A torque wrench is a device used to measure how tightly a nut or bolt is installed. If a bolt is too loose, the assembly can leak or fall apart. If a bolt is too tight, the bolt can fail or removing…
GMC introduced the Yukon in the 1992 model year, and based the SUV on its popular Sierra pickup. In 2000, GMC redesigned the Yukon, but the SUV remained based on the Sierra pickup. In the 2007 model…
Ford added the F-150 to the F-series lineup in the 1975 model year, to slot between between the existing F-100 and F-250. In 1984, the F-150 replaced the F-100 altogether. In 2004, Ford completely…
Torque is energy or pressure exerted in a rotational direction. It is the force we use when tightening nuts and bolts or screwing the lid onto a jar. All wrenches apply torque. Torque wrenches not…
Learning how to use a torque wrench tool is essential to making most auto repairs on your car, as well as other types of household repairs. The torque wrench measures how much torque is applied to…
High output small block Chevrolet engines produce the most power possible with high compression ratios, or CRs -- ratios as great as 15:1. Competition and racing engines are designed this way, but…
Removing or replacing the engine in a vehicle can be a time-consuming and complicated process. It is not uncommon for Jeep owners to swap out the smaller engines in some of the newer-model Jeep…
A rheometer is a device that measures the properties of a given material as it changes form. The information provided by a rheometer helps scientists gauge reaction of a material under different…
The Jeep Wrangler is designed to be taken off road and in the process, it can get beaten up. One way to protect the side of the Jeep from damage is to install a set of tubular side rails to the Jeep.…
A tow bar can be a very useful accessory. If you need to take a long trip or if you are moving to another city, you may wish to tow your 2003 Hyundai Accent behind the moving truck. A wide variety of…
Honda built the 1994 Accord as a family sedan and included an engine which would fill that role. Many owners want more power and a turbocharger supplies it. The turbocharger uses the power from…
A torque wrench is a device used to apply a very specific amount of torque, or twisting force, to an object, such as a nut or bolt. These may be tested using a portable torque tester, or certified…
First produced for the 1971 model year, the Dodge 360 was essentially a larger version of the earlier 340 engine. Like the 340, the 360 featured eight cylinders. Power is transferred from the engine…
A hydraulic torque wrench is an industrial torque wrench capable of tightening bolts accurately up to 150,000 foot-pounds of torque. Hydraulic torque wrenches are lightweight and portable devices;…
Follow-up torque wrenches are more accurate versions of typical torque wrenches. They are also known as dial measuring torque wrenches because of the precision dial in their casing.
The air conditioner compressor is the heart of your a/c system. The compressor takes the refrigerant and pressurizes it so it will cool off the car. It is run by a belt on the engine and has an…
Turbonetics is an aftermarket automobile and truck parts manufacturer based in Simi Valley, California. As of early 2011, the company sells 16 turbocharging systems under their consumer-targeted…
A U-bolt is a type used on automobiles to join certain components. These bolts, like any other on a car, have specific torque, or tightening, values. Proper application of torque ensures all of your…
A beadlock is a mechanical device that holds the tire's bead bundle and wheel rim together. The bead bundle and wheel rim are secured with the use of mechanical force. With a beadlock system,…
When the coolant in your 2001 Mazda Millenia is ineffective or full of debris, you should replace it for optimal cooling. An overheated engine may result in severe damage to the internal components,…
Stainless steel bolts are popular fasteners because of their strength and resistance to corrosion. While in many households bolts are tightened until they feel tight enough, industries and car…
Once the thermostat in your 1998 Mazda Millenia engine fails, it may keep the engine overheating or prevent it from getting up to temperature soon enough, affecting performance. Either way, you can…
If you own a 1999 General Motors vehicle that had a Vortex engine included with the vehicle and would like to make it faster, there are a number of things you can do to make that a reality. Vortex…
The Scenic is a compact car produced by Renault from 1996 to 2003, at which time it was replaced by the Scenic II. The headlamps on your Scenic are some of its most important safety features. Not only…
The Maasdam Power Pull moves heavy weights without using expensive hydraulics or power winches. The Power Pull device, also called a come-along or a manual winch, is a necessary tool for four-wheeling…
The Roadmaster tow bar is used to transport a vehicle by towing it passengerless, behind another vehicle. Advertised as one of the safest and most trouble-free towing solutions on the market, the…
After a long winter of putting your snowmobile to good use, the snow has dried up and no longer provides adequate turf for your frigid rides. The time has come to store your snowmobile away for the…
