Monthly Archives2017 January

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It happens to drivers every day, all across the country. It’s such a familiar tune that you can easily relate to anyone’s story. You park your car or truck outside in a public area, walk inside a store for just a minute, and when you return, your vehicle is long gone. And the first question that pops into your head is, “Why did they tow my car?!” Well in actuality, the answer isn’t all too difficult to figure out. A simple matter of elimination will enlighten you, as soon as you can gather your thoughts and start the investigation process. Continue reading to learn some common reasons why cars are towed, and how to get yours back after the initial, involuntary panic resides.

Parking Violations

The most common, and probably the answer to your scenario, reason why civilian vehicles are towed is for parking violations. You know what these are: parking in handicap spots without a valid sticker, parking in spots that are labeled, “Reserved“, and let’s not forget fire lanes, no parking lanes, loading zones, private property parking, and abandoned vehicle parking. That last one refers to leaving your car in a public parking lot overnight. This is sometimes prohibited on certain lots and will result in property management towing. Look around for parking signs and street signs with towing information on them. Dial the number and you are sure to find your vehicle. If not, you might want to consider the next reason.

Police Impounds and Repossessions

If you are leasing or financing a vehicle, and you know you are behind in payments, a repossession is not a far reach. Your vehicle may have been towed away by the bank sponsoring your car loan, or the dealership that you are leasing from. If your car is paid for, then you might want to consider some legal possibilities. If your license plate is expired, police can tow it and impound it. Same goes for an expired registration. Also, if your vehicle is a suspected asset to a crime or something like it, it can be towed and impounded as soon as a warrant is signed by a judge. And that could very-well be during your lunch break at Apple Bees.

Suspended or Unlicensed Drivers

There are actually cases where your car can be towed without even parking it in the first place. During a routine traffic stop, if a police officer finds that your license is suspended, expired, or non-existent, they will have your vehicle towed and impounded on the spot.

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Source by Sarahbeth Kluzinski

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DRUM BRAKE EVOLUTION

To understand the how we must first discuss the why. Brake technology has made quite a few advances in the last 100 years, but even back in the 1940s, Ford adapted changes to the way brakes were designed, much to the resistance of Henry Ford.

Henry Ford was fond of his mechanical brakes, and his marketing touted “Solid steel from pedal to wheel”. These mechanical rod operated brakes persisted until 1939, well behind Ford’s competitors. The problem with the brakes is that they required frequent adjustment, and were just plain dangerous at speed. They featured 12 inch diameter drums that could easily put a car into a spin if one brake rod was tighter than another. High speed stops proved to be hair raising experiences, and many felt that the new hydraulic or “juice” brakes introduced in 1939 to the Ford product line was a step up in safety and performance.

JUICE BRAKES

The first and by far the most important design improvement was the change from rods to hydraulic fluid to actuate the brake shoes. Although the design was originally invented in 1924, Ford resisted utilizing the design until 1939, with the backing plates, shoes, and drum assembly that in many ways the is same design used on cars today. There were a few key design issues that took some years of production to be recognized and improved upon. Along with other idiosyncrasies, Ford’s new adopted hydraulic design was a work in progress. The brakes required more pedal effort to stop the car than our modern drum brakes, a break in period, and even in some cases machine grinding to fit correctly.

Back in the 1940’s and 1950’s our hot rodding fore-fathers had limited resources and little access to sophisticated machinery, so often a “bolt on solution” was the most popular. From the way Ford designed their cars, these brake alternatives were just that.

The second major design improvement was the way the shoes were mounted on the backing plate. The 1940 brake shoes pivoted on a pin at the bottom and where actuated by a slave cylinder at the top. This design is known as “single leading shoe” or “leading and trailing shoe brakes”. When brake force is applied, both shoes pivot at the bottom attachment bolt and press against the drum with equal pressure. Shoe contact tended to stay in one spot and the wear was uneven. Pedal effort was high because none of the rotational force was used to help make the shoes press harder to the drum surface.

