Beginner's Guide to Aftermarket Car Parts

How Does A Sway Bar Control A Body Roll In Your Vehicle?

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 20:11:36 +0000

Increasing the thickness of a sway bar is a good way to control changes in tire camber caused by body roll, and allows for fine-tuning of a vehicle's suspension for precise, crisp and predictable handling. The stiffness of a sway bar must be properly transmitted into the chassis to do any good. The length of the arms that transfers loads into the chassis has a dramatic effect on how much roll stiffness a given bar can provide. The shorter the bar, the more stiffness it supplies. Roll resistance depends on the stiffness of the frame mounting, control arms, and drop links, and also where those links connect to the control arms. Simply bolting on a sway bar may not improve your handling if you don't consider all of the above factors.

Since a sway bar functions by twisting, the bushings used in the pivot points and mounting hardware are important to keep in mind. A stiffer sway bar won't do its job if its rubber bushings are too soft or worn out. Polyurethane bushings are practically impervious to oil and other road contaminants, and won't crush down or wear out like rubber bushings. They are also designed to be free-floating, rotating 360 degrees, so the sway bar and other suspension components that also are fitted with them can articulate fully without binding. In contrast, rubber bushings are often bonded to a metal shell and sleeve, and function with a twisting action that, when pushed to its limit, binds up instead of rotating freely.

Adding a bit more complexity to sway bar installation is the fact that varying the size and effectiveness of the front versus rear sway bars can change the understeer/oversteer characteristics of a vehicle. You can tune the suspension so that more of the cornering forces feed either the front- or rear-outside tire. The result is a vehicle with more balanced steering characteristics, along with less body roll.

How Does A Sway Bar Work?

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 20:12:00 +0000

Normally, without a sway bar when the car corners the weight of the chassis shifts toward the outside of the turn compressing the springs on that side. The springs on the inside generally extend a little, or do nothing. Relatively to the chassis itself, it appears that the outside suspension compresses and the inside doesn't.

A sway bar couples the suspensions on each side to each other, and relative to the chassis. A sway bar effectively increases the spring rate on whichever side is compressed the most. If the sway bar were absolutely solid with no twist so there's a 100% coupling between each side then an attempt to compress one spring actually becomes an attempt to compress both springs. It doubles the spring rate. If the bar has some twist, then it may only increase the spring rate by say 50% on whichever side is compressed the most.

What Does A Sway Bar Do?

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 20:12:16 +0000

Besides keeping your vehicle more level, a sway bar also limits the lean of the body. This is needed because it means that when you take a quick set into a turn, the body isn't still moving sideways after the tires at their limits. Otherwise you turn in quickly, the tires grip and then the body finally finishes leaning, when it stops, the tires loose their grip.

A sway bar limits camber changes. The camber is the angle that the tire leans in or out at the top relative to the chassis of the car. The camber directly impacts the angle at which the tire cross-section meets the road and thus controls lateral grip. As the suspension compresses the camber angle generally changes relative to the chassis. With a normal Macpherson strut that hasn't been lowered, the camber goes from positive to more negative as the lower A arm swings out straight, and then back to positive as it swings up. That swing up into positive camber is bad. At that point the chassis is already leaned over so the tire may be starting to roll onto its sidewall. Changing the camber even more positive just nasty. A big sway bar will prevent the body roll in the first place, and prevent the suspension compression on the outside that causes the positive camber change relative to the chassis.

A sway bar will transfer lateral grip from one end of the car to the other. Racers exploit this every time they go on the track. Their spring rates are often so high, the cars so low, and their suspension travel so little, that the whole camber and body lean problem is already a non-issue. The car doesn't lean much with 500 lb springs. They use their bars to change the balance of the car. A big bar on the front, increases rear lateral and motive traction. A big bar on the rear increases front lateral and motive traction. If the car is under steering, decrease front bar size, or increase rear bar size. This increases front lateral grip and decreases rear lateral grip giving the car a more neutral to over steer feel. Reverse the process for too much over steer.

What Does A Sway Bar Accomplish?

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 20:12:37 +0000

Basically sway bars accomplish two things. A sway bar is a torsional spring that connects the left wheel on a car to the right wheel. If both wheels move up or down together it imparts no resistance but if the wheels move in contrary motion the sway bar will resist the motion. A larger sway bar will reduce the amount that the car is inclined to lean in a corner and secondly, the balance between the magnitude of the front and rear roll stiffness, a combination of the spring stiffness, shock absorber stiffness and sway bar stiffness, profoundly affects the feel of the car.

