UnderCover: Knowing Nivomats: Dissecting A Load Sensing Shock
The Nivomat system does more than just level the vehicle under load. As the load increases, the pressure inside the shock increases as oil is displaced from the reservoir to the inside of the unit, compressing the gas volume. This creates a progressive increase in spring rate and damping with little or no change to ride frequency.
Undercover: Getting a ‘Crash Course’ in ABS Systems
Vehicle Safety Hinges On Solid Preventive Maintenance Program
Undercover: Talking to Drivers About ABS
The purpose of anti-lock brakes is to maintain steering control during a panic stop. The idea is not so much to stop quicker, but rather be able to steer around the problem.
Undercover: Debating a Complete Brake Job
One of the major issues with selling customers a “complete” brake job is that the components in the brake system do not wear at the same rate.
Undercover: Bearing the Load
When engineers came up with the idea of putting the wheel speed sensor (WSS) and tone ring inside a sealed wheel bearing hub assembly, it seemed like a great idea. The sealed environment would help protect the sensor and make it less vulnerable to damage or contamination from the outside world.
Undercover: Joining the ‘Brake Booster’ Club
In school, I took physics and wondered if I would ever use any of the scientific stuff. All of that stuff is kind of important if you want to know how altitude can affect the performance of a vacuum brake booster, engine, your body and a whole lot of other devices.
Undercover: Double Down — The Advantages of Twin-Tube Shocks
Twin-tube shocks and struts have been used as original equipment on most vehicles for many years.
Undercover: Getting a Charge out of Monotube Gas Shocks
From the outside, most shock absorbers and struts look pretty much alike: a round steel tube that telescopes up and down with bushings or fittings on both ends. But inside there can be significant design differences that affect not only the ride control characteristics and performance of the damper, but also its cost.
Undercover: Sensing Dangers: Safety System Diagnostics
How Wheel Speed Sensors Play a Vital Role in Safety System Activation.
Undercover: Herding Cats Can be ‘Exhaust’ing
Real life has proven that the life span of a catalytic converter varies as greatly as the life span of the vehicle itself. One catalytic converter may not fail in 200,000+ miles, while another won’t even make it out of the vehicle’s base warranty. One thing is for sure, they aren’t going away as long as vehicles are powered by fossil fuels. So let’s talk some about how they work, then move on to spotting one that is misbehaving.