Living with the 1939 Ford brakes

To improve shoe to drum contact, the 1940 design utilized a pair of cams on the shoe pivots that moved each shoe in or out to eliminate high spots. Either lock nuts on the backing plate side of the brakes, or spring tension bolts allowed for adjustments to be made.

These spring tensioned bolt adjusters tend to resist staying in place, and the situation is even more aggravated if you chemically clean the backing plates for painting. Rust tended to create a resistance to turning of these spring bolts. The lower cam bolts on the design on the right tended to loosen as well, so when using the early Ford brakes periodic inspection is a must for optimal performance. Overall the design works well but requires maintenance.

A word about brake shoe grinding:

Brake grinding was common back in the day, as everyone was well aware that a little asbestos dust never hurt anybody! Perhaps no one thought of the disadvantage of grinding off of valuable braking material was a problem either. If the brakes where not ground down, they would eventually wear to the shape of the drums, but prior to that happening, the 1939 brakes had a nasty habit of grabbing and high spotting. This caused wheel lock at inopportune times, along with unpredictable braking. These features and disadvantages make the selection of the F100 truck brakes an easy choice.

Ford F100 pickup truck brake design

The F100 brakes are what is called a “Duo-Servo” design. This design works outperforms the 1939 leading edge design because it uses the rotation of the drums to cause the brake shoes to “twist” and press against the drum lining much harder. So much better in fact that they require less pedal effort and are less sensitive to high spotting. This also has the benefit of a more even brake shoe wear and longer shoe life. Let’s look closer at why the “Duo-Servo” design works so much better than the 1939 design.

At first glance the F100 design looks much like the 1940 design, but on closer examination we see that the shoes are not mounted on a stationary pivot point, but rather “floating” on a pin and spring assembly. The floating feature allows the brake shoes to twist and wedge themselves against the drum increasing braking friction. Through this servo action the shoes transmit motion to each other, rather than just one lead shoe doing all the work.

Throughout the 1950’s there was a revolution of sorts on brake development. Some of the larger more prestigious cars came equipped with this updated design. The major distinction was that the shoes now “floated” on the backing plates and took advantage of the rotation of the drum to grip harder. Ford recognized the advantage this would have on the heavier truck they produced during the early 1950’s. The point not lost on performance enthusiasts. Even though the early brake drums were 12 inches in diameter, the 11 inch F100 and F1 design was far superior in performance.

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Source by Curt Baker

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Concrete, a man-made material, is used in the construction of skyscrapers, sidewalks and bridges, houses and driveways, highways and many other things. After being set and formed, concrete acts as a durable material strong enough to hold up against some of the largest natural forces. Yet, concrete is "plastic" in that it can be formed and molded into virtually any shape before it's hardened. When it does harden, the quality of the concrete depends upon its properties as a mixture.

Concrete mixing involves getting the appropriate proportions of water and cement, sand and gravel just right so that a durable concrete product can be created. Indeed, if the mixture has even the least bit of excess paste or water then the resulting concrete foundation will crack easily. Conversely, rough concrete results from concrete mixtures that do not contain enough paste or water mixture.

Where Concrete is Mixed
To mix the concrete, a batch plant is used. The various ingredients used to make the type of concrete being used – such as sand, water, rocks and gravel – are combined in a large, mechanical and sometimes computer-aided machine, mixed and prepared for use at a job site. There are two basic types of concrete batching plants used to mix and prepare concrete. The first is a ready-mix plant, which involves combining all ingredients for the concrete except for water, which is added as the final ingredient during transportation to a job site. The second type of concrete batching is a central-mix batch plant. A central mix plant combines all ingredients for the concrete, including water, and then transported to the job site.

