand for helping shift things which don't want to budge.
Give yourself plenty of time to do jobs the first time you do them. Nothing worse than being up against the clock and a bolt won't budge, or you need a part which has to be specially ordered.
Edited to add: if your car is modern/sophisticated enough to support it, a decent scan tool to read error codes and look at live data
I think if it were me, I'd start trying to break the problem down into tasks that you might want to do at home in preparation, and the things you might want to have a go at trackside. Others with experience of racing will be able to offer more help and add to/subtract from the lists below, but certain parts of the car are going to get much more of a kicking than usual, some of which ought to be an easy track-side fix, others less so.
Again, as another poster said, much will depend on the car. |f you're doing a Top Gear and racing a BMW 330D it won't have spark plugs...
Trackside:
Spark plugs
Coil
Spark leads (if it has them - modern engines tend to be coil-on-plug)
Tyres
Brake pads
Basic electrical repairs: crimp tool, crimps, insulation tape, fuses
Perhaps some bits and pieces to hold an exhaust pipe together if it falls off
Fan/Auxiliary belt
At home:
In addition to the above, changing coolant/ water pump
Flexi brake hoses
Brake discs
Timing belt (if it has one)
Clutch (if it has one)
Suspension components such as:
Shock absorbers
Springs
Wishbones
Bushes
CV Joints and boots (FWD/AWD cars probably)
Obviously you don't have to learn how to do all that at once, and there will be much guidance on the weak points of your car (unless you're building your own), and maybe on your car some of those jobs will be exceptionally unusual for the part to fail, and others will be an arse and you'll send it to the garage anyway.
Couple of other quick points:
It's worth buying decent tools. Doesn't have to be SnapOn for everything, but I'd probably aim for Halfords Professional range as a baseline minimum. Also make sure you've got things like Plusgas on hand for helping shift things which don't want to budge.
Give yourself plenty of time to do jobs the first time you do them. Nothing worse than being up against the clock and a bolt won't budge, or you need a part which has to be specially ordered.
Edited to add: if your car is modern/sophisticated enough to support it, a decent scan tool to read error codes and look at live data
Edited by Grenadier_45 on Sunday 9th October 12:27
pocketspring said:
I threw myself straight into it with no background. I go by the philosophy that if something is built, then it can be taken apart but my biggest tip is to take plenty of photos as you do it for reference points. I started by doing basic services then onto brake discs and pads. Ill soon be moving onto suspension. There's plenty of vids on youtube to help you along as well. Haynes manuals are okish but only for rough guidance. Never take them as gospel!
This is my policy too. I learnt by watching my Dad (an engineer for BL) mend his cars at home out of necessity - he couldn't afford to send them off so got stuck in. I followed the same policy with my cars and do most things myself. The biggest issue I have found is space for safe working. When I first started tinkering with air cooled VWs everything was simple and most importantly accessible. I removed the engine from my VW Type 3 with a trolley jack, a socket set and a couple of mates, easy peasy.
Modern cars are so much more 'packaged', so you often need a proper lift to get under it to do a lot of work.
Get the car and over the upcoming winter, replace (all of) the fluids, brake discs / pads and escalate from there.
I don't know what the track car will be, if it's starting off fairly 'road car' ish, then just service it and sort the brakes out, then get it on track.
You'll have plenty to learn about track driving and consistency etc. before you need to worry about corner weights.
With a bit of consistency, you'll then be able to start making some small changes (tyres, maybe an anti-roll bar, drop links etc.) that suit your confidence mechanically, and you'll hopefully be able to feel the difference the parts have made, and can develop forward from there.
As all have said above, unless you're tracking a new AMG C63 S E Performance, cars are simple things, you'll be absolutely fine if you just take pictures as you go and get stuck in.
Get a large (150 piece) Halfords Advanced / Professional (whatever it's called now) tool set when they're on offer., that'll do most of what you need.
Absolutely get an impact gun.
If you're really throwing money at this, I have a set of quickjacks that are brilliant and run happily off a car battery to lift the car up and down in 30 seconds.
Any screen (phone / tablet) with the internet will be a really useful companion, as someone on Youtube will hand hold you through almost every task you can think of, especially if you get a relatively 'normal' car.
Realistically, it's about to be dark and wet for 6 months, just get the car home and get practicing on it now, it's just nuts and bolts, there's nothing complicated or objectively difficult to do and the internet is there for you to help with any problems.
If you're around Northamptonshire and just want a hand for some confidence I'd happily help out
I don't know what the track car will be, if it's starting off fairly 'road car' ish, then just service it and sort the brakes out, then get it on track.
You'll have plenty to learn about track driving and consistency etc. before you need to worry about corner weights.
With a bit of consistency, you'll then be able to start making some small changes (tyres, maybe an anti-roll bar, drop links etc.) that suit your confidence mechanically, and you'll hopefully be able to feel the difference the parts have made, and can develop forward from there.
As all have said above, unless you're tracking a new AMG C63 S E Performance, cars are simple things, you'll be absolutely fine if you just take pictures as you go and get stuck in.
Get a large (150 piece) Halfords Advanced / Professional (whatever it's called now) tool set when they're on offer., that'll do most of what you need.
Absolutely get an impact gun.
If you're really throwing money at this, I have a set of quickjacks that are brilliant and run happily off a car battery to lift the car up and down in 30 seconds.
Any screen (phone / tablet) with the internet will be a really useful companion, as someone on Youtube will hand hold you through almost every task you can think of, especially if you get a relatively 'normal' car.
Realistically, it's about to be dark and wet for 6 months, just get the car home and get practicing on it now, it's just nuts and bolts, there's nothing complicated or objectively difficult to do and the internet is there for you to help with any problems.
If you're around Northamptonshire and just want a hand for some confidence I'd happily help out
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