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Strut Bars are the evolutionary aftermarket addition to the normal McPherson Struts. Usually a favorite in car customization and an integral part of heavy trucks and SUVs, strut bars are now finding their place in the sun when it comes to normal small cars as well.

People consider additional struts especially horizontal bars as high performance additions to their cars. There is a general belief that McPherson Struts or independent suspensions can be unstable at higher speeds. As an additional feature to increase the stability, independent suspensions on either side of the vehicle are joined by a common horizontal bar called the Strut Bar.

The two suspensions on either side when connected by a common bar experience reduced flex between them and that provides much needed stability at higher speeds. This is an important feature in heavy and large vehicles and performance cars but what makes people think that strut bars can stabilize their small cars? Do smaller cars really need stability?

Well the answer is No. Unless you are traveling at really high speeds, which you anyways shouldn’t do with normal cars, you definitely do not require additional struts to support your car suspension. Auto experts believe that horizontal struts have been popularized as a high performance addition to cars in the name of car customization. There is no real need for normal cars to have extra struts but in case someone wants his vehicle to have one, there is no serious harm either.

At most, additional struts will make the suspension in your car stiffer reducing the drive comfort especially over rougher terrains. Since suspensions are linked together, there may be slight vibration on rough roads because of the reduced independent movement. Also the added weight of the strut may decrease gas mileage to some extent. In case you are hell bent on having additional struts fixed in your vehicle, make sure you ask an expert mechanic to do it or else there may be serious performance problems with your car suspension.

Most sports cars, heavy and light trucks, SUVs, 4x4s and ATVs are available with strut bars as a normal fitment.

So what kind of vehicles need a strut bar if they don’t have it as a standard fitment?

If you are optimizing your normal car to perform at higher speeds and exhibit greater accelerations or powering it with turbo-chargers and NOS (Nitrous Oxide Systems), then the strut bar will be a useful addition to the pack. If you own a larger vehicle and it does not have a strut bar as a standard fitment, you should invest in one. In that case, I would suggest to for used strut bars as they cost almost one-third of the cost of new ones.

To conclude, you are the best person to assess whether your car needs a strut bar or not. Although it is not a decision to ponder over but you can certainly weigh the pros and cons depending on the type of vehicle you own and the type of use you subject it to.

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Source by James Rodham

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Regular wheel alignments are an important part of conscientious car maintenance. Unfortunately, many car owners fail to understand the importance of good wheel alignment, and therefore don’t have their alignment checked often enough.

Here are five reasons why getting regular wheel alignments is good for your car, your bank account, and your peace of mind.

1: Better gas mileage. When your wheels are aligned properly, it cuts down on rolling resistance, which means that you car doesn’t have to work as hard or burn as much fuel in order to move forward. This is good news for everyone: Not only do you spend less money on gas, but you also get the satisfaction of knowing your car is responsible for less pollution.

2: More mileage out of your tires. Even the slightest problem with your alignment can have disastrous effects on your tires. If your tires have too much or too little toe-in (the degree at which they point in toward each other at the front, like a person who stands pigeon-toed), a narrow strip on each tire will wear down very quickly, causing you to have to get new tires sooner. By getting regular wheel alignments, you ensure that your tires wear evenly, making them last as long as possible.

3: Tire warranties still apply. The problem with your tires wearing from poor wheel alignment is that it usually voids your warranty on the tires. Most warranties only apply to the quality of the goods. In other words, if the tires wear out too soon because of something other than poor quality, then the manufacturer is not responsible. Failing to get wheel alignments often enough is considered to be negligence on the part of the car’s owner, and usually means that the warranty is voided.

4: Less wear and tear on other parts. Having the wheels out of alignment can be stressful on the rest of the car, too. It means that you continually need to put pressure on the steering system in order to keep the car straight, and when you brake you often feel the car pull even more sharply, indicating that the brakes are needing to work harder on one side than the other.

5: Easier to drive. One of the biggest advantages of having your wheels aligned properly is that your car is easier to drive. No annoying pull to one side or the other. It’s much easier and more pleasant to drive a car that has had regular wheel alignments.

As you can see, there are many reasons why a car owner should be sure to get regular wheel alignments. Not only does having your wheels aligned properly save you money on gas, tires, and other potential repairs, but it also gives you better peace of mind to know that your car is being cared for properly.