Resources:
WWW.AUTO.HOWSTUFFWORKS.COM
WWW.ADDCO.NET
WWW.SUSPENSIONCONNECTION.COM

Window Tinting Overview

Mon, 17 Jul 2006 20:03:40 +0000

Window tinting is the application of a thin specially designed film to the inside of the windows of vehicles. In most cases it is an option added at the request of the vehicle's owner. It may be added at the time of purchase for a new vehicle or applied by a professional window tinting business or even applied by you.

There are government rules and regulations set in place to ensure darkness levels of tint films do not present a danger to motorists. This is because tint can reduce the visibility for a driver, especially at night. The Federal Department of Transportation specifies a minimum of 70 percent visible light transmission for window tinting on the windshield and the windows to the immediate left and right of the driver. Individual states can pass laws that go further than the requirements set forth by the Department of Transportation.

What Types Of Car Window Tinting Are Available?

Mon, 17 Jul 2006 20:05:05 +0000

The windshield is the driver's primary means of viewing the road, so it is required that it remains untinted, except for a horizontal tint stripe at the top of the window. Regulations on the width of the strip vary, but are generally 4 to 6 inches from the top of the window. The strip may be made of semi-translucent film that partially blocks the sun's UV rays, or a matrix of black dots cemented to the glass. The matrix of black dots blocks bright sunlight, but generally does not protect against UV rays.

Side window tinting, if allowed by the individual state laws, usually involves the application of semi-translucent film to the inner pane of the glass. The chemical properties of the film determine the appearance of the finished car. Specific films can impart a particular color or a mirror like shine to the window.

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Car Window Tinting?

Mon, 17 Jul 2006 20:05:25 +0000

Automobile window tinting, by its nature, reduces the visible light transmittance through a car's windows. This can be a problem at night when other motorists must be able to see through the car in order to sense impending danger. Police officers must also be able to identify the passengers in a vehicle. Other concerns may be tinting film that is both very old and bubbling or peeling off, which would also lower visibility.

People generally get their vehicle windows tinted to perceive added value because it makes the vehicle look more sporty and also to help reduce the glare of the suns rays and prevent eye fatigue.

In limousines, windows are tinted to keep people from seeing the passengers. In the case of people who keep their work tools in the vehicle, windows are tinted to keep thieves from seeing if there is anything valuable to steal.

Window tinting keeps the car and its occupants cooler and helps save the interior of the car from damage and fading from the suns UV rays.

In case of an accident, window tinting will help hold shattered glass together and protect the occupants of the car.

How Much Does It Cost To Tint Car Windows?

Mon, 17 Jul 2006 20:05:46 +0000

The price for a car tint can vary dramatically from the cheapest fly-by-night shop at $100 to the luxury tint shop's $400 or more. But even these prices depend on many factors.

A small percentage of cars are harder to tint than others. When getting a price quote, a tint shop will always ask you for the make and the model of the car. Tint shops know which cars take more time to tint properly. They often charge a premium to tint some cars with steep and curved rear windows. Additionally, each additional square foot of window on your vehicle requires more window film to tint. This makes tinting a SUV or station wagon cost more than a sedan.

There are wide performance and cost differences in tinting film. The cheapest tinting film can be many times less in price than more expensive film. But remember, you get what you pay for. Cheap film may look good at the beginning, but they can fail to block the summer heat, fade, turn purple, or bubble soon after installation. Higher quality window film such as fully-metallized, sputtered or deposition window films offer both advanced performance and a lifetime warranty.

Most warrantees only cover problems such as cracking, glazing, bubbling and peeling. Some films carry a Color-Safe Warranty that gives you peace of mind that if the color of your tint ever changes, it will be replaced. The best warrantees are transferable which allows you to transfer the warranty to another person when you sell the car. This adds permanent value to your car. It is recommended that you ask about the Performance Warranty before you pay for tinting services from any tint shop. These warranties's can last from 1 year to a Lifetime.

Reputable tint shops have high standards in which they hire, the film they use and overall customer service and experience. This will increase the cost for them to do business and they charge more as a result.

