Use a mild soap and water solution and a stiff bristled brush to clean all dirt and debris from the tire rims. Once tire rims have totally dried, completely wipe them with a towel dampened with rubbing alcohol.
Using the wire brush and/or the steel wool (medium grade), brush and rub the affected area. The amount of force you will need is dependent on the severity of the rim rust. Periodically wipe the area off to check on your progress. Remember, you do not want to be too aggressive and damage the underlying metal. Use the chemical rust remover as directed to remove more stubborn areas of rim rust. If you come across an area of deep rust, do not remove it or it will leave a pit. If you find a few small areas like this, you may want to apply a chemical to bind the rust, such as Plus Rust Converter. This product ensures that none of the metal from the tire rim is lost. The deeply rusted area will be converted to a useful metal coating that can be finished with paint and/or sealant. Note that if you found large areas of deep rust or have found many areas of deep rust, you should consider scrapping the tire rim and getting a new one. Finally, use the fine grade steel wool to buff and polish the previously rusted areas.
After the rim rust has been removed, and the areas have been buffed and polished, wipe down the tire rims with an alcohol dampened cloth. This will ensure an oil and dirt free surface for the protective coating. Following the manufacturer's application instructions, spray or paint the protective coating on the tire rims. Allow the rims to fully dry. Lightly buff out the tire rim with the fine grade steel wool, and wipe clean with an alcohol-dampened towel. Once the alcohol has dried, apply a second coating of the protectant.
A tight budget does not mean you have to live with shabby looking tire rims. With a little bit of time and elbow grease, you can keep rim rust at bay and have nice looking tire rims on your vehicle.
]]>Intake systems may ingest their air from a cool, dense source, but if the intake is not protected against thermal contamination, power gains may be minimal. Construction from a material that resists heat transfer such as certain plastics or composites, such as carbon fiber, can have a huge impact on intake temperature, as can a thermal barrier coating such as those made from zirconium or ceramic.
2. Does the Intake use an Oiled Filter Element?
Oiled filter elements tend to offer decent filtration, but can pose a problem when it comes to air metering devices such as mass air flow units. During normal use, countless microscopic particles of oil can contaminate airflow meters, and over time cause failure or malfunction. For vehicles with Mass Airflow Units, sticking to an intake that uses a dry filtering element will reduce trouble down the road.
3. Is the Intake CARB approved?
For those living in California, California Air Resource Board approval, or a CARB exemption order is an important aspect to look into. Any modification to the intake or exhaust system of a vehicle operated on public roads must be approved and certified to not inhibit or affect the emissions controls of the vehicle. What this means simply, is that in California, an intake system must have a CARB EO number, or you may be fined or have your car impounded.
4. Is Water Ingestion a Concern?
In areas with regular rainfall, cold air intakes that draw their air from the fender well or the bottom part of the bumper may be at risk of ingestion water should the vehicle be driven through water more than a few inches deep. Companies such as AEM offer a bypass valve to prevent ingestion of water on their cold air intakes, while others may use a two piece design that allows conversion to a short ram intake by removing the lower portion in order to prevent water ingestion. If the intake does not include one of these features, and you live in an area with heavy rainfall, you may need to be especially careful, or you may face extensive engine damage.
Cold air intakes offer a lot of advantages, but like any modification, care must be taken when choosing the product or engine damage may result. Cold air intakes are a very common modification offered by a variety of companies and as such, many are designed with profit in mind rather than safe, reliable performance. By checking the above four points against the intake in question, you can greatly reduce the chances of problems in the future.
Advantages of Glasspack Mufflers
Glass pack mufflers work on the simple principle that all the sound generated by the car engine is passed through a sound absorbing material before it is released. This means very little sound is allowed to escape the muffler, and the sound blanketing capacity of the muffler is excellent. Several people commonly refer to the Glasspack Muffler as the Cherry Bomb Muffler due to its really great sound muffling abilities. These mufflers are also much better than ordinary mufflers, as they do not allow the sound to resonate back into the engine. This usually happens in ordinary engines, causing them to dissipate without damaging human ears. The loud sound of the engine is negated by the same loud sound produced by an ordinary muffler. But this creates negative pressure on the engine. The glasspack muffler reduces the pressure on the engine by dissipating the pressure of the loud sound waves out through a sleeve of glass particles. Another advantage is that they are quite cheap at about $20-$100.
Disadvantages of Glasspack Mufflers
Glasspack Mufflers don't really work on every kind of car. Another problem is that as they do get old, they start to sound really bad. They require regular care too.
But on the whole Glasspack Mufflers are pretty good. They offer value for money and have a good capability for absorbing sound. But make sure you check with the garage before you get them installed.
]]>A performance muffler is a type of a muffler that will bolt itself directly onto the exhaust pipe of your vehicle. It is typical they are halfway between the tailpipe and the exhaust manifold. A performance muffler will increase the engine exhaust gas flow that goes in through the inner cores. This allows them to speed up the incoming exhaust gases flow. Increased gas mileage is one of the many perks of a performance muffler. This is caused by the increased flow of the exhaust gases. A raspy sound may emit from your performance muffler from time to time. It is important to understand how to get rid of this sound to prevent from further problems occurring.
