Alright kiddies, a shackle is not just a handcuff, it’s also used to hold a leaf- spring and tire together. The spring shackle is attached to one end of the leaf spring, allowing it to flex while keeping the tires on the road. Plus, these babies can be lengthened and give a greater amount of clearance to your vehicle.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
What You Should Know about Shackles — Automotive Parts Suppliers
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Finding the Perfect Radiator, Made Easy — Automotive Parts Suppliers
Not all radiators are made equal
Even with good maintenance of your radiator, it’s undeniable that the time may come when you need to replace it. Whether it gets busted by way of natural disasters or just wear and tear – let’s face it, not all radiators are made equal – some just aren’t made to last. The difficulty now lies in finding the radiators that are. But fret not, because I’ll be making it very easy for you by sharing how to find the radiator brand that you can trust: there are just 3 qualities that you need to look out for in your search for the perfect radiator.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Why Leafsprings that Undergo Shot Peening are More Durable — Automotive Parts Suppliers
Shot peening is the blasting method of cleaning or altering various surfaces. In the case of automotive parts, it is most used in the production of leafsprings. It is basically a process where a small ball called a shot bombards the target surface repeatedly. When a shot is fired it creates a dimple on the surface, but below the surface the material tries to restore its original shape, if you had a go at it for a hundred thousand times, it would create a compressed and highly stressed network.
Nearly all fatigue and stress corrosion failures originate at the surface, but cracks will not start in a compressively stressed zone. Shot peening makes sure that overlapping dimples create a uniform layer of compressive stresses which therefore lengthens the life of that metal.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
3 Signs of a Faulty Muffler and the Hazards You Should Know — Automotive Parts Suppliers
The muffler’s main purpose is to muffle or cancel out the sound emitted from the engine but it’s also responsible for preventing emissions from entering the “cab” or the body of the vehicle. If you start noticing that your car sounds different when it starts or when it’s running, that’s one reason to check and make sure that your muffler is still in good working condition. It might be hard to tell at first, but don’t fret because over time, you will notice it because your car will sound a lot different and much louder than what you are used to. Don’t be in a hurry to dismiss this as a minor problem because you might get a ticket from the local traffic enforcer for sound pollution – and more importantly, because this is not the only problem you might encounter for a failing muffler.
Beware of hazardous emissions
You’ll eventually experience emissions entering the cab from the car’s tail pipe if you leave this problem unresolved. Bills passed mandating drivers to park facing the wall were certainly not made on a whim as this is a serious health hazard and people do die from inhaling emissions. Small children, pregnant women and people with heart or lung problems are particularly at risk. It might be hard to discern if the fumes you’re inhaling are caused by a faulty muffler or a polluted area, but initially fumes can cause coughing and allergies or watery eyes. Exhaust fumes can also cause babies to fall asleep while riding the car. Aside from health risks a faulty muffler can also decrease gas mileage, meaning your car will be able to cover less distance with a gallon of gasoline, which translates to higher fuel expense.
When in doubt, you can always go to the mechanic and have it checked. You might need to replace your muffler, or find that the symptoms are due to other car parts like the tailpipe instead. Either way, you should regularly have your car undergo maintenance or check- ups to ensure not just your safety but also the safety of the people around you.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
5 Radiator Myths Busted — Automotive Parts Suppliers
With the deluge of information available to people today, it’s difficult to tell which tidbits of info are true and which are merely myths. When it comes to your car and its maintenance, we have to get our facts straight and not just rely on what others say.
Small but terrible enemies from the inner recesses of the car universe
Bugs can’t chew through your radiator like radioactive monsters from comic book hell can. What can do damage though, is when 25% of your radiator becomes their sacred burial ground. This accumulation can indeed cause your cooling system major damage. You can easily fight these creatures with pressure washer, and don’t worry, they won’t haunt you.
Tiny leak, not a problem!
Don’t be in a hurry to dismiss this and wait until you’ve got “time” to address this issue as this tiny hole can become a massive big pain! Small holes can easily become bigger or much worse, it can be an indication of a more severe problem in the cooling system. Allowing fluid levels to run low will make your life miserable especially in the summer months. Remember, any small problem left unchecked always becomes a big problem, as this may result to bigger repair costs or replacement of parts. Be preventive rather than curative because being curative never focuses on the root of the problem and is a black hole for your hard earned cash.
