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Carbon brushes are electromechanical conducting devices that connect to moving parts to provide an electric current. They are typically used in motors, generators and alternators. Many carbon brush uses exist, but the three basic uses are in household applications that run on alternating current (AC), automotive applications that run on direct current (DC) and industrial applications that run on both AC and DC.

Household

Carbon brushes are a common component in household appliances such as power tools, gardening equipment and office equipment. Vacuum cleaner turbines, hair and hand dryers, and washing and drying machines are also common applications of this type of carbon brush, which is generally much smaller than its industrial or automotive counterparts. Micro-carbon brushes, for example, are precision parts designed for toys, electric razors, and audio and video equipment. In such small dimensions, carbon brushes are often placed inside tiny battery-operated mini-motors designed to transmit power silently and with the least amount of friction to moving parts such as wheels and razors.

Automotive

Cars generally use small and auxiliary carbon brushes for DC motors, starters and alternators. Alternators are devices that convert mechanical energy to electrical energy. They consist of a wire-coiled rotor that produces a magnetic field when a current runs through it. Automotive carbon brushes are used to supply the current to the wire coil in the alternator. Automotive carbon brushes can be found in most passenger vehicles, motorcycles, trucks and oil- and diesel-fueled cars. Even smaller, specially designed carbon brushes are used in steering wheels and contacts for airbags.

Industrial

Industrial carbon brushes are used on large commutator machines, in which the current between the rotor and external circuit is periodically reversed. These include AC and DC motors, slipring rotors, traction motors, turbogenerators, windmills, hydro power stations and steel, cement and paper mills. Industrial carbon brushes also can be used to power battery-driven cars, cable cars and trolley buses, and they are often used in construction vehicles such as forklift trucks and cranes. Brushes connect the generator to the rotor through the commutator, which has copper segments, or lands. The brushes bear the brunt of wear and tear between the rotating rotor and the non-moving generator while conducting electricity between them. Industrial brushes are specially designed to withstand extreme temperatures.

If you have owned a car for any length of time, you have probably already figured out that cars will break down from time to time. Cars are made up of a complex arrangement of mechanical and electronic parts, all of which have the capacity to fail or malfunction. Fortunately, replacement parts exist to replace virtually any component on your vehicle that breaks.

Replacement Parts

Automotive replacement parts are parts that are made to replace existing parts when they break. Replacement parts are manufactured by both the vehicle manufacturers and aftermarket parts manufacturers. You can by a replacement for virtually every component on your vehicle, including body panels, knobs, dials, wiring, belts, pumps, pulleys, sensors and even the mechanical parts such as the engine and transmission. Granted, if your vehicle is not a common make or model, you will often have a harder time finding replacement parts or have to get used parts, but the components are still out there and available for purchase.

OEM Parts

Original Equipment Manufacturer parts (OEM) are auto parts that were manufactured by the same company that made the original part. This means that the part is identical to the original item that was in your car in every way possible. OEM parts are often considered desirable by mechanics and vehicle restorers because they keep the vehicle in as close to original condition as possible.

High Performance Parts

Performance parts are designed to be more sophisticated and higher quality than the original manufacturer parts. These may correct design flaws that the original parts experienced. They may also be designed to improve performance by increasing horsepower or the capacity of a component. for example, a larger radiator to improve efficiency of the cooling system.

Used Parts

There is a large market for second-hand or rebuilt auto parts. Some components, such as alternators and starters, can be professionally rebuilt and used again. Rebuilding typically involves replacing the internal components of the part. Used parts can be purchased from a parts reseller such as a junkyard. Used parts tend to be less expensive than new parts and many used parts come with a warranty.

Every race car driver and truck driver hauling loads wants reliable and optimal performance when it is needed the most. Roller lifters have been used under the hood to reduce friction and increase power output. There are three main styles of roller lifters to choose from. You may already have a roller lifter installed in your vehicle that you want to replace or you may want to upgrade for better performance.

Definition

You will find roller lifters within the engines of some vehicles. A roller lifter is a valve lifter that has a metal roller attached at one end. The roller end makes contact with the camshaft, reducing friction between the camshaft lobe and lifter.

Construction

You can locate a lifter on the top of each camshaft lobe. These have a cylinder shape that is made out of metal. Each lifter will have a pushrod on the upper section of its metal body. The lifter rises, causing the pushrod to rise to actuate the adjacent rocker arm. This motion then opens up the cylinder head valve.

Application

Lifters convert the energy made by the camshaft lobes into useful energy for the engine. Roller lifters produce less friction and have a longer lifespan than regular flat lifters. Less friction will give you more engine power, thus making it a good choice for engines that need an extra boost of energy and power. These lifters are often found under the hoods of small scale race cars that need reliable engine performance.

Types of Lifters

You will find a few different types of lifters. You will find mechanical roller lifters, hydraulic roller lifters and retrofit hydraulic roller lifters as the most frequently implemented lifters. The mechanical roller lifters are usually found in street or mild competition applications. Hydraulic roller lifters are used with standard factory alignment bars where hydraulic roller lifters came factory equipped. Retrofit hydraulic rollers are specially designed for fort engines and small block engines. These have vertical alignment bars.

In 1906, Alanson Brush invented a new, more stable suspension system that incorporated front coil springs, shock absorbers and a flexible front axle. This all came about after William Brush -- Alansons brother -- crashed Alansons car, due to its primitive suspension system. In modern suspension systems there is a bar -- sway bar -- that spans the front, and sometimes the rear, suspension to help with vehicle cornering. A set of metal rods, known as sway bar links, attach to the ends of this bar, and they perform an important task.

Sway Bar Link Function

The sway bar links tie the control arms to the sway bar on the front of the vehicle, and the sway bar to the rear hub assembly, frame or axle beam on the rear of the vehicle. This tying of the suspension keeps the body as level as possible while cornering quickly. The sway bar links have rubber bushings to allow slight body roll. This body roll regulation prevents the weight of the vehicle from shifting, causing the vehicle to lose control.

Sway Bar Link Location

Auto manufacturers install one end of each sway bar link at each end of the sway bar, and the other end of the sway bar link to the control arm.

Sway Bar Link Types

There are two main types of sway bar links, one-piece and multi-piece. One-piece sway bar links have a long bar with studs on each end. The studs connect to a ball-and-socket joint to allow small movements of the link.

The multi-piece sway bar links typically have a total of 11 components, including one link bolt, four rubber bushings, four metal washers, one metal sleeve and one retaining nut. When replacing a multi-piece sway bar link, it is imperative that you install all components in the correct order. Failure to do so may result in poor handling and suspension noise.

Signs and Symptoms of Sway Bar Link Failure

When a one-piece sway bar link fails, it is sometimes hard to know -- it typically makes no noise. If you notice excessive body roll or lean when cornering, it is likely that the ball-and-socket joint has worn and is allowing too much movement.

A multi-piece sway bar link typically fails due to the deterioration of the rubber bushings. This results in excessive body roll or lean when cornering, and an audible jingling sound from the front end. The reason you hear this jingle is that once the bushings fail, the link is loose and bounces up and down with the texture of the road. On occasion, impact may bend or break a multi-piece sway bar link. In this instance you may hear a slight rubbing or banging noise from the front end. You will also notice excessive body roll.

If you have a social conscience (or just dont like paying huge fines and having your car impounded), then consider catalytic converters a necessity. Modern catalytic converters arent nearly as restrictive as older units and can help prevent dangerous pollutants from entering the air and groundwater.

The Law

The main reason why catalytic converters are necessary is that the law says so. Catalytic converters were originally a voluntary measure but became required equipment for all cars sold in America in mid-1986.

Carbon Monoxide

One of the main jobs of a catalytic converter is to convert the dangerous pollutant carbon monoxide into harmless carbon dioxide, which it does with nearly 99 percent efficiency.

Nitrogen Oxide

Considered a volatile organic compound (VOC), nitrogen oxide reacts with sunlight to form smog. Catalytic converters break this toxic chemical down into its component oxygen and nitrogen molecules, making for cleaner skies and longer lives.

Unburned Fuel

No engine burns all of the fuel that it ingests. Catalytic converters burn what little unburned gas the engine hasnt consumed to keep it from polluting groundwater upon exhalation.

Computer Issues

Removing a catalytic converter without installing a simulation sensor will cause a cars computer to malfunction, which will drop engine power by changing fuel and spark parameters until the catalytic converter is replaced.

Automotive cooling systems are complex beasts, not so much in form as in function. The cooling system is more than just a water hose to keep the engine cool, its a support system used to keep all of that hot, fast-moving metal working the way it should be.

Function and Design

A thermostat sits in the base of the hose that moves coolant from the engine to the radiator, and serves to restrict flow to the radiator when the engine is cold. Most thermostats use a wax-pellet design. Below a given temperature, the wax pellet remains a solid, keeping the thermostat valve shut and causing the coolant to recirculate inside of the engine instead of going to the radiator. Above its set temperature, the wax pellet melts and allows the valve to open.

