Car Parts For Us

When Your Car Breaks Down On The Road

If you’re like most drivers, you might neglect to maintain your car properly. Even though the owner’s manual spells out exactly the type of maintenance work you should have done on your vehicle, and when you should do it, millions of people don’t. After awhile, your car will send you a clear message that it feels neglected; the dashboard may light up, white smoke might start billowing from the exhaust, or it may simply sputter and die. When your car breaks down on the road, it’s important to have a plan of action.

Below, I’ll describe the basic tools you should have with you when your vehicle breaks down (don’t worry, I won’t turn you into a mechanic). I’ll also explain what you should do, given the circumstances.

Basic Survival Tools

First, always take your cell phone when you’re driving. Whether you’re involved in a traffic collision or you get a flat tire, having a cell phone means that you’ll be able to call a tow truck. Next, you should have a copy of all documents you’ll need in the event you get into an accident. That includes your vehicle registration, auto insurance policy, and phone numbers to call.

Invest in a can of tire sealant; you’d be surprised by how useful it can be. If you haven’t used your spare tire in years, it may not be suitable for replacing a flat. But, if you can manage to get your vehicle to a gas station, you can fill the flat tire and use the sealant to plug the leak. It’s not a long-term solution, but it can get you back on the road.

Finally, pack a blanket and bottled water. If your car breaks down, there’s no way to know how long the tow truck will take to arrive. Not only will the water keep you hydrated, but during the evening, you’ll have a way to keep warm while you wait.

What To Do When Your Car Has Trouble

Every situation is a little different, of course. For example, if you blow a tire, the engine will obviously keep running, but you should pull over anyway. On the other hand, if you notice lights starting to appear on the dashboard, that typically means an electrical part is failing. You can keep driving, but depending upon the part, you should find a repair garage as quickly as possible. If your vehicle overheats, you should definitely pull off the road; continuing to drive can damage the engine.

Preparing For A Break Down

In the end, be prepared for your car to break down. It’s always a hassle, but it happens to everyone, even if you’ve kept the parts under the hood well-maintained. Have your cell phone and copies of important documents with you. Also, pack a can of tire sealant, along with bottled water and a blanket. Then, if you experience a problem on the road, you’ll have everything you need to wait for the tow truck.

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Neophyte’s Guide To A Car’s Suspension System – Part 2

In Car Suspension System Part 1, we discussed the role of the shocks and springs in your vehicle’s suspension. I described their respective jobs and provided you with a rudimentary explanation regarding how they performed those jobs. Frankly, Part 1 was only meant to offer an overview, a bird’s eye perspective of the design. Today, we’re going to take a closer look at the springs. I’ll describe different systems, the purpose for which they’re used, and the end result of using them.

4 Types Of Systems

All vehicles use 1 of 4 different kinds of springs within the suspension design: coil, air, leaf, and torsion bars. Each provides inherent advantages and drawbacks. Let’s go through them in the order in which I’ve listed them.

Coils are the most widely-deployed of the 4 types, at least within vehicle suspensions that are designed for passengers. You might remember from Part 1 that their job is to absorb the impact of the road. Coils do that and more. They prop your car up, “suspending” it above the tires. In doing so, the coils work with the shocks, control arms, and joints in order to compress and expand an amount that is appropriate, given road conditions.

Air-powered units are relatively new and automakers have been including them within their higher-priced models. In a departure from conventional units, air systems use sensors and a compressor to modify the level of air loaded into the springs. The design allows for quicker response to road conditions, which delivers a more comfortable experience for the driver and passengers.

Leaf units are mostly used in heavy duty cars, trucks, and SUVs. They’re built with a unique design that bolts steel leaves onto a single component. Then, that component is attached to the rear axle. The advantage of this type of system is that they can distribute road impact along the vehicle’s frame more effectively than coils. The drawback is that they can be noisy and often need periodic maintenance.

Finally, torsion bars. They’re not actually springs; they’re steel bars that resist the force of the road upon the frame of your car. While springs compress and extend in order to absorb road impact, torsion bars reduce that impact by limiting the twist of the bars. They can be attached along the axle (that is, from driver to passenger side) or travel the length of the vehicle. You won’t find this type of suspension design on most sedans and passenger cars.

In Part 3 of this series, we’ll take a closer look at shock absorbers and how the contribute to your vehicle’s suspension.

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The Neophyte’s Guide To A Car’s Suspension System

You probably realize that your car’s suspension system is responsible for providing a comfortable driving experience. And that’s true. In fact, you could presumably remove the entire thing from your vehicle and continue driving without a problem (other than sore muscles, of course). But, you may not know how they work or why they become less effective. What we’re going to do in this article is explore some of the fundamentals. I’ll explain what a suspension system does and some of the parts that are involved.

Before we get started, it’s worth noting that this is a large topic that encompasses many different facets. As technology changes, automakers design better systems. We’ll cover some basics today and dig a little deeper in future columns.

What Does It Do?

Imagine riding a bicycle over bumpy terrain. You’d be able to feel nearly every bump, right? If your car didn’t have a suspension system, you’d feel every small bump and crevice in the road while driving. In effect, it serves as a cushion or buffer between you and your passengers, and the pavement beneath you. Without it, driving would be unpleasant and you’d likely feel sore for several days afterward.

The Role Of Springs

Coil springs are used in order to dampen the impact from the road. They’re located by each tire and either compress or extend based upon bumps or dips. For example, if you’re driving over a 3-inch hole, the springs would compensate by extending. If you drove over a 2-inch bump, they’d compress. The higher quality the springs, the more comfortable the ride.

The Role Of Shocks

Shock absorbers also play a key role. However, they’re oddly-named because they don’t actually absorb anything. That’s the springs’ job. Instead, shocks distribute accumulated energy. To grasp the concept of how (and why) shocks work, it’s helpful to understand how a normal spring works. Whenever it extends or compresses, it builds energy.

Try to picture a spring bouncing up and down. As it does so, the energy builds and is released, over and over until it comes to a rest. That’s exactly what shocks do for your suspension system; they release the pent-up energy in the springs. If they didn’t, your car would keep bouncing up and down as you’re driving. In fact, when shock absorbers wear out, that’s what happens.

So, those are the basics. Again, we’re only skimming the surface here and we’ll come back to them in an upcoming column. For now, just remember that without the suspension, your body would be sore each time you drove your car. Next time, we’ll go into more detail.

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