The headlights are important safety components of your 2006 Dodge Ram 3500. Without them, driving at night or in bad weather would be both difficult and dangerous. If a headlight is damaged or broken,…
Headlamps on a vehicle are important safety components to drivers. Headlamp bulbs burn out, just like regular light bulbs. When headlamps on a Suzuki Forenza burn out or malfunction, they need to be…
Permatex Blue, a silicone gasket maker/sealant, cures quickly and resists aging. The sealant also resists weathering and thermal cycling which can lead to leaks and air entering automotive…
When working on a car, it can be hard to understand how the manufacturer was able to put it together in the first place. Most of the bolts are in positions that are nearly impossible to reach with a…
The side step on a Jeep Wrangler is the metal beam that you step on to help you get into a raised Jeep. The side step is mounted to the frame of the Jeep by four bolts. The mounting points on the side…
A Truecraft torque wrench allows you to tighten a bolt to a specific torque value. Most automotive repair jobs require that you secure bolts to a certain torque value, measured in foot-pounds or…
On 4WD models of the 2002 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck, there are both front and rear differentials. The function of the differential is to transfer the power from the drive shaft to the axles. Since…
1996 was the second year of the newly redesigned Chevrolet Lumina. The 1996 model was equipped with a 3.1-liter V-6 engine that produced a respectable 160 horsepower and 185 ft-lb of torque. Whenever…
When the Ford Mustang's engine overheats and the engine coolant is properly mixed and filled, there is a chance that the thermostat may have failed. You may be tempted to call a repair center to…
Beadlock wheels allow you to install large-diameter tires without expensive tire equipment or trips to a tire shop for installation. Beadlock wheels have a center flange that holds the inside bead of…
Gone are the days when ropes or chains were used for towing a vehicle. Not only are these methods unsafe, but they are also very crude. Modern-day tow bars offer a safer and securer way to tow your…
Aside from the engine block, an engine's cylinder heads are typically the heaviest components of the engine. Unfortunately, weight is too often confused with durability. What makes a cylinder head…
The thermostat in your 1998 Chevy Cavalier maintains the proper operating temperature of the engine. It remains closed on initial startup to allow the coolant inside the engine to warm up. Once at…
You might have removed the hood on your Corolla to do engine work or because you needed to fix dents in it and paint it. When you put the hood on, it doesn't always line up properly because the bolt…
The 1974 Chevrolet Nova was available with one of two inline six-cylinder engines: the 230 cubic inch and the 250 cubic inch. Unlike a V-6 engine design, which features two cylinder heads, the inline…
You might be familiar with the terms torque and angle, but unfamiliar with the term torque angle. The definition of torque angle is probably what you expect it would be.
A torque wrench is a tool used to apply a specific amount of force to a nut or bolt. The torque wrench was invented in 1918 to prevent the overtightening of bolts on steam pipes and water mains. Now,…
Fixing the starter on the 1999 Chevy Camaro comes down to removing and replacing it. The starter can be rebuilt but unless you have a lot of very special tools and advanced knowledge of it its…
Torque angle meters, or torque angle gauges, are designed to ensure that the "tightness" among fasteners on a given component is equal. Torque angle meters are calibrated in degrees instead…
Metric bolts need to be tightened on automobiles using a torque wrench. A "metric torque bolt" refers to a bolt on an automobile that requires this type of tightening. A special wrench, called a…
The 2002 Pontiac Sunfire came equipped with the 2.2-liter or 2.4-liter engine models. You will find slight differences within the 2.2L model. When replacing the thermostat, look up the eighth digit of…
For certain applications, such as bolting on a cylinder head or putting wheels on, you will need to make sure that the fastener you are tightening is installed using the proper FT pounds (foot pounds)…
Torque wrenches are calibrated based on the length of the torque wrench. When you change the centerline distance between the handle of the torque wrench and the socket, the torque reading will no…
An ordinary nut with an ordinary washer, used to fasten a bolt on something that is subject to repetitive vibration--say, a wheel axle or engine accessory--would eventually vibrate loose. Lock washers…
Tubular headers are designed to replace the original cast iron manifolds that most trucks are manufactured with. Headers are a popular upgrade. Cast iron manifolds are heavy and have smaller exhaust…
Diagnosing your car problem may seem intimidating at first, especially if you lack basic knowledge of car parts. Many car problems are not easy to spot, so it might take an experienced driver or…