How Do You Remove Old Window Tint On Automobiles?

Mon, 17 Jul 2006 20:06:08 +0000

All window film deteriorates with age and eventually has to be removed. Two of the most common symptoms of dying film are purple film and bubbling film.

Purple film is caused by non-metallic dyes in the film breaking down and changing color. Bubbling film is a sing that the adhesive used to apply the tint to the window is drying out. Once a single bubble appears, many more will follow.

It is recommended that you have the window tint removal performed by a trained professional. The process can take up to 3 hours and is not easy or pleasant. Improperly removing window tint can damage defroster lines and radio reception. Many tint shops will include the removal for free with a new tint job.

If you decide to remove the window tint from your car you will need black trash bags, undiluted ammonia, super-fine steel wool, razor blade, glass cleaner, at least 3 hours of your time and a nice hot sunny day.

First, cut the garbage bag in roughly the shape of the window, spray soapy water on the outside, cover it with the black trash bag and smooth the plastic flat. Most window tint is constructed of multiple layers of film. When left under the hot sun, the garbage bag will absorb heat, helping the film peel off in one piece.

Protect all inside surfaces, such as speakers, rear light, and upholstered surfaces, near the rear window with a tarp, then spray the entire window film with undiluted ammonia. Undiluted ammonia has a strong smell. It is recommended that you hold your breath or wear a facemask.

While the ammonia is still wet, trap the ammonia against the window film with another trash bag or plastic wrap. Park the car with the rear window facing the sun for an hour to soften the tint's adhesive.

You can now start peeling the window film off. Use your fingernail or razor blade lift the window film in a corner of the window, and try to peel the film off in one entire piece. Keep the window tint moist with ammonia as you strip. Use a razor blade to scrape off any tint that did not peel. Be careful not to cut the defroster lines.

Remove any residual adhesive with ammonia and Super-Fine steel wool, wiping with paper towels before it dries. Remove the exterior trash bag and clean the window thoroughly with glass cleaner.

Resources:

WWW.HHP.UFL.EDU
WWW.TINTDUDE.COM
WWW.EXTREMEAUTOACCESSORIES.COM

Shopping For Aftermarket Wheel Rims Overview

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 19:23:36 +0000

Rims make the look of a car; nothing else enhances the look of your vehicle more than custom wheels. You can install chrome mags within 15 minutes and have a totally different look for your car or truck.

Custom mag wheels are available from many aftermarket wheel manufacturers, such as Eagle wheels, Chip Foose rims and Weld wheels. When choosing aftermarket wheels you can get cheap prices but sometimes you will get a cheaper quality. You can spend a little more and be completely satisfied with your purchase. Depending on the style of the wheel you are looking for, quality can be very costly.

What Do I Need To Look For In Aftermarket Wheel Rims?

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 19:24:12 +0000

Heavy wheels add unnecessary weight to your car that will lower your driving performance. Steel rims will only slow your automobile down. If you are looking strictly for appearance choose custom wheels that will fit with the style of your vehicle and your personal preference. If you are looking for racing performance, then you will want to look at light ally wheels.

Alloy aluminum wheels are lighter than chrome or steel wheels and will slightly improve your gas mileage. Alloy rims also offer cool airflow over your car's brake system that will prevent overheating.

Chrome spinning rims are one of the newest customs invention, they spin even while your car is standing still. Wheel styles range from regular 5 spoke alloy wheels to wire wheels and to the chrome spinners.

Chrome has become the number one way to customize your car or truck. The chrome rim has become a staple of the motorcycle and automobile aftermarket wheel world.

Most aftermarket wheel supplies promote 18-inch and larger alloy wheels. You can purchase smaller sizes, but most buyers of aftermarket wheels want the larger sizes.

If you install rims that are one or two inches larger than the stock factory wheels this will also improve your vehicles performance. These larger wheels will also give your SUV truck a sportier look and feel. The custom wheels have a maximum load compatibility rating that you will need to match the bolt pattern of your automobile to. The offset is very important. If the wrong offset size is installed, there will be problems with the steering and handling of your car.

Many people use spacers to obtain the correct offset and tire clearance to get larger wheels and tires to fit. The problem with spacers is the limited thickness you can use and still have enough lug to attach to safely. You can use ½" spacers on most stock lugs.