You will find that sometimes it is as simple as needing the correct exhaust for your vehicle. Typically, a four cylinder exhaust is one that you will be able to trust that will get the job done. These types of exhausts will prevent you from having to worry about any issues with raspy sounds.
Glasspack mufflers are certain types of mufflers that will use absorption that will help to reduce any of the sound. With these types of mufflers, the exhaust will go straight through your pipe. This pipe is perforated with holes to allow for this. There is glass insulation that will go all the way around this pipe so that the pressure pulses can be absorbed. There is steel housing that will also surround the insulation so there is less chance for raspy noises.
A performance muffler is a type of muffler made to give off the best type of exhaust flow for your engine. This helps to make the performance as good as it can be. This can be said for a large number of vehicles, regardless of whether or not it is an SUV, truck or a car. Even off road vehicles and marines can use this type of muffler. There are many benefits and one of a kind qualities that can be expected when using this type of muffler for your vehicle. A performance muffler tends to be much less restrictive to the exhaust flow to the engine of your vehicle. This also increases the rate of it as well. You can expect different sizes of the vehicle exhaust tubing to be accommodated with this type of muffler.
An exhaust resonator is a great way for you to cancel out a lot of the frequencies that are made while the engine is running. Typically, these types of resonators are put into smaller vehicles, compact or sports cars typically. These systems are added to or built into the actual exhaust system. Adding an exhaust resonator will allow your car to sound more like a sports car, regardless of the type of vehicle that you are driving.
]]>It is no secret that such a technological triumph would cost an arm and a leg but due to the increase in makes and models available, a proper airbag suspension system could be yours for below $300 exclusive of labor. Take into consideration the fact that all your stock suspension components would be replaced by this system, including heavy springs and shock absorbers. There are a lot of airbag suspension kits available in the online market that will cater to any basic whim or automotive desire, and proper research should be made to make the most of this rather expensive purchase.
Since the modification will affect overall vehicle appearance and performance, properly determine your needs for purchasing an airbag suspension system before making the decision of ordering or buying. There are a lot of air suspension kits in the market and most are designed for a specific role. There are kits for serious off roaders and are more expensive than those for street or normal use. Intermediate air suspension systems are OEM designed to improve ride comfort while having the ability to adjust ride height. There are air suspension kits for competition purposes and are popular among the racing and custom car industry. Properly determine the kind of air suspension system for your specific vehicle.
Due to the complexity of various wiring and hose installations, fitment of an air suspension system should be left to a professional and knowledgeable mechanic. There are DIY kits available for the mechanically inclined consumer, but as the installation of an air suspension requires the use of various tools, the newbie is best left with the option of hiring a mechanic. Remember that vehicle integrity and safety is at stake and proper installation will assure that such objectives are readily met. Take into account that most kits require professional installation for the warranty to be honored, and a sub par installation will void such a warranty.
Air suspension kits manufactured by reputable companies are durable and exhibit major performance upgrades for any motor vehicle application, but as such parts are exposed to harsh road conditions, wear and tear could never be ignored and is a fact worth considering. Yes, air suspension is lighter and many times more durable than stock vehicle suspension components, but proper maintenance should be undertaken according to manufacturers specifications.
Air suspension should not be confused with hydro suspension systems (hydraulics) as form and function differs greatly between both applications. But cost considerations aside, an air suspension is a wise investment for those who desire the best in terms of performance.
]]>Parallel mounted twin turbochargers are used on a variety of upscale performance and luxury cars alike. This design, most commonly found on V type engines, uses a turbo for each bank of cylinders, with both running full time. The purpose of this layout is to reduce the amount of piping required for the plumbing of the intake and exhaust systems, which can increase response and reduce turbo lag. To this end, parallel twin turbochargers also tend to be smaller than what you would typically find on a single turbo engine of similar displacement. Because there is less exhaust gas available to each turbo, a smaller turbo must be used to maintain quick response, and the cost for this response, is limited high end power delivery and boost potential. For those seeking power, this can be the parallel twin turbocharger's greatest weakness next to cost.
Twin Sequential Turbocharger
A sequential twin turbocharged layout generally uses a paired combination of a small turbocharger for low end response, and a larger turbocharger for high rpm power. To avoid lag problems, the smaller turbocharger maintains quick response at lower engine speeds and also helps to spool the larger turbocharger via the increased exhaust flow. At higher rpm or at a factory determined switch over point, the workload is shifted to the larger, secondary turbo, allowing for high boost without the presence of the lag that would be apparent with a single large turbocharger. While sequential turbochargers help bridge the gap between top end power and low end agility, they tend to be overly complex, and in the case of the Mazda RX-7 Twin turbo, can even contribute to reliability concerns. In addition, for the custom tuner, the profiles of the smaller and larger turbocharger can be quite difficult and expensive to properly match. Because of this, many enthusiasts will simply upgrade to the simplicity of a larger, single turbo.