While the Jeep Wrangler is offered from the factory with side steps, they're not standard on every model. The mounting holes are included in the frame on all Jeep Wranglers, but if yours did not come…
Volvos are well known for their reputation as being extraordinarily safe vehicles, but not so much as being the world's most performance-oriented vehicle. To increase the performance of your Volvo,…
Headers are the portion of the exhaust that are bolted the head or heads of an engine. Headers evacuate spent exhaust gases from the motor into the exhaust system, where they are then routed out of…
The mechanical world holds many parts, accessories and tools used in the trade. Basic tools such as nuts and bolts, screwdrivers, wrenches and pliers are all common in a contemporary household. A lock…
The Honda Accord is not the most performance-oriented vehicle on the market. To increase its performance, install a turbo kit on your Honda Accord. Installing a turbo kit on your Accord is by far the…
A torque wrench is an essential tool for anyone repairing machinery. Torque wrenches can range from inexpensive beam-type models to ultra-expensive dial types, but for home use the best choice is a…
A torque wrench is a device designed to tighten bolts to a specific tightening or torque specification. This measure of tightness protects both the threads of the bolt and the threads of the attached…
Snap-on has a long history of making professional grade auto mechanic tools that are reliable and designed to make a mechanic's job easier. Its line of torque wrenches is no exception. Whether you own…
Torque wrench calibration is important to the safety and effectiveness of your home and car repairs, as well as the functionality of the torque wrench itself. Use your torque wrench safely and…
Torque ensures that a fastener properly holds a given part in place. Without a torque wrench, you have no knowledge of the exact amount of force you apply to the fastener. Click style torque wrenches…
If you've ever stripped a bolt while working on engine, you know the value of a torque wrench first-hand. This specialty tool is a lifesaver when it comes to not only tightening down nuts and bolts to…
Many car manufacturers recommend not reusing head bolts, or the bolts that hold the engine's head assembly to the engine block, because over time, they can become brittle from excessive engine heat…
Torque is the applied tightness of the retaining bolt without over-tightening (which can mash threads to the mating surfaces) or under-tightening (which can lead to the bolt not holding the component…
Using extensions when torquing bolts may be necessary if the bolt is in a hard to reach place. The extension will allow you to reach the bolt while the torque wrench allows you to torque the bolt to…
It's not uncommon to see people rock crawling or mud bogging on the weekend. One thing that helps maintain the enjoyment of offroading is a set of beadlock wheels. Depending on the situation, a tire…
Most Honda Civic clutches are made for smooth engagement (except the Si model), meaning that the grabbing force is not so strong that it's hard to engage the clutch. The clutch itself is a disc made…
When you are a do-it-yourself ...er..., sometimes you may have to improvise the tools that you need. For example, let's say that you are tightening the nut on a wheel, axle, brake caliper, or any…
Permatex is an innovative liquid tool found in almost every auto repair shop. Different formulas of the product are used for different applications. Starting in 1909, Constant A. Benoit Sr. invented a…
Learning car mechanics can be a rewarding way to save money. With the cost of labor rising for professional mechanic shops, a "do-it-yourself" approach can give you the confidence to troubleshoot…
The Chevy Venture, like most minivans, uses MacPherson strut assemblies in the front suspension and shock absorbers for the rear suspension. If you have 50,000 miles or more on your odometer and have…
A tow bar is a device that connects to the back of your vehicle so that you can tow something behind you. Tow bars are typically used as a replacement for a trailer hitch if your vehicle doesn't have…
A hitch is an extension to a vehicle--usually a truck--that allows you to tow something behind you. This could be anything from a simple trailer to a camper or 5th-wheel. The hitch itself is a…
Torque is a measure of rotational force, or how hard something is being twisted. It can be calculated by multiplying the length of the wrench by the force applied at the end. For instance, pressing…
A torque wrench is a very important tool to keep in your automotive repair toolbox. When working on your car, there are some repairs that will require you to set the bolts at an exact pressure…
Setting the correct torque on a click style torque wrench is pretty easy. There are generally two different types of torque measurements on a click style torque wrench, depending on its size and…
A torque wrench is an absolute necessity for many automotive and small engine repairs. This tool helps ensure that fasteners, such as cylinder head bolts, are all tightened to the same tension. This…
One of the necessary tools for the home auto mechanic is a torque wrench. If you want to follow all the manufacturer's recommendations for repairs and routine service, you will need to know how tight…