All Antifreeze/ Coolants are made the same
Being a cheapskate is only good for those quirky fads (like beer mug eye glasses), but never on the essentials. You must learn to sort out parts that you need to invest on and those that you can forego on quality, like patent leather seats. Cheaper coolants do not offer the same additives like corrosion protection, sediment prevention or PH balancing like those of top- quality. A cheaper coolant can evaporate more quickly causing you to use more of the product and in the long run, cost you more.
No need to change a radiator cap that’s still working
Or is it? Your radiator cap needs to be replaced over time as it is exposed to extraordinarily high temperatures and is expected to maintain pressure inside the radiator at the same time. These caps have seals and springs to ensure proper pressure is maintained, but these seals and springs can corrode and crack over time. If these are faulty, think about what might happen if the pressure is unnecessarily released – it would be like a shaken can of soda bursting out of its seams. Keep these seals, springs and cap in working order or it can be devastating to your entire system. Always check your cap whenever you add coolant to your car.
Slow down when overheating in traffic
This is something straight out of the Myth Busters’ page. Revving the engine slightly can actually help push more air across the cooling cores when see the telltale signs of overheating are present, therefore pushing more coolant through the engine and conclusively cooling your engine.
It pays to know your facts. Always do your research and cross- reference before biting into that piece of cookie.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
How to Extend Radiator Life — Automotive Parts Suppliers
Nothing is permanent in this world. Everything has an expiration date, even chocolates. Some women even go great lengths and store make-up in the fridge just to get that extra mileage for their cosmetics. The same rings true for your radiator – extra care must be taken in order for you to extend its life. Most mechanics agree that a properly maintained radiator should last for at least 8 to 10 years. Older metal radiators can even outlive the car! However, modern radiators are mostly made of plastic instead of metal, and plastic expands and contracts as the radiator heats and cools. Over time, this action may cause cracks but even so, it is rare for this to occur in less than a decade.
The key to prolonging radiator life is understanding why the radiator is there in the first place. Your car expends a lot of energy in the form of heat, and this heat can cause serious damage to the other parts of the car if not kept at a certain level. This job is not for the radiator but for the coolant system, which pumps coolant (usually mixed with ethylene glycol also known as antifreeze) through the engine to absorb the heat. Then, after it is heated, it goes to the radiator to be cooled and emitted into thin air. This process cools the water and antifreeze mixture, which goes back to the engine for another cycle. So if your radiator is not working in tip-top shape, your car would eventually overheat and the engine would destroy itself.
The key to this puzzle is the coolant because it is the mixture that can effectively cool the engine. Water alone cannot do that as you know that water can easily be heated and can render no effect to the cooling process. Try to regularly flush the coolant system and replace the old with new fluids, or as often as your car maker suggests. If you frequently find the fluid level is not where it is supposed to be, this might be a sign that you have a leak. If you do have a leak, pour radiator sealant into the radiator and allow it to settle in the hole. Make sure to check in with your friendly neighborhood mechanic if you notice more severe symptoms.
Take good care of your radiator and it will surely serve you well.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Why Leafsprings Break and When to Replace Them — Automotive Parts Suppliers
Leafsprings are a significant component in a car’s suspension system. They’re proven durable and effective at carrying a vehicle’s load and ensuring passenger comfort.
They’re under a lot of pressure
However, leafsprings do deteriorate and break – usually as a result of poor quality or wrong usage. Worn and sagging springs, especially when aggravated by heavy load, result in lowered chassis height for a vehicle, putting extra pressure on the tires and making it more difficult to maneuver the car.
What to do when your Vehicle Overheats — Automotive Parts Suppliers
Breaking down in the middle of the road is not an ideal way to get that 15minutes of fame. Waiting for a cutie to assist you on your roadside blues is nothing short of a dream either. Here are some quick fire ways to resuscitate an overheated radiator:
Lets pop the hood and let loose some steam!
1. Check to see if steam is escaping from the radiator cap. Replace when necessary.
2. Slowly open the radiator cap to gradually let loose some steam. It is not wise to open it all at one go. Think of it as a shaken bottle of soda. You’d want to avoid the fizz coming out of that.
3. Check the water levels. If needed, fill the radiator with distilled water as ordinary tap water contains minerals that can build up and cause blockages in the system.
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