Performance brake pads are often presented as a clear upgrade over the stock pads that came with your vehicle. With such a wide variety of pad types out there, however, it’s important to understand how different pad compounds and designs can impact the way your vehicle drives on a daily basis, in addition to how well it might perform on a track or autocross course. Here are a few brake pad basics so you can decide how to best improve your vehicle’s stopping power. Breaking Th

You’ve just purchased a used car and the previous owner had decorated the rear bumper and trunk lid with not one, not two, but a half-dozen bumper stickers. Those stickers are unsightly and, moreover, they don’t reflect your viewpoint on life. So removing these stickers from your new car is a top priority. Here’s what to do when they’re affixed to the bumper, on the glass or in the car. How to Remove Them If you’re lucky, removing stickers from your car will be an easy proces

Solid Serpentine Alternator Pulleys and Automatic Belt Tensioners were first utilized by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in 1979. Their sole purpose was to transmit power to the alternator using one belt and tensioner eliminating the need for multiple V-Belts within the Accessory Belt Drive System (ABDS). Since that time, OEs have further enhanced alternator pulley technology with the introduction of One-Way Clutch (OWC) Pulleys and Overrunning Alternator Decoupler (O

Spring is here and it’s the perfect time for a drive! But there’s a little car maintenance you should do before you hit the road. You never know when that first beautiful spring day will come, and you want to be prepared. Here are five things to do to get your car ready for spring adventures. 1. Give Your Car a Good Wash Winter is finally over so you should give your car a thorough cleaning. This will get rid of all the corrosive road salt and chemicals that collected on your

Spring is in full bloom and summer is just around the corner. Revived from its winter dormancy, your lawn is coming back to life with the help of the added sunlight and warming temperatures. Get ready for the summer season and make sure you have the best yard tools to care for your lawn. Grass Cutters If your yard consists of a grassy area that is 70 square feet or larger, you should own a lawn mower. For smaller patches of grass, a string trimmer can quickly cut your lawn. I

What is an auxiliary brake? More commonly known as a “parking brake,” this piece of equipment serves more than one important function on your automobile. And yet, in our age where automatic transmissions are far more common than a clutch pedal, this particular brake is sometimes overlooked while driving or servicing a vehicle. Let’s take a look at auxiliary brake basics. Separate System The standard brakes on your car make use of a hydraulic system that exerts pressure on eit

An auto braking system is among the top driver-assist technologies of our day. Offered in many new vehicles, such innovation is designed to automatically slow or stop your vehicle if you do not react quickly enough. The technology is credited for preventing accidents and saving lives. But not all systems operate in the same way nor does every new model offer the technology, at least not yet. Auto Braking Systems Explained Officially known as automatic emergency braking (AEB)

Hopefully, tool repair after a flood is something you’ll never have to deal with. Still, given that floods can be unpredictable, and many garages are located below ground level, there’s a chance that one day you might face a basement or a garage full of water, wondering if you can salvage your tools. Let’s consider what you can save, and what you can’t, after a flood. The Water You’re Dealing With Flood water isn’t clean. In fact, it’s often mixed with sewage, mud, and other

Allergies are a problem whether you’re at home, at work or in your car. How do you keep your car allergen-free to minimize the sniffling, sneezing and coughing of allergy season? It might seem like a challenge, but there are easy things you can do to reduce allergens in your car and breathe easier. Break Out the Vacuum You vacuum your house to get rid of unwanted dirt and dust, and you should do the same in your car to help keep it allergen-free. Especially at the end of wint

Protecting your car’s paint with regular wax application is one of the easiest ways to prevent early corrosion and other harmful environmental effects. You should understand the differences between car wax types and how long each treatment will last to determine which will be the best car wax for your vehicle. One rule remains true no matter which type of wax you use: Always apply wax to a surface that is cool, dry and clean. Applying wax to a hot, dirty or sun-exposed surfac