The hydraulic part of a drum brake system is the wheel cylinder, which receives brake fluid under pressure from the master cylinder when the brake is applied. It has two cups inside that seal and hold pressure and two pistons that move out under that pressure, pushing the rear brake shoes against the drum. Drum … Read more
Most modern vehicles have some type of ABS, traction control, and/or electronic stability systems to provide for safe braking and handling in a variety of conditions. One of the primary inputs for these systems is the data from wheel speed sensors. The main symptom of a problem with a wheel speed sensor is usually an … Read more
Most power windows operate about the same. Power is supplied through a fuse, which goes to the switch, which then directs the power to the window motor. In the event of failure, the first thing is to check the fuse. If that’s okay, the next step is usually to determine whether it’s the switch or … Read more
In a conventional motor vehicle, the engine produces power, which runs through the gears and bearings or the transmission, and then drives the wheels. A great deal of heat is generated in this process. The engine has the primary cooling system, with a pump circulating coolant through a large radiator. The transmission has its own … Read more
The PCM is the main computer module the vehicle uses to run the engine management systems and control vehicle emissions. The PCM directly controls the fuel injectors and the coils, determining the fuel mixtures and timing based on sensor inputs and it’s basic programming. “PCM” stands for “powertrain control module”, which is used interchangeably with … Read more
The windshield wiper motor is an electric motor that runs the wipers. It’s usually located under the cowl, attached to the wipers themselves through a linkage arm or two. The different speeds that a wiper motor can work at are managed most often by offset brushes on the motor, which use the same voltage but … Read more
Almost every vehicle on the road has a sway bar, also called an anti-sway bar, on the front and the rear suspensions to help keep the vehicle upright and stable when going around corners. A swar bar is a solid formed bar of spring steel which resists twisting and is bolted across the front and … Read more
One the front suspension of a vehicle when you steer, the front knuckles pivot between two points at each front wheel. For an independent front suspension vehicle those two pivot points are the upper and lower ball joints. Solid axle four wheel drive vehicles also use upper and lower ball joints on each front corner … Read more
A hub assembly bolts to the knuckle on one side, holds the wheel bearings, and has the wheel bolted onto it’s other side. In the past there would have been multiple replaceable and serviceable parts involved; bearings and races, the hub flange or integrated rotor, grease seals and spindle. It was also necessary to remove … Read more
One of the most popular ways to accomplish a custom design on a car is by using vehicle vinyl wrap. It’s used to completely cover the exterior and it’s a great way for a car-lover to pimp their ride to match their personality. Car wraps can be both protective and cosmetic. A few different looks of … Read more