Dayco has highlighted the considerable business opportunities open to independent garages through providing service and repair on the front-end auxiliary drive (FEAD) system of many modern vehicles. Many garages currently see this type of work as the preserve of the franchised dealer, but Dayco has an aftermarket range to unlock its potential. 

Auxiliary belts come under considerable load as in modern vehicles as they are required to drive numerous additional components such as power steering pump and air conditioning compressor, alongside the alternator and water pump. As a result Dayco recommended best practice is to replace the auxiliary belt in line with the timing belt replacement schedule, as both components will cover the identical mileage. In this way, FEAD related business can be driven through timing belt kit sales.

The company also recommend that the other components in the FEAD system are rigorously checked at the same time and should any wear be detected in the tensioner, idler or crankshaft pulley, these too must be replaced to ensure a full and thorough system repair.

Among the components in the FEAD system, one of the most important is the crankshaft pulley, which in these vehicles is referred to as a torsional vibration damper (TVD) and is designed with rubber internal components, capable of absorbing and damping the crankshaft vibrations, preventing them from reaching other parts of the system.

As well as being the world’s largest original equipment (OE) timing belt manufacturer, Dayco is one of the major OE TVD suppliers in Europe and the only company to also supply direct into the aftermarket. Its current range consists of more than 190 part numbers, which cater for the vast majority of vehicle applications.

Besides the ‘traditional’ TVD, Dayco also manufactures a more complex version called the double damping system (DDS) TVD, which is designed and fitted to more powerful and efficient units such as the Fiat Multijet 1.9/2.0 series of engines. These latest generation diesels are extremely efficient, but require a DDS TVD to operate effectively.

Whether for OE or aftermarket, all Dayco TVD products are manufactured to the highest quality standards and include advanced formulation and design to include specific compounds capable of reacting immediately to the intense vibrations transmitted through the system by the latest engines (as shown in the cutaway image). 

Dayco says that FEAD system products represent a considerable area of opportunity for independent part suppliers and garages and that its range can unlock this potential.

For more information visit www.dayco.com