Ready-Mix Batch Plants
When ingredients for the concrete mixture are combined using a ready-mix concrete batch plant, the mixture is discharged into a mixing truck, which gets the concrete ready for production. There are basically three different options that you have if you're going to be using ready-mixed concrete. First, the truck mixer can be set at slow speed during transportation to the job site, at which point the speed for the mixing drum can be increased for five minutes to prepare the mixture.

Second, the concrete mixture can be mixed at the mixing yard and only slowly agitated during transportation to the job site. Finally, the concrete mixture can be turned at medium speed while inside the drum during transit so that it can be completely mixed by the time it reaches its destination.

Central-Mix Batch Plants
The second primary method of concrete batching is to use a central-mix concrete batch plant. Central-mix plants combine and mix all ingredients for the concrete before the mix is ​​discharged into a mixing truck for transportation to a job site. Central-mix plants use a fixed, plant-mounted mixer that resembles a silo in which all the ingredients are mixed. Sometimes referred to as "wet batch" concrete plants, there are actually a couple advantages to using them to mix concrete.

Central-mix plants can produce concrete mixtures faster than truck mixers. Second, using a central-mix plant does not place as much strain or wear and tear on concrete-mixing trucks. Third, you can achieve an overall consistent mixture with a central-mix plant than you can with a truck mixer.

All in all, concrete batching can be performed in a variety of ways. The method which you employ for concrete production depends on your cost, the timeline of a project and the quality of concrete product with which you'll be satisfied.

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Source by Jack Haymaker

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If you’re working on a motorcycle or other engine, then you’re probably familiar with a gear wrench set.

But if this is something new to you, or if you have a sweetheart who needs tools to work on a project in very tight quarters, then this article is going to explain some of the uses and benefits of gear wrenches.

What Is It?

A gear wrench is basically a closed end, hand held wrench. Picture a metal wrench, with a closed end on one side and an open end wrench on the other. The difference between this type of wrench and a gear wrench is that the gear wrench has a “ratchet” inside the closed end.

The closed ratchet end of the wrench allows someone to tighten or loosen a bolt or nut when space is limited. For example, when working on a motorcycle engine where there isn’t a lot of room to move, a gear wrench tool will allow you to loosen a nut even though you may only be able to move your hand a few degrees.

The ratchet lets you turn the wrench, then holds the position while you back up the wrench to take another turn. It’s just like a ratcheting socket set, only without the sockets.

Gear wrench sets come in groups, usually in metric or SAE (inches) sizes. There are generally about 10 or 12 wrenches per set in various sizes. This allows you to have a number of wrenches to choose from, since most engines and projects will require bolts, nuts and screws of differing sizes.

An additional benefit to these type of wrenches is that the ratchet prevents “rounding” of the fastener you’re working on. That means that the edges of the bolt or nut will stay sharp, allowing the wrench to grab well long into the future.

So Where Do You Use These Wrenches?

In a nutshell, anywhere!

You can use this type of wrench anyplace that you would need to use a regular wrench. Gear wrenches are typically used in places where space is tight, for example, motorcycle engines, lawnmower engines, auto and bus engine repair, and so on. One reviewer stated that he used the wrenches to change the convertible top on his Volkswagon and found them to be exactly what he needed.

Have you ever found that you needed a socket to loosen or tighten a bolt, but couldn’t fit the socket inside the space? This is precisely where a gear wrench shines!

Drawbacks

The only caveat worth mentioning about gear wrench sets is that you don’t want to rely on these to remove rusted bolts or nuts.

These wrenches are designed to work in tight spaces, but not to torque or “whale” on fasteners that have been sitting untouched for decades. The good news, though, is that most engines and equipment are worked on regularly and so there will not usually be any occasion to have to yank on anything.

If you do find that you have a stubborn bolt or nut, you might try spraying some WD-40 or other penetrating oil on the offending part. Allow it to work its way into the threads for 15-30 minutes and then try to remove it.

Cost and Availability

Gear wrench sets can be found online and at some home improvement stores. It’s not a bad idea to look at these tools in person at a home improvement store and then shop online to get the best price. Don’t be afraid to compare prices and quality, and always check online reviews. These will give you a good idea as to what others have found after using the tools themselves.