Twin turbo charging should not be confused with twin charging, which consists of the use of both a supercharger and turbocharger plumbed inline of one another. Twin turbo charging deals only with the use of two turbochargers, either in a sequential or parallel layout. Both of these layouts tend to suffer from large maintenance and modification costs, but besides this point, each has its own unique strengths and weaknesses. With parallel twin turbochargers, the biggest downside is likely the limited high rpm power, while sequential twin turbo setups suffer mainly from the complexity inherent of their designs. For both of these designs, single turbocharger kits are generally sold as upgrades due to their reduced complexity, higher potential power and improved reliability. For those who are willing to deal with the trouble and expenses however, a properly matched sequential turbocharger may be hard to beat.
A water-cooled intercooler is used in a turbocharging system to help keep the fuel-air charge as dense as possible. Often exposed to long runs of heat generated by the engine, the normal fuel-air charge doesn't remain dense for long and this impacts turbocharger performance. A water-cooled intercooler sits on the "cold" water side of the radiator system, often having its own radiator fins, and this system helps to ensure that the fuel-air charge remains cool and dense for maximum power output.
How Does an Oil Cooler System Help a Car Intercooler?An oil cooler system, similar in concept to a car's engine radiator system, helps an intercooler by taking the heat away from the engine. As much as the engine's oiling system works as a lubricating system - always a key component of any engine system - the oiling system also works as a cooling system. It moves much of the heat built up by the oil to the water jacket, and then out into the car's normal cooling system. An oil cooler, (by placing cooling fins or added cooling surface at or near the intercooler,) helps to keep the air-fuel charge dense by using the oiling system to remove excess heat.
What is the Ideal Temperature for Car Air Intakes?Car air intakes work best when the fuel-air charge delivered to the fuel injector body is as cool and dense as possible. The best range of temperature for air-fuel charge should be in the range of 50-90 degrees Fahrenheit, as this is an almost perfect temperature to assure the best performance possible. Unfortunately, although this may be the temperature at the air intake, by the time the air-fuel charge works its way into the cylinders, it about doubles. This means that it is not dense, which is the key to engine performance.
What's the Difference Between a WasteGate and a Blow Off Valve in a Turbocharger?A blow off valve on a turbocharger is designed to blow off or release the pressure that has built up in the intake manifold as you let off the throttle. Without a blow off valve, this pressure would end up back feeding to the turbo casing. This would cause the impeller to slow down, making getting back up to full power when you hit the throttle again slower. This is called turbo lag. The waste gate regulates the amount of boost the turbo puts into the motor. A turbo builds boost via a spinning impeller. When the PSI reaches a certain level, the waste gate opens, releasing the exhaust. When it falls back to a pre-determined level, the waste gate closes again. A simple way to remember is that a blow off valve regulates the pressure on the intake side of things, and the waste gate regulates it on the exhaust side.
Is a Supercharger Blow Off Valve the Same as a Turbocharger BOV?Yes, a supercharger blow off valve is the same as a blow off valve on a turbocharger. The blow off valve vents the boost pressure between the turbo or supercharger and the intake manifold. This helps to alleviate compressor surge. This is the build up of pressure when you lift off the throttle under boost. The pressure will back up into the turbo or supercharger, which will slow the impeller, causing turbo lag. The blow off valve releases this extra pressure into the air or back into the compressor inlet depending on how it is set up. As it purges, it will make a 'pssst' noise. The blow off valve performs the same function on a supercharger and a turbo charger.
What are the Most Common Symptoms of Turbo Lag?There is really only one main symptom of turbo lag, and that is the hesitation felt between the time you step on the accelerator, and when the turbocharger kicks in to boost. Turbo lag is inherently built into the system, as they are designed to operate at very specific RPM ranges. Air flow is very important to a turbo charger and how fast exhaust manifold pressure builds affect the turbo. Turbo lag will occur at different RPM levels in different cars, so no two cars will experience the same type of lag. The same can be said for correcting or minimizing lag. Each car will require a specific solution. Turbo lag can never be completely removed, but it can be reduced.
]]>Most vehicles come from the factory with a single throttle body primarily due to cost concerns, as individual throttle bodies tend to be far more costly and contain far more individual parts. In a single throttle body design, air rushes into the intake manifold’s plenum when the throttle is opened. While the response is relatively quick, there is still a brief pause between the time the air rushes into and fills the plenum, and when it actually runs into each cylinder. No matter how well tuned the engine is, or how balanced and blueprinted its components are, this lag will always be present, however miniscule.
Individual Throttle Bodies
In a vehicle equipped with individual throttle bodies, the plenum if equipped, remains full of air whether the throttle is open or closed. Because of this pre-filled state, there is no wait when the throttle is opened, and air rushes directly into the engine, resulting in a crisp and responsive throttle. In some extensively modified, naturally aspirated engines, the plenum may be removed altogether, allowing room for tuned velocity stacks designed to compliment a specific power curve and make more useable power. In high horsepower engines, individual throttle bodies also tend to flow air more efficiently, freeing up power and complimenting high lift cams or high levels of boost.
