Shop Press

Shop Press is the news and idea hub for everything related to working on cars and trucks, focusing on repair, technology, and wrenching lifestyle.

From the creative minds at:

FEATURE STORY

Hot Off the Press

Tool Review: FNIRSI DSO152 Oscilloscope

Disclaimer: I purchased this tool at full retail price. In fact, I actually purchased two so I could try out the version with a high-voltage lead.If you’ve met my fellow Shop Press contrib Pete, seen his videos, taken his classes, or read his articles, you’ll know...

Making custom coiled wire is easier than you think (VIDEO)

Description Coiled wire is a smart idea for adding service loops or mechanical strain relief on automotive electrical jobs or other projects. In three easy steps, you can make your own coiled wire sections for all kinds of applications.

Choosing the right brake fluid

You know topping off brake fluid is generally a no-no, but when a customer’s brake fluid needs to be flushed completely, knowing what to put in the reservoir isn’t as clear-cut as it once was. The master cylinder cap may say the vehicle uses DOT 4 brake fluid, but are...

ICYMI: Secondary hood prop positions

Today’s article might score a little lower on technical difficulty and higher on automobilia esoterica, but I make no apologies. In my salad days, I worked as a dismantler at a salvage yard. Pulling motors was commonplace, so I learned quickly about this tip I’m sure...

Witness marks: your reassembly guide when the service manual isn’t enough

by | Jun 6, 2023

I believe we’re all familiar with the trope of the shadetree mechanic who has hardware left over, right?

While I’m sure you’re not sending vehicles out the door missing their hardware, I think it is safe to say we’ve all been slowed down by a pile of fasteners. A long time ago, a smart mechanic showed me a trick I’ll pass along for those of you who don’t know it. That tech showed me how to look for witness marks.

witness mark

Photo: Mike Apice.

Witness marks are, in their loosest definitions, visual indicators of how (or where) an item should be positioned relative to another item. Many witness marks are made intentionally, like the marks you probably make on a driveshaft to index it correctly when it’s reinstalled. However, in a looser interpretation, a witness mark can also be generated naturally. Often, parts like fasteners and the objects with which they interface generate visual evidence that indicates how the items were positioned or assembled.

That’s sort of a fancy way of saying “tools and fasteners leave marks, which can be used as clues.” For instance, most people working a parts counter have been trained to examine mounting ears on new rotating electrical parts to determine if it’s been installed. If there’s a telltale shiny circle made by a bolt when it was tightened against the part, odds are good that part has been on a car. That circle is a witness mark.

witness mark

Photo: Mike Apice.

Similarly, fasteners will often remove paint or other coatings from a surface against which they bear. You may also see fresh paint under the head of a fastener in a rusty area, or sun- or weather-faded areas of parts that give clues as to how they need to be assembled or what fastener is to be used in a given spot.

And, of course, even the diameter of the mark can help you match the correct washers or shouldered fasteners. Got a big mark around that hole? Probably had a big washer in there. Deep gouge at one spot? Maybe that was from a lock washer. Gouges all under the head of the fastener? Maybe there’s a serrated shoulder bolt in your pile of hardware. Witness marks can indicate that somebody has removed or adjusted something in the past, too. Rounded or well-worn bolts can let us know someone may have been inside an assembly before, and may also give clues that a particular job has either been a problem in the past or maybe wasn’t serviced correctly.

witness mark

Photo: Mike Apice.

And as a parting bonus tip I’ll offer, adding an index mark can help you retorque a fastener with field-level accuracy. Indexing to a previously scribed line will get you in the ballpark. I’ve had success with this method in a lot of venues: I’ve used these before disassembling electronics with delicate plastic housings that I didn’t want to crack. I’ve even found use for this system when retorquing torque-to-yield cylinder head bolts that loosened on a maiden voyage. And those of you working on Class 6-8 trucks probably visually check a thousand wheel nut indicators a week just out of habit—those are a type of witness mark, too!

Every part tells a story. Sometimes, it pays to listen.

The articles and other content contained on this site may contain links to third party websites. By clicking them, you consent to Dorman’s Website Use Agreement.

Related Articles

Shop Press Comment Policy

Participation in this forum is subject to Dorman’s Website Terms & Conditions. Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
7 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline feedback
View all comments

Get Articles In Your Inbox

Subscribe to receive a monthly email summary of our latest Shop Press stories.

Shop Press

I agree to the above privacy statement and T&Cs

Thanks! You're now subscribed.