We could have easily spent an afternoon at the Hunter SEMA booth, but our host, John Peron, Director of Canadian Operations for Hunter Engineering, insisted on ushering us towards the advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) equipment.

John Peron believes that shops servicing these sophisticated systems need to follow the recommended repair procedures. “Everyone is familiar with ADAS systems, but the knowledge required to service them varies from one tire and mechanical repair shop to the next. We’re there to guide them towards the proper equipment, but more importantly, toward the correct procedures.”

He also believes that it all starts by performing a four-wheel alignment. A recent Hunter survey revealed that 43% of the shops surveyed perform this service correctly. “This step is essential,” explains John Peron. ” Advanced driver assistance system calibration consists of positioning the systems in relation to the vehicle thrust axis. Aligning only the front wheels is woefully insufficient.”

Hunter Engineering has partnered with Texa and Autel to develop compatibility between their target calibration systems and its own alignment platform. By combining these technologies, they’ve simplified the process for workshops, which is one of Hunter’s goals.

“For the tire and mechanical service shops committed to mastering this new technology, there  needs to be a real understanding of what servicing and calibrating ADAS equipment entails.  Once they’ve achieved this, they need to establish a clear strategy, including investments in both equipment and training.”