Potential Concerns
Individual throttle bodies, when run without a plenum may be more susceptible to dirt and dust and excessively loud for street use. These engines should not be operated in areas of excessive dust and dirt without adequate filtration. It should be noted that for vehicles equipped with mass air flow sensors, a sealed intake system will be required for proper operation, as is the case with Nissan’s RB26DETT engine, which is equipped with a standard plenum style intake manifold equipped with individual throttle bodies. Individual throttle body kits are generally very expensive due to the precision and machining required. Often times as much as 3-6x more than a comparable single throttle body upgrade. Because of the limited power increases they may make with an otherwise stock engine, they are often times better suited as a finishing touch rather than a starting point.
The power your engine can generate can be limited by restrictions and inefficiencies. At stock power levels, these restrictions may not be apparent. But in a highly tuned engine, they can become severe bottle necks to airflow, and thus largely reduce power. Individual throttle bodies not only offer superior response, but they also reduce these restrictions, freeing up power through improved airflow, with little to no trade off other than cost and increased engine noise.
If you worry that a speaker in your car stereo system may be blown, listen to it carefully. Stop the car so that you don't have any other noises to distract you. If a speaker is completely blown, it will likely not produce any sound and may just make a soft hissing or ringing sound instead. This should be relatively easy to identify. A partially blown speaker, on the other hand, may produce somewhat normal sounds at lower volumes, but will likely become more and more distorted the louder that the system is designed to go. Therefore, you should listen to the speaker at a range of different volumes to determine if the distortion remains constant or if it seems to worsen.
Many larger speakers, like woofers and subwoofers, will actually vibrate when they are actively creating sound. Turn the volume of your speaker system up and place your hand against the front padding of the speaker. If you feel any vibration, the speaker is creating sound. However, if you do not, it's likely that your larger speaker is not working properly. This test will not work as well for softer or smaller speaker sets.
Use the fader system controls on the head unit of your car stereo to help isolate the single speaker or couple of speakers that you think may be blown. If you can focus the sound in one portion of the car, you'll be able to tell better if the speaker in question is not working properly. The sound will almost fade out or will fade out entirely when you focus the sound from that speaker.
If you have additional problems with a car speaker and you're unsure if it's blown out or not, disconnect the battery and examine the wiring. If the problem seems to be with a single speaker, look to make sure that speaker is still wired to the amp and the head unit properly. If you have any other questions about how to diagnose this problem or are unsure of where to proceed, take the speakers and car to an audio professional at a store in your area.
]]>Performance and Price
Two of the biggest factors in the decision of which subwoofer to choose are performance and price. While it's true that the best subwoofers tend to cost more than others, you don't necessarily need to purchase the most expensive one in order to meet your needs. Analyze what kind of music you play, how often you use the sound system, how much you're investing in the other components and more. You may find that a less expensive subwoofer will completely meet your needs without breaking the budget.
Other Factors
Size is another important determining factor. Some subwoofers are simply too big to fit into certain types of cars. Analyze where you'll place the subwoofer in the vehicle. Decide how large it can be based on that. You also want to determine how you can best enclose the subwoofer within that space.
While it's true that there's no single best car subwoofer for every person and car, there are some that work better for certain situations than others. A compact car subwoofer may be adequate for your needs, depending not only upon the size of your vehicle but also on your music listening preferences.
There is a wide variety of truck subwoofers and truck car speakers out there. A truck subwoofer will give your vehicle an added dimension that you've been looking for. The bigger the subwoofer, the more bass you will get.
There are many SUV subwoofers to choose from and many different subwoofer sizes. If you choose the correct subwoofer for your needs, it gives you a sound that is free from distortion and you will enjoy it far more.
Ground Loops Explained
A ground loop is an electrical fault that occurs when two pieces of equipment in the same system are not at the same ground potential. If your car stereo head unit is grounded directly to the battery and your subwoofer amplifier is grounded to a sturdy piece of metal in the trunk, they will most likely, due to the inherent resistance in any type of electrical conductor such as the car's body/frame, be at different ground potentials. The ground loop will make itself known by a hiss or hum heard in the audio reproduced by the stereo system.
How to Defeat a Ground Loop
All 12-volt components need to be grounded at the same location. This is something to consider when performing a subwoofer installation. The best way to ground your car stereo components is to run a 10 or 12-gauge wire from the amp, and 12-gauge from all other components, such as head unit and active crossovers, to a central location. Then run a single ground to the best source of ground, the negative terminal on your car's battery. What many professionals do is run everything to a circuit strip and then run a single wire to the battery to supply ground for everything. Other good places to obtain a single ground connection are:
Be sure to remove any paint from the point you choose to use as your single grounding point.A properly grounded subwoofer amplifier will deliver clean, noise free low frequency audio for years.
