Archive for September, 2011
How Disc Brakes Work
Without a braking system, motor vehicles would be impractical for us to use. They help us stop our cars, maintain traction in emergency situations, and if you brake while in a turn, they help with that too. But many people may not understand how they work or what it takes to stop a 2,000 + lb. vehicle. In the following paragraphs, I will describe the basic components of a brake system, how it works, and how you can improve your braking system.
Although brake systems are highly engineered systems that are designed for safety and reliability, they are fairly easy to understand you know what the components are. There are two main types of brakes found on cars and trucks; disc brake systems and disc/drum brake combination systems. Older vehicles will have disc brakes on the front wheels and drum brakes in the back. Most modern vehicles have disc brakes at all four wheels, so I will be focusing primarily on that and will not cover drum brakes in this article.
The typical components of a disc brake system are: the pedal, the master cylinder, hard brake lines, soft brake lines, brake calipers, brake pads, and brake rotors. There can also be secondary or slave cylinders and Anti-Lock Braking (ABS) components too, but we’ll forget about those for now. The brake pedal is obviously located inside the vehicle and the master cylinder is mounted to the firewall which is found under the hood. When you push the brake pedal, it leverages the master cylinder to push brake fluid through the brake lines. The brake lines are attached to the master cylinder and run to the brake calipers found at each wheel. The brake calipers contain anywhere from one to eight pistons in them. The brake fluid forces the pistons to compress the brake pads onto the brake disc. The brake rotor, AKA brake disc, is attached to the hub which is attached to the axle. So the brake pads compress onto the rotors and create lots of friction, which in turn slows you down.
Is your vehicle no longer stopping like it used to? Got the need for speed and want to make sure you can stop as fast as you go? Do you now have the need to tow heavy payloads with your truck? Here are some tips to improve brake feel, response, and stopping distance.
Brake feel can be defined as the feedback the brake system gives to the driver. That feel is delivered through the pedal. The biggest things you can do to improve feedback from the brake pedal is better brake fluid and stainless steel brake lines. All cars sold in the US must have DOT 3 brake fluid; this is the standard off-the-shelf fluid and the rating DOT3 requires that a threshold boiling point to be met. If brake fluid boils, your brakes won’t work. For most applications, DOT3 is safe and it is recommended for the average driver. If you like spirited drives, participate in road racing, or just want better pedal feel, try using a DOT4 approved brake fluid. It should give you a firmer pedal and higher performance, but be careful because DOT4 needs to be changed more frequently than DOT3, which translates into higher vehicle maintenance costs. You can also install stainless steel brake lines, which don’t flex as much as the rubber ones that come standard on most vehicles. The reduction in brakeline flex means improved brake feel. Another good option to improve brake feel is a master cylinder brace, which further reduces flex in the brake system.
Brake response is primarily affected by the brake pads and rotors. Some brake pads have more “bite” than others; the ones that bite faster respond better, but they can be difficult to live with in everyday life. Performance pads are a good option for improving response, especially if the pads need to be replaced anyway. New brake rotors can also improve the response you get when you hit the pedal, but not as much as performance brake pads will. Where rotors will really make a difference is when you are descending a mountain road and are on the brakes frequently. New rotors can make your brake pads perform at their best for sustained periods of time due to better cooling and out-gassing technologies.
It is important to realize that brake feel and response have almost nothing to do with your stopping distance. Getting new brake pads, rotors, lines, and fluid can make the driver feel better and will make a vehicle stop safer, but it will do very little to help you stop faster. If you want to shorten your stopping distance, the only way to really achieve that is with a big brake kit. A big brake kit includes larger diameter rotors, upgraded calipers, and new brake pads. The larger diameter rotors are the key component here because they give the brake system more leverage to stop the wheels. Big brake kits can be expensive and usually require larger wheels to accommodate the larger brakes, but if shorter stopping distances are your goal, it is worth the time and investment. I know this is a lot of information to consume, but there is one last thing you want to think about. Your tires are what really slows your car and how much grip they have is a big factor in how quickly you stop.
Make sure to invest in some decent tires to maximize your brake system and minimize stopping distances.