Prices can range from about $85 to more than $180 for a good tool set.

However, it’s very likely that this will be a one-time purchase and your gear wrench set can last a lifetime.

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Source by Pauline Rausch

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An Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) is a type of breaking system that prevents your tires from locking up, when placed under heavy load. When jamming on the break, the break pad will typically grip the rotors too hard, locking up and making it difficult to maneuver. Anti-Lock brakes will pulse, keeping the pads from locking onto the rotors, thus enabling the driver to maintain a level of control.

Traditional brakes do not have the ability to pulse and instead of lock into the rotors. This inhibits the ability to steer the vehicle, since when the tires aren’t rotating sliding straight is the only option. ABS is considered optional safety equipment, but comes standard on most newer vehicles.

Traction Control

Traction control is an option sold along with vehicles equipped with anti-lock brakes. This system helps tires keep traction on the ground during hard acceleration or turning. Traction control almost always works with a vehicles ABS and would not be included on vehicles with standard brakes. Some of the newest technology in anti-lock brake systems allows for detection of slippage, then controls the throttle and braking simultaneously.

Anti-Lock Brakes As Safety Equipment

Previously we discussed how anti-lock brakes can help keep the driver in control of braking vehicle. Well, there have been numerous tests done on how anti-lock brakes can improve the safety of passengers, one of the latest studies was by Monash University Accident Research Center. They found that Anti-Lock Brake Systems reduced the chance of multi-car accidents by 18% and Run-Off-Road accidents by as much as 35%.

Conclusion

So, when buying that next car, whether new or used, consider the added value of a vehicle with an Anti-Lock Brake System. The difference between an ABS and traditional brake systems makes the up charge worth every penny.

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Source by Christopher Davidson

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If you don’t own a car with a custom stereo or any type of musical instrument than you probably are not aware of what an amplifier is and what it does. An amplifier is simply a piece of electronic equipment that takes the sound produced from a musical instrument or a stereo and increases or amplifies that signal and that electronic output comes through the speaker.

An amplifier is necessary for many musical instruments in order to connect them to speakers. Amplifiers also help produce unique sounds that you hear many musicians play, most notably guitar players.

Most guitar players can people with car stereos basically just want an amplifier to produce very loud sounds without a lot of distortion of the sound.

How good the amplifier is depends on a number of specifications. The gain is the ratio between the output and the input and is usually measured in decibels.

Bandwidth is another important specification to consider. It is the range of frequencies that the amplifier can produce.

Another quality to consider it the efficiency, especially for car stereos. The efficiency tells you how much of the power that goes to the amplifier is actually applied to the output. Class A amplifier are the most inefficient, while Class AB amps are the best.

The bottom line is that people use amplifiers to make their cars and musical instruments sound very allow. More sophisticated musicians buy amplifiers to produce a higher and richer sound than what the instrument could produce just by itself.

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Source by Luke Blaise

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All of you must be aware of the fact that brakes are quite an important safety feature for cars and that is the reason as to why squeaky brakes can easily cause a driver to panic. Sometimes squeaky brakes can be a cause of genuine concern as it may signify that our brakes are going bad and at other times there may not be any reason to worry. However, it needs to be noted here that certain sounds from the car’s brakes are quite normal and are caused by different driving conditions. For example, conditions like severe braking, dusty or sandy conditions or even humidity can cause various noises from the car’s brakes.

Some of the common causes of brake squeaks in the car are the following:

Rust on the Rotors: This is quite common and it has been seen that disc brakes of car have a tendency to squeak if they are parked out in the open air throughout the night. Most brakes squeak after sitting overnight because the moisture from the rain or dew or condensation collects on the surface of the rotors. When there is moisture on the surface of the rotors, a thin layer of rust forms on the surface. As the rotor turns, the pad scrapes the rust off the rotors and then the rust easily gets caught on the leading edge of the brake pad. The fine particles of rust get embedded into the leading edge of the pad which in turn causes a squeaking sound.