Without an amp to help regulate them, a subwoofer set may not work properly. The amp helps to regulate the power that flows to the subwoofers. If you don't have an amp system set up, the subwoofers will be on their own and may run into problems. If the amp wiring isn't set up correctly or if there are other problems, you may have to deal with your amp overheating. This in itself can cause a number of issues.
Improper Amp Wiring
One of the most common issues that can cause the amp and or the subwoofer to overheat is if the wiring isn't set up correctly. The best way to be sure that your amp is set up properly is to check on the wiring with a professional's help. Have a car stereo expert look into the system after you've installed it, to give the okay as to whether or not the amp wiring is set up properly.
Generally speaking, it isn't that difficult to install and wire an amp in your car. There are a number of good guides for doing so online, and you can also find a set of instructions for basic setup procedures in most amp installation kits that come with the components. Being sure that you take the extra time to wire the amp with the appropriate wire and to the right channels can save you time and money later on.
Incompatibility between Components
In certain cases, if your amp isn't compatible with your head unit, or if the subwoofers aren't compatible with the amp, you may run into overheating problems. This could be because of a discrepancy in the Ohm rating of the different components, which results in a conversion of voltage that can overheat the amp and cause it to break down. Be sure that the power ratings for each of these components are the same throughout the entire car audio system.
Overuse
You may have overheating problems in your amp simply from overusing it. If this is the case, you may consider temporarily shutting off the audio system or, if you wish, removing the amp from the circuit and connecting the subwoofer directly to the head unit for a short period of time. You can also turn off the subwoofer completely and power the stereo only through the other speakers in the car, although this may distort the sound.
If your amp is overheating, shut it off right away to avoid further damage, including fires and other potentially harmful effects. Ask a professional car audio expert for additional advice as to what you can do to remedy this problem.
]]>When you select larger wheels and rims, you have to take into account the sidewall height and width of the tire used. In addition, the larger rim must still be able to handle the weight of the vehicle. Before running out and purchasing the wheels and rims of your dreams, you need to invest some time and gather clearance information about your vehicle. Without this information, you could experience both tire rub and bent rims. Tire rub will destroy your expensive tires, and driving on bent rims is unsafe. Not only that, but once you bend a rim, it is useless and must be replaced.
Before you go to the tire center, inspect the sidewall of your tire and look for the tire size information that is molded into it. The first number indicates how wide the tire is. This number is in millimeters. It may be preceded by a letter such as "P" or "LT". The "P" indicates a passenger classification for that tire, and the "LT" indicates that the tire should be used on a light truck. The next number, after the slash, is a percentage. That number is multiplied by the tire width to obtain the sidewall height. If there is not a number in that position, then it is assumed to be 80 percent. The last number, following the "R," is the tire (and rim) diameter in inches. The distance from the center of the axle to the top of the tire is the combined height of the wheel and tire. By knowing the combined height and the wheel well clearance measurements, you can avoid tire rub and bent rims.
Make your measurements with the vehicle on a flat, level surface, and at its normal load (that means no storage in the vehicle). Pick a side to start on and repeat the procedure for the other side once all of the measurements have been recorded. Measure the combined height of the wheels and rims. This number will be the same, with almost no variance, for both sides. With wheels aiming straight, measure the clearance between the top of the tire and the wheel well. Next, measure from the front and then the back of the tire to the wheel well. Turn the wheel all the way to one side, and measure between the tire and wheel well at the closest point. Repeat this same measurement after turning the wheel fully in the opposite direction.
Select wheels and rims that have a combined height that will fall within the clearance measurements, and you can avoid tire rub and bent rims. Remember, if your vehicle has very little clearance space, then select wheels and rims where the combined height is the same as the ones you are replacing.
]]>K&N products will not void your vehicle’s warranty and, in some cases, sold by the dealership. Which means you can increase your vehicle’s performance without worrying about problems later on. K&N intakes use a reusable filter which reduces costs down the road, and allows the owner to clean and re-oil the filter, as environmental conditions warrant by using a reasonably priced filter oil kit and cleaning products. While many intake kits will draw their air from the inner fender well or lower portion of the bumper, most K&N filters choose a safer location and use a supplied heat shield to help keep out hot engine bay air. While this may result in slightly lower power increases, it also means that should rainy or wet weather surprise you, you can continue driving without worrying about water ingestion, and the severe engine damage that results from it.
K&N air filters are covered by a million mile warranty, which means you will only ever need to purchase a single filter, while many other brands will have you purchasing new elements every 1 to 2 years or more.
Disadvantages of Buying K&N
As mentioned above, the location of the filter in most K&N intake systems tends to be in a position that is safer and less likely to ingest water. While this greatly improves reliability, for those living in extensively dry climates, a traditional cold air intake may provide moderately higher power increases on some vehicles. Because K&N filters use an oiled filtering element, there may be long term problems in vehicles equipped with mass air flow sensors, as oil can build up over time and cause fouling or errors in the sensor which require cleaning. While none of these are especially large concerns, one problem for those living in California, is that K&N intake systems are not CARB exempt, meaning they are not legal for use on public roads. It should be noted that this only applies to K&N’s air intake systems, and not the filter itself, which does not violate any of California’s strict emissions laws.