The safe alternative is a spacer that has it's own lugs pressed in. The spacer has holes that bolt to the existing lug nuts safely and the wheel bolts to the lugs pressed into the spacer. The thickness is almost unlimited with this solution.

Where Can You Buy Aftermarket Wheel Rims?

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 19:24:36 +0000

You can purchase aftermarket wheel rims from a local car accessory store or online. If you shop at a local car accessory store you can actually touch and feel the rims before you buy and if you have any questions a sales person can answer your questions. If you shop online you will have less help, but the benefit is in the savings, you can save hundreds of dollars compared to the local stores. Many online automotive merchants offer you wheels balanced and shipping for free.

If you don't want to spend all of your money on one chrome wheel but you still want that chrome custom look, an alternative to the $5,000 spinner chrome wheel is Spinweel Spinners, which will run you about $300. Spinweel Spinners are add-ons to your custom chrome rims, they are designed to adapt to the wheels on your vehicle.

What Are Statistics For Aftermarket Wheel Rims?

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 19:24:53 +0000

The width and diameter are specified as diameter by width. A 15x7 wheel is 15 inches in diameter and 7 inches wide.

The number of lugholes and the spacing is called bolt circle or bolt spacing. A 5x98 simply means 5 holes spaced 98mm apart at the pentagram.

The number of millimeters the wheel hub is off the exact centerline of the wheel is the offset. A +35 offset means the wheel hub is 35mm closer to the back of the wheel than the front. More offset means the wheel is closer to inner fender.

Backspacing is the number of inches from the inside wheel rim to the face of the wheel hub. This differs from offset because a wider wheel will have more backspacing from the rear lip. The offset can only be measured from the centerline.

The diameter of the hole in the center of the wheel is called the center bore. This is important because it has to clear the hub diameter and it should fit snug on the hub to make the wheel hub-centric.

When the wheel bears it's weight on the hub rather than on the lugs themselves is hub-centric. This is a critical safety dimension because the stress of the lugs themselves can yield under hard cornering.

What Should I Do I Before Purchasing Aftermarket Wheel Rims?

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 19:25:13 +0000

Before fitting tires on any aftermarket wheels you must make sure the stud/bolt pattern is correct. The alloy wheel should fit freely on to the hub without interference and there should not be any screws, rivets or retaining clips with may interfere with a firm flat location of the hub against the wheel mounting face. The alloy wheel should rotate freely on both front and rear hubs. When the wheel is fastened to the hub, no part of the wheel can make contact with the brake drums or calipers or any other part of the steering or suspension.

Check the nuts and bolts, a correct fitting is vital. Be sure that the thread form is correct and the nub and bolt location seating is correct. Make sure the stud length is adequate for minimum thread penetration of approximately 1 x stud diameter and not tool long as to permit bottoming of stud in the nut or that the thread penetration of the bolt protrudes through the hub housing to cause damage to internal brake or hub components. The threads must be rust free and not over lubricated. When sleeve nuts are used, the shank diameter should be correct and the bear washers must always be used.

After you purchase the aftermarket wheel rims, make sure that the alloy wheel rim size is compatible with the tire size. Be wary of scratching the protective lacquer coating on aluminum wheels and some chrome wheels. Aluminum corrodes very easily once it is exposed to atmosphere, water, road salt or corrosive acid based alloy wheel cleaners and chemicals. When it is possible, always use the adhesive type of balance weights, these will help to avoid scratching of the alloy wheel finish.

Make a final inspection to make sure the alloy wheel and tire assembly does not make contact with any part of the suspension, bodywork or internal hub components, such as brakes or sensors. You can check this by carrying out full bump and lock to lock tests as well as a full visual inspection of the back and hub sections of the alloy wheel fixing assembly.

How Do I Care For Aftermarket Wheel Rims?

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 19:25:35 +0000

To maintain the finish of your chrome wheels, only mild, non-abrasive soap and water is required. Always keep wheels free of brake dust and road salts. You should avoid any ammonia based soaps.

To maintain the finish of your polished wheels, use the same procedure as chrome wheels. Periodically, aluminum metal polish, specifically designed for aluminum wheels, may be required to bring back the original luster of a polished aluminum wheel.

To maintain the finish of your painted, clear coated, wheels follow the same procedure for chrome wheels, using only mild, non-abrasive soap and water.

Resources: