Posts Tagged ‘engine’
The Most Common Problems With Your Automotive Brake System
Its Monday again and the weekend is over. How was this weekend for you and did you drive a lot? Was it a smooth drive or you faced some problems with the brakes of your car. You must have felt the change if you have followed the DIY tips to change your car’s brake pads.
Brake system form an essential part of an automotive engine. Regular maintenance and check of car brakes is very important in order to ensure your safety on road. There are a number of problems that you might have faced with car brakes. Lets discuss some of the common ones.
Wear of the Brakes – One of the most common problem is the wear of car brakes. This is obvious and natural coz auto brakes are frequently used and do a lot of work. The brake pads of your car are consequently working hard as well. This leads to the wear of the brakes.
Squeaking or Grinding – Excessive usage of brake pads leads to their wearing down. You might notice brake problems like squealing or increased stopping distance. Most of the cars have brake pads with a thin metal tab. When you brake pads wears down, this tab vibrates against the rotor which might damage it.
Sounds of Wear Indicators – At times, the dust of brakes can be the reason behind some kind of sound or squeaking. This is a minor problem with the brake system and you can easy do without it by cleaning the dust. Using a brake cleaner spray is an easy way to do so.
Rotors Might Warp – Often, you yourself must have felt the problem of facing warped rotor or heard you neighbour facing this problem with his new car. Warping of rotor is a common problem which might happen because of overheating. The other reason for warped rotors can be incorrect tightening of the wheel.
Thin Rotor Wrap Easily – I have heard a number of car users facing warped rotors problem with their new cars. This is so because the he new cars have thin rotors that get warped easily. This problem can be rectified by repairing the rotors or by replacing them. Please ensure that you consult an experienced car mechanic before doing so. It is also important that you should understand how brake system work.
Loose Lug Nuts After Repair – This is crucial and can be dangerous also. If you have got your car brakes repaired and the lug nuts are not tightened, it can damage your car brakes. Ensure that the nuts are tightened evenly so that the rotor doesn’t warp. It is important that the care repair mechanic uses a torque wrench.
These were some of the common problems that you often face with your car brakes. A little care and few preventive measures will help you avoid these problems easily. We’ll find out few preventive measures and DIY tips to keep the car brakes and the entire automotive brake system of our car functioning at its best.
Rebuilding Your Auto Engine – A Wise Choice for the Car or Truck Owner
Is the engine in your car or late model truck worth rebuilding? Is the time , trouble and expense worth it or should you check one of other alternatives available to you such as a used engine , a full or partial professional rebuild or a factory service like rebuild – many of which now are being done offshore and being shipped back to U.S. automotive consumers ?
The do it yourselfer is faced with these options to evaluate when it comes to the dreaded time of a potential engine overall. Most likely you have gotten a good number of relatively trouble free services from your automotive engine and are now faced with the prospect of an engine overhaul. The decision to replace the engine bloc, piston, connecting rod assemblies as well as crankshaft depends on a number of factors, with the number one consideration being the condition of the engine block. Other considerations are cost, ready access to machine and auto shop facilities, parts availability, time required to complete the project and finally the extent of prior mechanical experience on the part of the do-it-yourselfer home auto mechanic.
Next consider the value of the vehicle. It has turned out that frequently the total end cost of the parts required to complete the task of rebuilding the engine is greater and more than the actual value of the vehicle. It can be said that often ego and pride of ownership gets in the way of a fair and true evaluation of the situation, its costs and reasonable conclusions on the suitability of the project at all. As a case in point one proud owner of what might be considered a truck that was long past its prime and in great need of repair convinced himself that expensive repairs were in order by himself when a quick tour of local area junkyards should of convinced that the truck itself could be replaced by any of the similar vehicles that were laying about these auto parts recycling facilities.
In such situations where the cost for a full engine overhaul is greater than the cost of a full and proper engine rebuild one option to consider is a used engine from one of above auto junk yards. True the engine may not have the full engine life of a rebuilt engine but there may be more than enough lifespan in one of these replacements which come at a much lower cost and may indeed outlive the body components and lifespan of the vehicle itself. In addition most of the professional auto parts recycling shops will both have tested and warranty the engine for a reasonable initial automobile test and evaluation time period.
It can be said that the vehicle may seem to have great value to you. The question to ask is “If I sink in this money and time of a full rebuilt engine will anyone pay me more for my vehicle or if I sell this vehicle will I get my money back?” The answer is usually “Probably not”. However it can be said that devil you know is better than the devil you do not. You will have a vehicle whose history and maintenance background is well known to you. You will know the quirks and characteristics of the vehicle – of what to expect and what repairs as well are upcoming. Thus said sinking money and time into rebuilding your engine or engine block may make good sense to you overall in the end.