Purpose

You dont technically "need" a thermostat; the engine will continue to run without it. A thermostats primary job is to get the engine up to temperature as quickly as possible and then limit flow to keep it at that temperature. Running without a thermostat will allow coolant to constantly circulate through the radiator, which can cause the engine to run far cooler than it should. While this might seem like a good thing at first glance, bear in mind that most engines are engineered to run best when theyre fairly hot.

From the speedometer to the cruise control to the transmission, the data collected by speed sensors affects the operation of multiple systems functioning within your car. In fact, many systems rely on these sensors input to operate. Speed sensors measure the speed of the transmission/transaxle output of the wheel, then send a signal carrying this data to your cars operating systems.

VAPS

The variable-assisted power steering (VAPS) system in your vehicle utilizes speed sensors so you can navigate parking lots, school zones and other low-speed areas with ease. The VAPS system controls and adjusts the cars power steering pressures. The speed sensors send data on speeds to the VAPS that allows the system to control and adjust power steering pressures. This regulation of power steering pressures allows the system to help you decelerate easier, which in turns helps you drive in low-speed areas.

ABS

The speed sensors used by the anti-lock brake system (ABS) of your vehicle let the ABS know when a wheel locks up and when to discharge pressure from that wheel so you can continue to steer the car. Depending on the brand of vehicle you own, the ABS may utilize sensor from transmission/transaxle, wheel, or a combination of both sensors.

Speedometer

Unsurprisingly, speed sensors also help your cars speedometer operate. The instrument cluster (IC) and hybrid electric cluster (HEC) modules translate the data from the speed sensor into a reading on your speedometer.

Advanced Air Suspension System

If your vehicle employs an advanced air suspension system, the speed sensors may also help determine how high your car rides. The height of your car affects how your car handles at high speeds. The lower your car sits, the better it will handle when youre driving fast.

Transmission

Speed sensor input data to your transmission as well. The information they gather tells the transmission how to shift as you change speeds.

Cruise Control System

The information from the speed sensors allows the cruise control system of your car to maintain a steady speed, accelerate and decelerate without you having to touch the gas pedal or brake pedal.

EEC

The electronic engine control (EEC) system uses the signals from speed sensors to adjust engine functions due to fluctuations in speed. It also uses input from the sensors to begin diagnostic procedures.

The clutch on a motorcycle is what the rider uses to change gears as he rides. Clutches can burn out, which basically means that they wear out and no longer work the way that they should. The clutch works by causing friction between two metal plates that have grooves. When these grooves get worn down, it causes the clutch not to work as well.

Defective Clutch

If the motorcycle clutch is defective in any way, it will not work properly. A defective clutch will cause the motorcycle to either simply stop working or to burn out due to improper wear. If this is the case, you will generally notice it within the first ride or first few rides.

Regular Wear and Tear

A rider can do everything properly with motorcycle and clutch maintenance, but most things wear out or wear down eventually, and so too will the motorcycle clutch. Ensuring your clutch is adjusted correctly and lubricated is important, but the clutch will still wear out, depending on the use of the motorcycle. The general time frame to check or change the clutch is about 50,000 miles.

Driver Error

If a rider "rides" the clutch, she will wear it out faster than normal. Riding the clutch means that the rider keeps the clutch pushed in a little on a constant basis, which will weaken the clutch, the springs and other parts on the clutch. The clutch on a motorcycle is on the handlebars of the bike as opposed to a car, which has the clutch next to the brake pedal on the floor. A motorcycle rider who keeps his fingers pushing on the clutch lever is riding the clutch.

Steep or Rough Terrain

If the primary area that the motorcycle is used in is hilly or rough and causes a lot of starting and stopping, it will cause the clutch to burn out faster. Shifting up and down, depending on ascending or descending landscape, makes the clutch work harder and more often.

Car fuel tanks have traditionally been made of steel but in recent years more gas tanks are being made of plastic, which is lighter and often safer. Placement of the gas tanks is crucial for safety.

Steel

Steel gas tanks are generally coated with zinc or with terne, a combination lead and tin. Auto manufacturers mold them into different shapes depending on the vehicle theyre designed for. Steel tanks may be safer than plastic tanks in the event of fire because they do not sag or soften in a fire and do not create smoke when burning.

Plastic

Plastic gas tanks are often the choice of auto manufacturers because they add less weight to the car, helping with gas mileage. They tend to be safer in crashes because they are seamless; they wont burst at the seams under pressure. Plastic high-density polyethylene tanks resist rupture as much as do steel tanks.

Placement

Regardless of the material of its manufacture, the most important safety factor for gas tanks is their placement. Fuel tanks placed between the rear tires provide safety in side collisions. A firewall should protect the rear seat from the fuel tank.