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Source by Andy West

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When you are purchasing parts and putting together a turbo system, the blow off valve is a fairly important part of the system. Not only does it release all the excess pressure built up in the intercooler piping after the intake manifold closes, but a turbo BOV also creates a unique BOV sound, which can make your car sound like it’s quality tuned and unique. The HKS Super SQV (SSQV) turbo blow off valve is a BOV every turbo tuner should consider purchasing, as this specific BOV has many benefits to its unique construction.

In 1994, HKS released the first blow off valve, the SSQV BOV, containing the “pull” valve design, which was unlike the usual “push” valved blow off valves turbo tuners have always used. The “push” blow off valves have been the traditional type of turbo BOV used and they allow pressure to build up until the valve spring cannot hold anymore pressure, or the valve reaches its threshold, and then pushes the excess pressure out of the valve.

HKS created a design with the “pull” valve system, found on the HKS SSQV BOV, which uses and alters the pressure to pull open a dual valve system. The primary valve is the smaller valve, which opens up during smaller pressure conditions. When heavier pressure conditions are encountered, the SSQV BOV will open the larger, secondary valve, which allows all the excess pressure out during heavier and faster driving conditions.

Having the pull valve system allows the HKS SSQV BOV to prevent leaking, even when the car is idling or under extreme conditions. This system also allows a cleaner, more solid BOV sound, as it releases all the pressure with a fresh tuned sound, once the valve is pulled open.

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Source by Christopher Kochan

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Owning a car is very important these days to allow you to travel easily. However, buying a new car can be quite expensive. Thus, some buyers opt for used cars. Unfortunately, there are also instances when used cars are also expensive. Plus, there are instances when the car you are eyeing for is not available. So, the best option is to buy cars for sale overseas.

When buying cars for sale overseas, some car buyers commonly check their brand. This is an important factor since some car manufacturers create some of the best cars of all time. Apart from that, below are some of the reasons why brands are important in buying used cars.

Make purchases easier

First and foremost, more and more used car buyers look for specific brands in order to obtain certain features and functions that only such manufacturers offer. During the past and even today, car manufacturers push their limits to find new features for their vehicles to increase their sales. Thus, when buying used cars, some buyers look for these brands to ensure that their driving experience can be better.

Guarantee good car conditions

Another reason why car buyers commonly focus on brands when buying used cars since there are manufacturers that create cars that last for a long time. As of now, manufacturers make use of different materials in creating vehicles. These include plastic, aluminum, titanium as well as fiber glass. However, back in the days, most vehicles are made from steel. Thus, these vehicles are more durable and tend to last for longer periods of time. Sadly, these steel bodies can be damaged when left under extreme weather conditions.

Find high value vehicles

The next reason why car buyers look for certain brands of vehicles as an investment. Most of the time, individuals are purchasing vehicles to simply allow them to move from one place to another. Or perhaps to make their business better. However, there are cases when car buyer purchase cars to help them gain profit. This is possible since some cars are quite rare and popular. Because of this, its value increases gradually. In time, your simple investment can provide you with substantial profits.

Ensure easy car maintenance

Finally, choosing a car to purchase in terms of their brand is also essential to help individuals ensure that they can maintain their cars properly. Surely, you may have purchased a rare vehicle. However, repairs and replacements cannot be accomplished since the manufacturer has stopped creating replacement parts for such model. As a result, you need to opt for parts from the company which can be very expensive.

These are only some of the reasons why more and more individuals choose cars for sale overseas depending on its brand.

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Source by Maynard Fahey

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Rust can absolutely ruin the metal on a car. It is best to prevent the rust from ever taking hold on your car by washing it frequently. I recommend washing at least once a week, especially in areas that use salt on the road during the cold months. All that salt and dirt and grime that builds up tends to hold the moisture in and that leaves a perfect environment for rust to begin. It often will set up in a place that has been dented or the paint has chipped. Exam your car often for small spots of rust. It is much easier to repair the rusted area when it is just a small spot.

That’s really the key. You want to repair the area while it is only on the surface. Once the rust travels deeper into the metal it becomes a much bigger and more expensive repair job. My work restoring vintage muscle cars taught me early on that rust can be lurking underneath a shoddy patch job that has been painted over. You can do a check for this by simply going around the car and knocking on the metal.

That can tell you, based on the clear metal sound or the thud of putty work used to hide rust, if the car is solid or not. It is a test I do before purchasing any car, whether it is only a year old or is one of the vintage muscle cars that I will be restoring. You should also inspect underneath the car and check the wheel wells as well. Both are prime locations for rust to begin. Never buy a car that has been in an accident, even if it was just a small accident. They car likely received some sort of damage to the paint that will be a prime target for rust. Even if the person selling the car claims to have had the car repaired by an expert. Don’t purchase it. Even with an expert doing the repair, it is very likely that rust will take hold. Take the time to check out any car before you purchase. It could save you thousands of dollars in costly rust repairs, in the long run.

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Source by Bruce Hermann

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Many cars have a manual transmission. These vehicles have a clutch that disengages the gearbox from the engine and the gear stick. To change gears smoothly you need to have the basic knowledge of how the system works.

What does it mean when the car is in neutral?

This means that there are no gears touching. Gears are connected to the crankshaft that is connected to the wheels. If your car is not in gear or is neutral it means there is no way you are going to move forward.

Why do we stall when we release the clutch too quickly?

Gas has to be applied in order to move the car forward but it also needs to be in gear. The car stalls because not enough torque is being applied. This also happens if you try to accelerate in third gear after being stationery. Remember that the higher the gear is the smaller that gear’s diameter will be, because of the higher speed it has to accommodate. A smaller in diameter gear has fewer teeth to grip.

When applying pressure on the clutch you have to take your foot off the throttle because you have to disengage the gear from the engine. Applying gas will force the crankshaft to turn. As soon as you have managed this step you can change gears. You need to use the correct gear at each accelerated speed. If you’re using fourth gear instead of third it will slow you down as the car gains speed. If you’re driving in second gear instead of third gear it will over rev the car. As soon as you have placed the car in gear apply pressure to the throttle and simultaneously slowly release the clutch. Releasing the clutch too quickly will make the car jump or jolt forward when you apply gas. This feels like a pull followed by a jump when the car is in motion.

Clutch burnout is a common problem for people who struggle to change gears smoothly. The more you use the clutch pedal the more worn it becomes thus causing what is known as clutch burnout. This is caused by the driver riding the clutch which means they are constantly pressing it down whilst driving when no gear has to be changed. Many drivers also use the clutch to slow down instead of using the brakes. This is known as engine braking which in the long run will save your gear box.

Your clutch should to be checked every six months or at the regular service intervals. When you take your car to a mechanic they will often check the clutch kit as a whole and replace it if it is necessary.

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Source by Paresh Gordhan

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If you think you can save the most money by buying cars from second bank car garage sales, think again. There are a lot of available ways to buy cheap cars that are still in reliably good condition.

Today, there are a lot of web sites which could give you the most affordable and low prices of automobiles, some of them are almost new and some car models which you could even buy at 20 to 60% price off compared to its current market price . What we are talking about are those cheap repo and closed cars for sale.

What are these cheap repo and closed cars for sale? If you are not yet familiar with it, "repo" means repossessed by the government, either by the police, or some government institutions such as FBI, IRS, DEA, US Treasury, etc.

Now, do you get the idea? These are designated cars from criminals, tax law evaders, or any one who erred the law. (You do not need to worry and be afraid about the car's condition and past owners. These cars have not been used by murderers.) That is why these cars have been known to be of high quality, branded models which would even contain less Or even no damage at all.

Since it cost the government money and space to store and maintain these repossessed vehicles, they are more than willing to sell it at cheap prices to get rid of it since they always have more repo and closed cars coming in.

However, you do have to note that cars sold at government auto auctions are sold as is. So you need to know how to inspect a car before buying. If you are not familiar, it would be best to bring along someone who can determine how much repair is needed before it can be driven.

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Source by Ryan K Lim

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Brakes are an important part of your car. They protect you from collisions and allow you to stop the vehicle smoothly. There are two types of brake pads namely Ceramic and Metallic options. Which ones you require will depend on the type of car you have.

Metallic Brake – Advantages

• These brakes can handle higher temperatures which mean that you will have longer lasting brake pads.
• They can be used in any type of weather condition because of how stubbornly the compounds react to temperature. They are also suitable for every day driving as well as track and race driving.
• They don’t wear easily because of its strong construction.
• Metallic brake pads are significantly cheaper than the ceramic counterpart.

