General Auto Repair

The Jeep Cherokee uses a solid front axle with open knuckles and solid axle shafts running to the front wheels. The outer knuckles are mounted to the inner knuckle using two ball joints, one upper...

Few vehicles on the market today offer the option of either a four-link or leaf spring suspension. As such, the question of whether to upgrade to coil springs from leafs comes down to one of...

A 1959 Chevrolet Stepside Pickup utilizes a leaf spring rear suspension. Leaf springs are long thin strips of metal that are stacked together in packs. The ends of the spring are mounted to the...

While using jack stands on trucks or any other vehicle seems like simple common sense, misuse or not paying attention to detail can lead to hazardous or fatal conditions. All jacks and jack stands...

Jeep Wranglers built from 1987 to 1995 (known as the YJ Wrangler) used leaf springs to secure the drive axles to the frame and cushion the vehicle's ride. Leaf springs are flat steel plates...

The rear suspension of most trucks has been comprised of generally the same technology for over 50 years. The leaf spring provides a decent ride, but can hold a very heavy load without having...

The Chevrolet Camaro was introduced in 1967 to compete with Ford's popular Mustang. The Camaro was in continuous production from 1967 to 2002 when it was discontinued. In 2010, a totally new...

Many Ford trucks and older model rear-drive Ford cars utilize leaf springs to mount the rear drive axle to the vehicle's frame. Leaf springs resemble long thick steel plates that are grouped...

On most conventional light-duty GMC trucks, the left rear shock angles towards the rear of the vehicle, while the right rear angles towards the front. Replacing the shocks every 50,000 miles or...

The Dodge Caravan has been a front-wheel drive minivan since its inception. Front-wheel drive vehicles all employ constant velocity (CV) drive axles that bridge the connection from the...

A vehicle's suspension cushions the ride while the vehicle traverses rough terrain, such as potholes or speed bumps. In 1989, the Ford Ranger came equipped with a twin I-beam front suspension, and...

Rear end or rear axle housing on a Dodge Ram van takes the rotational input from the driveshaft and delivers it to the rear wheels. It is attached to the van's frame with leaf springs. Because of...

The struts on the Chevy Lumina help absorb the shocks and bump of the road, so you always want them in good condition. Whether you're installing a completely new strut or the old one after being...

The lower ball joint on a Chevy Blazer connects the lower control arm to the steering knuckle. The ball joint allows the up and down motion of the control arm in relation to the suspension, while...

The leaf spring is the part on a vehicle that holds it up off the axle and provides for some suspension travel. A broken leaf spring is a hazard to yourself, passengers and to any person you...

A bad CV axle in a Toyota Tercel will result in a prominent noise emitting from the damaged axle. During turns, it will sound like the crinkling noise of an aluminum can. This will indicate that...

The CV (constant velocity) axle shafts on a Toyota Corolla integrate the transaxle of the front wheel drive transmission with the wheel. There are two joint bearings on each end of the CV axle,...

A Toyota Camry has MacPherson struts in its suspension--these consist of a heavy-duty automotive coil spring with a shock absorber running through the middle of the spring. The entire assembly is...

Most likely you won't ever need to remove your wheel bearings on your Honda Accord before you sell it. However, if you start hearing grinding sounds from the wheels, the bearings may be in need of...

After-market extended warranties can be purchased for internal components of the drive train, which include the engine's internal components, the transmission, and the drive shaft and rear axle....

The purpose of a set of jack stands is to keep your vehicle immobile--and to keep it from suddenly falling down--when it's raised in the air for work. While a hydraulic or crank jack is used to...

A constant velocity boot, or a CV boot, is a piece of rubber that protects the joint of a constant velocity axle (CV axle). There are usually two joints on a CV axle--the inner joint and the...

Anti-lock brakes can increase a car's safety. When your auto begins to skid due to water or ice, this onboard computer sends a signal to the wheels to spin slightly. The brains of this system are...

Learn how to install the axle and brakes on a street bike - free video.

Learn how to remove the axle of a street bike - free video on motorcycle repair.

For those of you who thought a wheel was just a tire mounted onto your car, there's much more to identify. The wheel assembly includes a lower control arm plus brake and steering components. Get...