There are very few reasons not to buy a K&N intake system, as with K&N products, you always know what you are getting. Power gains are proven and displayed for each individual application, and their products are backed by extensive warranties. If you are unsure about which intake system is the best choice for your vehicle, K&N is a safe bet, and one that will not cause any warranty concerns down the road.
Here are some of the commonly reported good and bad points of having a coilover on your vehicle.
Leaf spring suspension is a simpler system because the vehicle's axle suspends the spring. This makes it sturdier, with higher load bearing limits. It also comes in useful when jacking a car or truck up because the leaf springs respond better to being lifted. They are also less expensive. There are downsides to a leaf spring suspension. They are less adjustable and having fixed points around the chassis of the vehicle offers far less movement, making them slightly more bumpy.
]]>A Blaupunkt car stereo is made by Bose in Germany. The stereo equipment is quite sleek and all of the controls are fun, though not necessarily logical. It may be necessary to search through the manual to find all the control functions. The speakers can easily handle all different frequencies, though the front speakers tend to lack in the bass department. The mid and high tones are very natural and make for excellent listening.
Factory brands tend to be much higher quality stereo systems than manufacturer or aftermarket systems. However, along with the better quality they tend to be much more expensive. If you want top of the line, Blaupunkt is an excellent stereo manufacturer. This brand does not cut corners or sacrifice quality.
High quality is necessary because the acoustics of a car are not even close to ideal. It is rare for the speakers to actually face the passengers and most of the components are shrunken to fit into the dashboard. Sound reflects off of the different panels and interior and it is very difficult to predict how this works. There are also issues with external sound. High quality stereo components ensure that the best audio possible will come from your speakers. Having a subwoofer and amplifier that matches the speakers is very important. By purchasing a complete Blaupunkt stereo you can be sure that each component works perfectly with the rest of the stereo.
When purchasing such a top end stereo it is best to have it installed by a recognized installer. Make sure that you know the individual that is installing the stereo into the car, should any problems occur in the future. Additionally ensure that the fitter has all of the tools necessary to fit the Blaupunkt stereos. Most factory brand stereos have special wire harnessing, adapters and fittings in order to work in your vehicle.
The look of the Blaupunkt stereo is quite sleek with a slick finish. This is perfect for those individuals that like plenty of buttons. It can take a little while to get used to the buttons and functions of them, as they are not necessarily all logical. There is a great fade in function when a cassette or CD is inserted. This prevents a very strong and jarring sound increase depending on the audio. The only main issue is at very high volumes, the clarity does decrease. Blaupunkt offers several different stereo systems. All are top of the line and offer the best audio experience for the car.
A Delco car stereo can provide you with the quality sound you want in your vehicle at a price you can afford. Delco has been a trusted name for years for OEM stereos, as car manufacturers seek out the sound and stability of the units they have to offer.
Delco electronics have actually been around since 1929, and they were among the first stereos ever issued in automobiles. General Motors used one of the stereos in the 1929 LaSalle, and from that point on Delco has remained a staple in many of the cars that come off the line. Improvements to the 1929 model were made in 1931, and they were continually made to keep up with the needs of consumers.
While there have been many changes since the birth of these stereos, the need for quality and affordability has remained throughout the years. Modern units are still simple to use, and they fit well with the electrical abilities of the cars they're in. They may have better sound and more advanced features, but they remain as classic as ever. Delco models can be installed by professionals, or you can tackle the installation on your own. Delco has never wavered in its commitment to its customers, and you can bet the company will be around for years to come.
JBL car stereo subwoofers are an ideal addition to any budget oriented car audio set up. A JBL subwoofer is a popular upgrade among audiophiles who wish to improve the sound output of any existing in-car audio system.
Adding JBL subwoofers to your car will add emphasis to low frequency signals and give your sound system the added boost it deserves.
The JBL 8-inch GTO804 Grand Touring Series sub woofers give powerful bass for a reasonable price. Another factor worth considering is the subwoofer enclosure to ensure a rich, deep reproduction of sound. The GT5-2402BR speaker enclosure from JBL includes dual preloaded enclosures for 12-inch subwoofers for competition quality sound. The GT5-10D 10-inch subwoofer has dual 4-Ohm voice coils that faithfully reproduce bass levels with a friendly price. JBL subwoofers are available in a wide array of sizes and configurations designed to cater to the most discriminating in car audio and video set up.
It would be important to remember that subwoofers alone will not give you the power and clarity you expect from your audio set up. The amplifier should also be given attention, and should match with the overall power output of your subs and speakers. Visit the JBL online store to know more.
JVC car stereo receivers are among the most popular brands on the market. There's a good reason for this. They give very high quality at a reasonable price as an aftermarket car stereo.