Metallic Brake – Disadvantages

• Metallic brake pads are known to be a bit noisier than ceramic brake pads. This isn’t a major problem but it can be slightly annoying if the brake pads are made of metal.
• They release more dust which can be lodged in the crevices of your vehicle. It’s also an unpleasant part to clean.
• The brake pad itself might not wear easily but it can damage the rotors over time. This could be a costly factor.

Ceramic Brake – Advantages

• Compared to metallic options, ceramic produces less noise making the drive quite pleasant for the person behind the wheel.
• Ceramic doesn’t produce as much dust because it is a stronger component compared to that of metal. The dust is so fine that it just slides through the treads and gaps of the wheel.
• Because ceramic material is technically rock, it has a longer life span than metal. It also handles higher temperatures better than any other types, which means high speed is fine for them!

Ceramic Brake – Disadvantages

• Ceramic brakes are by far the most expensive material to get this component in.
• Although it can handle high temperatures, it is not compatible with cold climates. The chances of it becoming brittle are quite high.
• They have a limited use because they can only be used of day-to-day vehicles. It’s not suitable for heavy duty vehicles and race cars.

When having new brake pads installed into your car, make sure that you get the correct information regarding which material is best for the type of car you own. Also, if you notice anything unusual get it checked. At a brake fitment centre, the technician will be able to properly install the correct system.

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Source by Paresh Gordhan

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If you have an end-of-life vehicle. In other words, a vehicle that is severely damaged or very old, you may find it difficult to sell. The best way to salvage it is by selling the reusable parts. There is a huge market for them these days because of the increase in the number of cars.

In order to maintain a car, the car owners need to replace worn out parts from time to time. Buying new ones can be quite expensive. Recycled car parts are sold at nearly half the price.

Let us see how you can sell used parts of your car:

Get your car assessed by a mechanic:

When your car is badly damaged, you can seek the services of a mechanic to evaluate the condition of the parts. A mechanic can advise you regarding which ones are functional and which ones are not. It is good to sell only the functional parts since buyers will not be interested in damaged ones.

Locate an Auto dismantler:

One of the best places to sell used car parts is an auto dismantler. An auto dismantler recycles old cars. Hence, auto dismantlers buy damaged cars, used parts, etc. The cars bought are recycled by removing the usable parts, various fluids, oils, etc. These parts are sold and the rest of the car body is crushed and sold as scrap metal. Therefore, you can even try to sell your car to an auto dismantler ‘as is.’ Optionally you can detach the parts and sell them here. Buyers also buy directly from auto dismantlers. Hence, it is one of the best options to sell used parts.

Advertise the parts in the market:

There are magazines and portals where you can advertise the parts of your car. Buyers can view the inventory and select the what they need. Since, when selling directly to buyers you are on your own, you need to price your car parts accurately. You can do this by checking the prices of similar products online.

Selling used car parts is not only beneficial for you but also for the environment.

Benefits of recycling car parts to the environment:

1. It reduces the requirement of new parts. Hence, our natural resources are conserved.

2. Recycling car parts also reduces the waste. This helps save landfill.

Hence, we see that the best way to salvage an old car is by carefully removing those parts that are intact and selling them in the market.

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Source by Kanika Saxena

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Next to the loan contract, the car purchase order is one of the most important documents of the car-buying process. It is your agreement with the dealer on the final cost of the vehicle. Reviewing the items line by line ensures you are in agreement with the bottom line figure, which is what will be the amount you will pay in cash or finance.

Purchase orders for buying your car usually display your personal information on the top and the various dollar amounts that add and subtract to the sales price of the vehicle in a linear format from top to bottom. The top figure is usually the sales price of the car. The following are the most common items you will see added or subtracted:

• Rebates

• Discounts

• Trade allowance

• Guaranteed Assets Protection (GAP)

• Extended Warranty

• Additional protection (ex. Paint, tires, etc)

• All additional equipment or custom parts added to the vehicle

• Dealer fee

• Taxes

• Registration and title fees

• Trade-in payoff

• Down payment

Before getting involved with the details of purchasing or financing the vehicle, review the purchase order and verify no additional products or services were added. Have those items removed and a new car purchase order printed.

This would also be the last chance for you to negotiate a better trade allowance, rebate and discount-give it a shot. You never know. The dealer, registration and title fees are usually not negotiable. The payoff on the trade-in is not either. Again, any changes should result in a new purchase order printed.

Remember, take time to review and fully understand what makes up the bottom-line. Once satisfied with the purchase order, sign it and move on to purchasing or financing the vehicle.

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Source by Jim Le