June 2023

Bump stop on strut or shock What is a shock/strut bump stop A bump stop is a rubber or urethane molded device inserted onto a shock or strut piston to prevent metal-to-metal contact when a shock or strut is fully compressed when the vehicle “bottoms out.” Why shocks and struts need a bump stop In an extreme compression event where the spring is fully compressed, the shock or strut mount can hit the shock or strut body with high force, damaging the shock or strut. So the bump stop is … Read More
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How many amps does a car need to keep it running? It takes a lot more amps than you think to keep your car running. This question comes up when a a battery dies and the owner thinks they can let it idle to recharge the battery. Or, the question gets asked when the alternator dies and the owner wants to drive it a shop or home instead of getting a tow. Here’s how many amps your car needs to keep it running When your engine is running, you have … Read More
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Swollen lug nuts — What causes lug nuts to swell and how to remove them What is an acorn lug nut? An acorn style lug nut protects against water intrusion into the threads. That feature, by itself is a great idea. But there are two ways to make an acorn style lug nut: 1) weld a steel cap over the end of the lug nut prior to chrome plating the entire lug nut, OR, 2) form a thin aluminum cap over the steel lug nut. The first method is more … Read More
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