This squeaking sound will continue until the rust is removed from the rotors.

Brake Pads: Another cause of squeaking brakes can be thinning brake pads. This usually happens when the brake pads are worn out and has become extremely thin. In fact, this is an effective warning that the brake pads are in a bad condition and needs to be replaced soon so that it does not cause an untoward incident on the road.

High Metal Content: It has been seen that high metal content in brake pads also cause the squeaking sound. However, it is natural that there is some amount of metal in the brake pads but some of the cheap varieties are manufactured with high metal content. In fact, large chunks of metal are embedded into the pad material. The result is that the large pieces of metal drag on the rotor and causes the brakes to squeak while the car is on the move.

Lubrication: Sometimes a squeaking sound from the rear brakes are also heard after pushing the brake pedals. It indicates that the shoe-to-backing-plate contact points need to be lubricated. Once the contact point loses lubrication the metal begins to rust. When such a thing happens the shoes will scrape against the backing plate, which in turn causes a squeaking sound while the wheel rotates.

If your car brakes are squeaking, it is best to get your vehicle checked by a trusted car mechanic and get his opinion on the condition of your brakes and the reason as to why they are squeaking. Remember, car brakes play an important role in maintaining the safety of the vehicle while on road and so it is always better to be safe than sorry!

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Source by Tanya Campbell

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The term is thrown around quite often, you hear it all the time in conversations or in anger for times when a car is not performing as well as it should, but what is actually considered a junk car? Many people picture an orange rusty old little car sitting on a lawn or in the driveway, I mean that was the first thing that used to come to my mind before I became so fondly familiar with this field. It never occurred to me that anything beyond that mental picture could be called, and let alone considered a junk car. Just some old parted out “thing” that had no purpose for anyone whatsoever, see I still can’t get that image out of my head, but in many peoples eyes a car can be considered junk because of numerous different reasons or conditions.

Besides the image ingrained in my mind from way, way back when, a car that simply doesn’t run anymore is considered junk by many as well. You could probably just imagine a person kicking the tire of their car because it just stopped working in the middle of a highway. It’s the car on the side of the road because the transmission started grinding and just broke down, or the radiator just blew because something caused the car to overheat, or the car in the driveway for some odd reason that just doesn’t seem to want to start. Also cars that have been in accidents can be considered junk cars too, especially when they appear to be beyond repair.

Generally, any car that has little or no value to its owner is considered a junk car. Whether the car won’t run, got wrecked in an accident, or the cost to fix a broken down car exceeds the owners perceived value of the car, it is considered to be a junk or salvage car. Besides peoples perceptions, many states have the power the declare a car junk, salvaged, rebuilt, etc as well. Normally this happens after a car has been in an accident and was sold by an insurance company to a dealer because the total amount of damage and cost for repairs exceeded 75% of the current value of the vehicle. Most people don’t know this, but when a car is bought from insurance companies it is considered totaled, and most if not all states will be declared junk and be branded with a junked, salvage, or rebuilt title, and to get a car with this type of title registered in many states requires a separate anti-theft inspection on top of all other state requirements which is not a fun task at all.

I hope you found this article useful and have discovered how many people, businesses, and even states can perceive a vehicle as being junk, salvaged, or rebuilt.

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Source by Mike Frantel

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The type of car you drive has a huge impact on how others perceive you. For an example, I used to drive a 1992 economy car and I was constantly pulled over by the cops. However, now that I drive a new Mercedes Benz I have never been pulled over. Not one single time. My driving style has not changed whatsoever. Certain cars simply exude more respectability and status. Don’t get me wrong, I have seen luxury cars pulled over before; it just hasn’t happened to me yet.