Follow these links for more information on disc brakes, big brake kits, and stainless steel brake lines.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Rimcrest
A Look at Types of Front Suspension
Posted by admin in Suspension Car on September 15, 2011
Suspension development in motor vehicles was not the result of some out-of-the-box brainchild by a designer or engineer. Rather, it was an adaptation of the designs used in horse-drawn carriages, where a solid beam across the frame of the vehicle held the wheels and suspension, which was made up of leaf springs. For purposes of suspending a car, the leaf spring and solid axle combination worked well enough, providing simplicity and sturdiness. Today, this setup, sometimes replaced by coil springs, can still be found in commercial and heavy-duty trucks as well as specialized off-road vehicles like rock crawlers, where strength and consistent ground clearance is the key.
In the early 1900s, suspension designers looked for ways to improved ride and handling, and the first designs for independent front suspensions were realized. In order of development, the types of front suspension that made their way into cars were the swing axle, the trailing arm, the MacPherson strut and the double wishbone suspension. The swing axle and trailing arm types of front suspension were significant improvements over the solid axle design, offering vastly improved ride quality and handling characteristics. However, these designs suffered from flaws like unwanted camber changes and movement of the suspension in unwanted directions (a particularly disconcerting trait of swing axle suspensions known as jacking).
Nowadays, you will mostly find dual-wishbone or the McPherson strut as the types of front suspension systems used in cars. MacPherson struts have found a solid foothold in mass-production cars because the design offers simplicity and compactness, making it eminently suitable for compact, front-wheel drive cars. Aside from offering acceptable ride quality, its size allows it use where space is at a premium, even allowing space for the driveshaft in front-engine, front-drive cars. However, even this very popular type of front suspension has its disadvantages, particularly in the areas of positive camber gain during turning and the limited width tire widths that can be fitted to the car. For this reason, you will find dual-wishbone suspensions in high-performance and more expensive luxury car, where ride and handling performance take precedence of cost concerns. The wishbone design of this type of front suspension provides the rigidity that prevents unwanted suspension deflections from occurring. Furthermore, unequal-length wishbone designs provide negative camber as the vehicle leans into a curve, further promoting roadholding.
Because of the design flexibility of this type of front suspension, dual-wishbone suspensions give engineers almost unlimited options on designing a particular car’s suspension geometry. This type of suspension is the most advanced design on the road today, and it can be found from Hondas to more expensive sports and luxury cars.
Find out more about suspension or visit this site for spare parts. Or sell spare car parts here.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janus_Onbekend
Smoothing Out the Braking System
A brake system is the chief failsafe fitted on cars. It enhances the pedal input applied on the brakes to make motion retardation short and swift. While the principle behind brake operations has undergone little reinvention over the years, the optimization of brake system parts has pushed the envelope of car braking system and kept it an even keel with present-day car technology.
Composed of hydraulic and friction brakes assemblies, the brake system relies on the performance of its individual parts to give drivers a tight rein of their car. The hydraulic brake assembly is the lesser light in the car brake system. Collectively this assembly converts foot pressure hydraulically, which the system then uses to operate the friction brakes.
Within the assembly, acting as fringe unit for the hydraulics, is a network of rubber brake fluid hoses. From a tank installed in the engine bay, brake fluid passes through these hoses and lubricates the brake system parts. As in any assemblies, brake fluid supply makes the system cohesive.
On cars armed with a power brake system, an Active Brakes Direct part called power booster supplements the hydraulic brake assembly. Brake booster provides a brake assist that makes pressing on the brake pedal less hard. It utilizes the vacuum byproduct of combustion to give off an extra push to the master cylinder piston.
Inside the brake booster, a diaphragm partitions the low-pressure engine vacuum from the high-pressure ambient air. When the brake pedal is depressed, a rush of ambient air gets into the canister and pushes the vacuum side of the diaphragm, thrusting a rod on to the master cylinder piston of the hydraulic brake assembly. The master cylinder then engages the friction brakes to stop the car.
Sitting on brake operation flashpoints, friction brakes are directly responsible for car motion retardation. Basically, friction brakes work on a principle of a caliper tightening on a rotor. This brake system fundamental has been used on cars beginning on the formative days of the technology, but improvement on the caliper and rotor parts has made braking up to specs with contemporary car technology.