Price is always going to be a factor for buyers, and JVC car stereos are extremely competitive here. JVC is one of the best-known brands and one of the biggest brands in the aftermarket car stereo market. They tend to have lower prices, and be a trusted, reputable brand. People know they're buying a good product.
The installation of a JVC car stereo is very straightforward. In most cases, you only have to insert the unit in the dashboard with an appropriate face plate and connect the harness and the speakers. The stereo manual will give you all the details for the installation of the JVC car stereo, but it's generally so simple that those without any experience can do it. It's one of the extra selling points for the brand. This saves money, as there's no need to take the car to a professional for installation. The work done at home can look just as good in most cases, so the savings come from all sides.
A Metra car stereo system can allow you to put in the intense sound of an aftermarket stereo where you want it most in your car. This will allow you to put whatever stereo you want in your vehicle with a housing designed to fit right into the dash.
Metra kits are made to work with most aftermarket stereos. They are made of a high quality plastic that will not break easily. The kits allow for different positioning on your dash for the stereo, and they often provide storage in the gaps that remain. All Metra kits come with instruction manuals for you to put them in on your own.
Even though you are looking into a custom kit, you need to get the kit that will fit your vehicle specifically. The kit will come with all the Metra accessories you need to hook up your stereo, but the wires may vary based on the car you have. If you look for your specific year, make and model of vehicle when you start selecting an installation kit, you'll have a lot easier time when it comes to putting the stereo in. You may also want to think about stereo selection so you know if you have enough room on the face of the kit or not. If you don't, there should be another option through Metra that will work for both the car and the stereo you want.
Pioneer stereo is a hallmark of good engineering and good sound. They have a wide range of in-dash CD players and A/V receivers, with something for every budget, their lowest price model is just $89.
With a wide range of CD/radio units that fit in the dash, Pioneer has something for all areas of the market. Their most expensive unit is a reference CD player that retails for $1,350. It includes a USB port, so you can play music from your MP3 player.
For the car, Pioneer's focus is on multimedia. They have a large range of audio receivers that work not only with MP3 players, but also with DVDs. They see what was once the car stereo as an onboard entertainment center.
There are units that provide the traditional radio and CD opportunities as well as working with MP3 players. As you go up the price scale, units also play DVDs, transmitting them to screens elsewhere in the vehicle. Also offering receivers for digital radio in your car, Pioneer stereo is staying at the forefront of the game, with Bluetooth technology available. For those who need more, the company also has CD and DVD changers, which can store up to 12 discs for playing as you drive.
Many of the A/V receivers have built in screens. These are small, but ample for a front seat passenger. Other screens for those in the rear seats can be added.
The in-dash receiver is the main control of the stereo system. This is where volume is controlled, as is the music source, and all other settings of the different components. The in dash receivers are all digital and can include GPS navigation and a CD player. Several of the different receivers available include the AVH-P5200BT, AVH-P4200DVD, MVH-PH8200Bt and more. The AVH products all can use iPod, DVDs, USB input, sound receiver, built-in Bluetooth, touch screen display and comes ready for HD radio and SAT radio. The MVH series has a sound receiver, USB input, iPod playback, built in Bluetooth, and several RCA Pre-outs.
Pioneer offers three series for car speakers: the D-series, A-series, and G-series. They also have special application speakers. The least expensive speakers are the D-series, though these are still excellent, high quality speakers. The cone in the D-series speakers is made of volcanic rock which provides crisp, accurate and smooth sound. A-series speakers are perfect for those interested in boosting bass and the low frequencies. These speakers outperform all factory speakers and provide plenty of power. The cone is bigger and better, which makes it possible to boost the output. It also comes with an extra sensitive tweeter for higher frequencies.
The shallow mount, Champion series and Champion series Pro are subwoofers available from Pioneer. The shallow mount is a very thin subwoofer that uses ib-Flat. The "i" stands for the intelligent design and the b-Flat refers to the fact that the subwoofer can easily play the lowest note on the piano keyboard. The Champion series allows for easy installation and greater flexibility. It is the perfect way to create that custom sound you desire from the car stereo. The PRO series uses patented air suspension technology, which provides the maximum sound in a small space.
Pioneer offers the GM series amplifiers and GM digital. The GM series are built strong and can support multiple power channels. Compared to other amplifiers, you get more watts per dollar from Pioneer. The amplifiers are all bridgeable, so it is possible to add more as your listening needs change. The digital series uses digital amplification. Currently, Pioneer offers a full digital stereo line, so it is possible to go completely digital.
A Sirius car stereo system is a satellite radio for your car. Sirius is a subscription radio product, meaning that you have to pay to get it. It usually costs between $11 and $20 dollars a month. Many cars come with a three-month free trial. Here are some benefits and downsides of Sirius.
There is a very large variety of stations available on Sirius satellite radio. They have a great mix of music stations, sports stations and political talk. There are fewer commercials on Sirius, which you should expect since you are paying for the use. The sports packages are great and you can get games from all over the country, and from a wide range of sports. Many people primarily get Sirius due to its ability to provide political and talk radio in high quality.
