Auto Repair

Identification of the small block Chevy (SBC) engine requires searching for numbers and codes, and referring to sources to help identify size, date of casting and assembly, and, among other...

The driveshaft, also known as a propeller shaft, on a C4 Corvette is the long tube that takes power generated by the engine and delivers it to the rear wheels. The drive shaft must be removed if...

The exact type of rear brakes can vary on cars. Some cars have brake calipers and pads like the front wheels, most use brake drums and shoes that work with the parking brake, and others use both....

Often times, the smaller the car is, the more difficult maintenance can be. This holds true for the Ford Focus and its fuel tank. If you must remove the tank from the car for any reason, it takes...

The inside rear-view mirror allows drivers to see out of the rear window of the vehicle without having to turn around. Over the years the rear-view mirror has grown heavier with courtesy lights,...

The Cadillac is considered one of the most luxurious automobiles made by General Motors. However, as a Cadillac gets older, its stereo speakers may begin to wear out. Usually, what fails is the...

Although produced since 1969, the Mitsubishi Galant was introduced to the United States two decades later. Although budget-oriented, the Galant has never proved a threat to midsize sedan leaders...

A proportional valve is a vital component of all automobiles and trucks, allowing them to stop properly. When a vehicle is in motion, it generates momentum, which must be overcome if a vehicle is...

Automotive fuel tanks suffer brute force attacks by flying rocks, weather-related deterioration and punctures by sharp road debris, and, in some cases, must be removed from the vehicle for repair...

Securing a bed to a truck is a pretty simple task, but if it's not done right, the vehicle can become unsafe. Plus, putting a bed on a vehicle is cumbersome just because of the size and mass. But...

The Ford Crown Victoria is one of the longest-tenured vehicles in the history of Ford Motor Co. It has featured rear disc brakes since the early 1980s, though the car also has been available with...

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...

Rear view mirrors are often secured to the windshield of a vehicle, but are sometimes secured to the headliner or roof. However, most rear view mirrors encase the mounting apparatus with a small...

In the broadest sense, rear suspension is what keeps the body of a car off the ground and the rubber on it. Rear or all-wheel-drive cars use a much more complicated setup than front-wheel drives,...

Although the front disc brakes on the Subaru Legacy provide 75 percent braking for the vehicle, it's not uncommon for the rear pads to wear quickly. One of the main reasons is because they're...

Rear disc brakes are becoming more and more popular on cars and light trucks. They feature rear rotors, calipers and brake pads. Rear disc brakes work better than drum brakes and require no...

Vehicles with rear drum brakes will often need adjusting to maintain braking power. For Hondas this adjustment is done automatically. When the brake shoes inside the drum brake wear down, they...

The rear axle in a Ford Mustang usually doesn't fail. However, there are two weak points in the axle. The inboard and outboard CV joint on the axle allows the axle to flex. However, the joint also...

The rear brakes on most cars use drums with brake shoes that work with the parking brake. Installing rear brake shoes is more difficult than front brake pads, because the assembly involves...

The rear brakes on Hyundai vehicles are self-adjusting. This means that the rear brakes will adjust over time as you use them. However, a manual adjustment can and should be done initially to...

Honda automobiles are manufactured with rear disc brakes on some models. This hydraulic caliper, rotor and pad system can wear out and require the replacement of some parts to function correctly....

Vibration in the steering wheel during braking is a clear indication that the brakes on a Ford Focus need servicing, but the rear brakes do far less work than the front brakes, so it may not be...

The rear brake pads on an Audi A6 use a caliper and rotor design for maximum clamping power. However, the downside to increased performance is increased wear and tear. You will need to check the...

The rear light bulbs in a Lexus need to be checked and replaced every six months. Obviously, if they're not blown, you won't need to replace them. However, even though they are low-wattage bulbs,...

The Dodge Ram pickup truck series is manufactured with rear disc brakes, using hydraulically actuated calipers and pad/rotor friction surfaces. The rotor part of the system may become warped or...

The rear axle bearing, also called a wheel bearing, is a crucial part of the steering system. The wheel bearing allows the wheel to turn smoothly. The rear axle bearing may need replacing when you...

The 1969 Ford F-series Camper Special was manufactured with a hydraulic rear drum braking system that requires routine maintenance. The drum material can thin over time and must be replaced to...

Over time, outside rear-view mirrors give in to rain, snow, ice and humidity. The glass, any plastic and other materials within the outside mirror may become weak and break. Replacing an outside...

The Chevrolet Nova was in production from 1962 to 1979, with models produced from 1962-1968 known as the Chevy II Nova. These vehicles were equipped from the factory with rear drum brakes. Drum...

If you've got bad rear shocks, chances are, you've got some back pain, too. That's because shocks are integral to good ride quality. So if they're bad, it's time to replace them. It sounds like a...

The rear brakes on a 2000 Honda Accord use a caliper and piston design to apply brake pressure. You'll need a special brake tool to compress the piston on the rear caliper. This tool is available...

The brake shoes on a Mazda only do 25 percent of the work in the braking system. This is because the shoes push against the brake drum, causing the wheel to slow down. Over time, however, even...

The rear brakes on the Ford Zx2 will only need adjustment after you change the brake shoes. The drums contain a self-adjuster. However, you can manually adjust the rear brakes to speed up the...

The rear brakes on a Ford ZX2 need to be adjusted only after the brake shoes have been replaced. Fortunately, the rear brakes on a Ford ZX2 are self-adjusting. However, there are a few things you...

The rear end of a rear-wheel drive vehicle is a key part of the drivetrain. If it's broken or worn out, it can cause drive problems, and the vehicle won't move. Taking it apart isn't difficult, it...

While timing belts and timing chains accomplish the same job, they are made of different materials and have varying lifespans. The Volvo 850 does not use the steel, long-lasting chain, but a...

Many rear wheel bearings use a sealed bearing unit. This eliminates the need to press out bearings from a wheel hub to install new wheel bearings. Because there are no tie rods or other steering...

The rear speakers in a 2007 Chevy Impala can be removed if you need to replace them. Because the factory speakers are made with paper cones instead of high-quality silicone, it's not unusual for...

The rear bumper on a 2001 Toyota Camry will only need to be removed if it is damaged, or if you want to replace it with an aftermarket body kit. In either case, you must have a few simple tools...

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...

The rear wheel bearing on the Honda Civic is a sealed unit. The bearing itself attaches to the wheel hub assembly and must be removed when the bearings start to grind. The wheel bearing carries...

Chevrolet rear brakes use hydraulic calipers and friction pads, on most late models, that can deteriorate. The pads are a semi-metallic or ceramic material designed to thin over time, requiring...

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...

The Saturn line of automobiles is manufactured with rear disk brakes which contain routine maintenance parts that must be replaced at regular intervals. The rear disk brake pads have a friction...

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...

An emergency brake, or parking brake, on a Volkswagen Jetta is used to take stress off the transmission while the vehicle is parked, and as a fail-safe in the event of a major failure of the...

The Toyota 4Runner is an SUV that sits on a truck chassis that uses a live rear axle design with rear shocks and front struts. After years of normal use, the shock absorbers in the rear can leak...

The Subaru Outback is manufactured with rear shock absorbers that cushion vibrations from varied terrain. These shocks can wear out and require replacement, which should take the average backyard...

The bumper on a Volkswagen Jetta is held in place with screw bolts. You normally only need to remove the bumper if your bumper is damaged or if you need to access something directly behind the...

Four link rear suspensions have two suspension points on the edges of the body/chassis coming to a single point in the center of the rear axle. Two other suspension arms extend from the ends of...