I have also noticed that most individuals are not very knowledgeable about cars in general and will automatically assume that you are wealthy because you are driving a luxury car. This is a complete fallacy since all of the luxury brands have entry level vehicles that are very affordable and probably cost less than most SUV’s. However, the majority of people don’t think twice about someone SUV but will automatically assume you are wealthy just because you drive a Mercedes. There is a huge difference between a C-Class and S-Class.

I read about a recent study which stated that the type of car you drive doesn’t lead to happiness because most people do not consciously think of what type of car they are driving all of the time. Personally, I am constantly aware of what type of car I am driving and I never forget. I always felt self-conscious driving a more modest car but I feel so much better about myself now that I drive a luxury car. Maybe I’m more self-aware than others but I never forget it.

Let’s take a look at a few common stereotypes. People who drive luxury cars are generally perceived as snobby and status conscious. SUV drivers are usually thought of as adventurous, sporty and fun loving while anyone who drives a minivan is usually family oriented. Folks who drive high performance cars are usually considered aggressive and show-off’s.

Want a nice car but don’t want to spend a ton? Why not consider a used car?! Most regular people (if they aren’t car fanatics) won’t be able to tell the difference between a brand new car and a used car that is just a few years old. Used cars depreciate in value a lot less too and many have been reconditioned to be in great condition. There are many options available including used sedans, SUV’s, used trucks and coupes. Visit a used car dealer in order to find the best deals.

All that matters is that you are happy with your own car. It doesn’t matter if you drive a Chevy, Kia, Chevrolet, Buick, Honda or Ford.

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Source by Jacqueline Star

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When it comes to utilizing your vehicle to make a profit, the possession of a van may go a long way. While many companies and other services offer the use of rented vehicles, many do not offer assistance. For jobs that require an extra helping hand, establishing a “man with a van” service is just one of the ways you can make a profitable use of the van you own. Customers may opt to select your services because you can help them with aspects of a move or item transportation that they are unable to handle on their own.

The price to rent a truck from a major company can sometimes cost an arm and a leg. Even the use of a van from a local business for only a few hours may seem a bit pricey. When you are able to deliver a better deal to individuals in need of this type of service, a small business or making extra cash on the side is the result. To further contend with the competition, you may also offer your services after hours when other companies have sent their workers home.

Who Needs Van Service?

Moving companies are known for making a bundle packaging, loading, and transporting items from point A to point B. For local moves, a “man with a van” service might be just what a family needs in order to stay within their budget limitations. Sometimes, the use of the van is all that is needed and for that reason, you may offer two different options with your business: van only service and van with assistance service.

As college kids shuffle to the realm of higher education, some students don’t move far from home. Transporting all of their belongings to the college campus may prove too overwhelming for the family car to handle. The use of a van for a short period of time is just the thing to make sure as few as possible trips back and forth to the college are made.

Sometimes a heavy-duty round of spring-cleaning has created a need to transport unwanted items to the Salvation Army, Goodwill, local charity, or junkyard. Old couches, sofas, dining room tables, and other sizable household goods simply do not fit in the back of a car, calling for the use of a larger vehicle. A “man with a van” service not only helps individuals load these items, but also charges a small fee for delivery to their intended destination.

The use of a van is also needed when large household items are purchased from a furniture store and there is no way to transport the objects back to a home. A “man with a van” service not only solves this problem, but also helps consumers bring the items safely inside of their home.

Spreading the Word

To get the public interested in your van services, you have to let people know that your services exist. When individuals are in need of help or the service of another, one of the most commonly used resources is the local Yellow Pages. Placing an ad or listing with this source is highly suggested in order to make your business a competitive venture.

The local newspaper is also a popular mode of advertisement, which helps to drum up business. Also, as you ride about town in your van, eye-catching advertising splashed on the side of your vehicle will alert the public of your services.

Once you have established yourself then word of mouth will spread if you give a good service, then you can think about expanding your business and taking on staff to cover more areas, then the world is your oyster!

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Source by Steve J Carter