If you have never been to a salvage yard to buy auto parts, rest assured: you don’t have to be a mechanic to have success finding and removing the parts you need. However, you will need to make some preparations to ensure that your trip to the salvage yard is a success. Salvage lots are professionally operated businesses that work like well-oiled machines, pun intended. To make your visit a success, be sure to prepare for the occasion in the following four ways.
Bring Your Own Tools
The most important step for how to prepare for a salvage yard visit is to bring your own tools. One reason that parts from salvage yards are inexpensive is that you remove them yourself. To do the work, you will need your own tools. The tools you need depend on the part(s) you need, but a ratchet wrench set, a screwdriver set, a small pry bar, and penetrating oil are quite helpful.
Dress as Safely as Possible
Most salvage lots require you to wear closed toe shoes to help prevent foot injuries, but your feet aren’t the only body parts that could be hurt while working on a car. If you have them available, wear steel toe boots and a full-body mechanic’s suit to help prevent cuts and bruises. These last two recommendations are just suggestions, but they will help keep you safe.
Leave the Party at Home
Lots of people choose to visit salvage yards on the weekend, a time when they also like to relax and have a few cold ones, along with a cigarette if they’ve picked up the habit. Salvage lots aren’t interested in moral policing, but they do require you not to drink or smoke in the lot. Drinking at a salvage lot is dangerous for obvious reasons, and smoking could start a car fire.
Bring Extra Hands if Necessary
Another important step for how to prepare for a salvage yard visit is to bring extra manpower if you need it. Most small and medium size parts can be removed without extra help. However, if you plan to remove something as heavy as an engine or the bed from a commercial flatbed truck, you will almost certainly need additional help. Otherwise, you won’t get the part you need.
Contact Wrench-A-Part
If you are looking for quality pre-owned auto parts for great prices, Wrench-A-Part is the place to find them. If you need to know how to prepare for a salvage yard visit to our locations, check out the policies page on our website. There you will find a list of rules and regulations that will help you prepare for your visit. For more information about our vehicle inventory and services, call one of our locations in Austin, Belton, or Lubbock today. We look forward to speaking with you!