Even with the variety, there are still some problems. Some of the stations are so specialized, that they are too specific for your own needs. Many people want a variety in the genre of music, but some are too specific. Another con is the price, since you can turn on the radio or your iPod for free. The monthly fees do not cover the start up costs, which include activation, the system itself and other things. There are reception problems as well in certain situations, like being inside, under a tree or bridge, or living in rural areas.
A Sony car stereo will provide a reliable entertainment system in your car.
Decide what medium you intend to use. For example, a Bluetooth audio system will work differently with a CD head unit. You will find that multimedia stereos can be useful to allow you to choose a variety of different mediums.
The wide range of Sony equipment on the market means that you will be able to find a satisfactory Sony car stereo even if you're on a budget. You will find that the cost of the latest stereos will be higher than older models.
When deciding on the model of Sony car stereo to choose, take into account the cost of any maintenance that might be required. Find out whether any replacement Sony stereo parts that might be needed are readily available on the market.
If you want to ensure that you always have the latest Sony car stereo model, check how easy it is to upgrade the system. Newer models have more advanced technology than older varieties, meaning that more work will be necessary when making a large change.
Yes, you can find your Blaupunkt car stereo code online. All it costs is $3 for an account to register at online-unlock.com and the serial number of your radio receiver. You will find the serial number is located on a small piece of paper on the bottom or back of your receiver. You will still have to slide the radio receiver out of its holder to turn it upside-down, and you will find the serial number there. Or you may have to remove the radio completely from the instrument panel itself and look on the piece of paper on the rear that has the initials S/N. Once you have those, you fill out the form at online-unlock.com and you are good to go.
Although it is a toss-up, you will find that Bose probably makes car stereo receivers with the most features. They are made to work not only with a specially designed set of speakers/filters, but with specialized amplifier circuits that interface with the speaker/filters for the great sound the system delivers. Remember that Bose designs its systems around the cars they are building them for, so it takes a lot of electronic work and interface to make this system operate correctly. The runner-up (some could argue is the leader), is Sony, which makes a variety of complicated systems for vehicles. Then there's the specialized audio versions offered by Mercury.
Yes, you can add a car stereo MP3 input to a car stereo. An MP3 input is nothing more than a standard three-way car stereo input jack. In other words, if you were to look at an MP3 input, you would see the long outer shaft is for ground, the second or middle shaft is for one set of speakers, and the first shaft is for the other set of speakers. For some reason, once it was reintroduced some years ago as an MP3 player, the name stuck. Although it is nothing more than a standard stereo input device.
]]>All of these are important considerations for vehicle owners who want to mess around with the suspension system that came direct from the factory. Experts recommend paying extra for quality shock absorbers and other parts, and avoiding cheap aftermarket systems that can cause failure or other serious risks on the road
When it comes to modifying a vehicle, lowering suspension and ride height is often the first step many enthusiasts make.
For the best compromise between handling and looks, choose a kit that includes matched springs and shocks from the same manufacturer, with drops of no more than half an inch to an inch. This allows the spring rates to be increased with improved damping rates to match. Kits that include only lowering springs are cheap, but will generally have spring rates close to factory rates in order to be compatible with the factory shocks. What this means is that your suspension is lowered and travel is reduced, yet there is no increased spring rate or damping force to prevent bottoming out of the shocks. In the case of a rally suspension or suspension that will be used on rough, uneven roads, lowering should be avoided at all costs with attention paid to increased damping and spring rates. Lowered suspensions tend to work best on smooth roads, while excessively rough roads and uneven surfaces require near-stock ride height to function properly.
Coilovers
For the proper mix of lowering, suspension travel and damping, it is hard to pass up a full coilover kit. While these kits, such as the Tein type-Flex kit, run about $800 to $1200. Kits generally include shorter shocks and adjustable spring perches, which allow changes to ride height as situation dictates, without reducing valuable suspension travel. In addition, many of these kits are fitted with matched shocks that feature adjustable damping levels. This allows a reduced ride height while avoiding many of the problems that come with it.
Lowering kits from well known companies such as Eibach and Tokico are cheap and cost effective, while entry level coilover kits from companies such as Tein up the field in every respect at the cost of higher prices. For the cheapest combination, pairing Eibach Race springs with a cheap, adjustable shock such as the Tokico Illunima can allow you the choice of both spring height and spring rate in 25lb/in increments, without leaving behind changes in damping force. These available choices can help you fine tune your vehicle to perfection for the cheapest possible price.
End Links
The end links for the lowered suspension keeps several of the other components in place by securing the ends of the suspension frame parts. These links are crucial to the continued stability of the suspension kit and are available at most auto body repair shops.
Tie Bar
The tie bar extends across the base of the vehicle to secure several of the suspension parts in place as well.
Shocks
The single most important part of a lowered suspension kit is the shocks. Shock absorbers respond to the different terrain and driving styles to provide a smooth ride and to help prevent you from bottoming out.