There are two kinds of brakes: the disc brake and the drum brake assemblies. Disc brakes are used on the front wheels, while the drum brakes on the rear. Because front wheels have a wider angle of operation, the emergency brake of most cars is fitted on the rear in the drum brake assembly. The disc brakes are simpler in designs than the drum brakes, which suit them for use in the front wheels. Less complicated disc brake designs, however, don’t mean the assembly runs short on braking power.
One critical consideration on brake system designs is its heat dissipation capacity. Because friction brakes operate in a high heat working condition, heat buildup is inevitable unless the system is custom-built for venting out heat. Because the rotor has to be stopped for the car to slow down, it is the most heat-affected part during brake operations.
The brake rotor technologies of EBC brakes available nowadays range from shimmed, chamfered, cross-drilled, to slotted rotor finish. These heat vent technologies are specific fit for the intended use of the car. Less heat vents like those in cross-drilled and shimmed EBC rotors are optimized for street use, while EBC performance rotors are designed for hard braking requirement of race-specs cars.
On the part of the caliper, the brake pads bear the brunt of friction during brake operations. It is pushed against the disc in the process of slowing down the wheels, wearing out its lining from contact with the rotor. A brake pad, to give it longevity, is traditionally equipped with a wearable friction compound. Available brake parts include EBC brake pads, available in semi-metallic, asbestos, carbon, ceramics, and Aramid pads.
Steven Shawn works as a freelance writer for an automotive online magazine. His hobbies include reading other online auto mags, and surfing on cars. Visit Active Brakes Direct for more information on brake products.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steven_Shawn
Need Suspension Parts for Your Grand Cherokee?
Posted by admin in Suspension Car on September 15, 2011
Grand Cherokee is one vehicle from the Jeep stable that demands a lot of respect. The big muscular body has a commanding presence both on the road and off it and that is what appeals to most of its key demographic as well. Most people buy the Grand Cherokee for its killer looks and high-end features some even describing it as a baby Hummer. Apart from these factors, one fact that not many people are aware of until they buy this vehicle is that the Suspension of this vehicle is incredibly effective.
Jeep engineers have probably been able to deliver one masterclass of a suspension system when it comes to the Grand Cherokee. Anyone who knows a thing or two about automobiles definitely holds the suspension of this vehicle in high esteem. In case you are wondering what a suspension actually consists of or perhaps you need to buy a suspension for your Jeep, this article might just be the one for you.
A Suspension system might be defined as the combination of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connect a vehicle to its wheels. Suspension systems not only lend proper balance and handling control to the vehicle but also provide enough protection from road bumps and vibrations to keep the occupants comfortable and increase driving pleasure. Each type of vehicle has a uniquely tuned suspension to serve the mentioned purposes. A vehicular suspension system that is able to maintain a near-perfect equilibrium between being good for road-handling of the vehicle and being comfortable for occupants is called an effective suspension.
In case the suspension is too soft, it will be very comfortable for the occupants and the driver but at high speeds, such a condition will impair road grip and make the vehicle unstable. Conversely, if the suspension system is too hard, apart from the damage it can cause to the vehicle as a result of vibrations, it will be terribly uncomfortable to even sit in the vehicle let alone drive it. Hence, effective suspensions are the ones that are tuned to increase passenger comfort as well as vehicle’s road grip and balance. The suspension of most Jeep vehicles endorse these facts and Grand Cherokee specifically is termed as a delight in this regard.
As mentioned, a complete suspension system consists of many parts and their combination is what makes the whole system effective. Even if a single part in this system malfunctions, the effects can be felt in other parts as well. For example, a damaged rear suspension if left untreated, will put extra load on the front suspension thus increasing the probability of its failure as well. In this case, it is imperative to maintain a close check on the suspension parts and in worst cases, avoid any delays when it comes to repairs or replacements.
Any need for repairs or part replacements when it comes to the Grand Cherokee is a little hard on the pocket and understandably so. Brand new suspension parts are not inexpensive by any means and spurious aftermarket ones cannot be trusted. In this case, as far as quality and pricing point of views are concerned, it is best to go for used OEM suspension parts. There are countless deals available online and you are sure to get the best used auto parts at the lowest prices.
So don’t let the Grand Cherokee, one beast of an SUV to starve in need for suspension parts. Visit an online used parts store today and treat yourself to the best deals and offers.
James Rodham
WOW Auto Parts
James Rodham is the Information Architect at http://www.wowautoparts.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Rodham