What Is The Steering Column

The steering column is responsible for energy dissipation and management. It includes the multi-function switch, column lock, column wiring, column shroud, transmission gear selector, gauges and other instruments as well as the electromotor and gear units found in EPAS and SbW systems. The column also helps to adjust the driver preference. 

• The automatic steering column connects the steering wheel to the steering mechanism and transfers the driver's input torque. 
  
  
• The steering columns may have universal joints.
  
  
• These joints allow the wheel to deviate from a straight path to access its best position on the steering gear assembly. 
  
  
• It looks like a huge tubular column that is fixed with the rotatable steering shaft
  connected to the steering wheel to the top of the steering box. 
  
  
• All modern cars have steering columns for safety reasons.
  
  
• These columns collapse during frontal accidents which guard the driver against frontal accidents. The driver is saved from injuries that can be caused by the steering column and shaft. 
  
  
• The deformation members and geometrically stable segments present behind the wheel supports the wheel and the airbag mechanism that inflates to protect the driver during accidents. 
  
  
• The first collapsible steering wheel was invented by General Motors. 
  

How does the steering column work? 

• It is a component that is linked to the shaft located on the steering gear.
   
• It is linked to an intermediate shaft and steering column. 
  
  
• The steering column is in the top part of the system
  
  
• It bolts the steering wheel to the top; the lower portion attaches with the intermediate shaft, fitting compactly. 
  
  
• The upper part holds the tilt steering mechanism and ignition housing. 

What are the signs of steering column replacement?

If the steering wheel stiffens when turning and does not return to its original position. 

The steering wheels clunk and become loose when you turn the wheels. 

A squeaking sound is heard with creaking noise that comes from worn out bushing of the stabilizer bar, upper control arm and steering rack mounting.

Your column tilt might not lock, and the drive feels unsafe on highways. 

If the bearings have corroded.

The steering wheel does not return to the middle position. 

There will be enough warning signs of a failing steering column.

The screws holding the tilt wheel, knuckle, to the shaft’s upper part, the metal plate under the wheel for the steering lock has holes that allow tightening of the screws and bolts. If the bears wear out, you will need a steering wheel replacement. 

Why buy a steering column from Big Mouth Direct?

• You will get a steering wheel column at the lowest price.
  
  
• Each column is fully tested by the technical team of Big Mouth Direct and then shipped to you at your preferred address. 
  
  
• You will get a high-quality steering column that fits your vehicle, 
  
  
• Big Mouth Direct is linked to 4000 junkyards and salvage yards, across the country. That helps them to find the exact part for you in its best condition. Big Mouth Direct is a reliable online auto parts store that is in the business since1975. 
  

Visit Big Mouth Direct https://bigmouthdirect.com/ or call (844) 205-7332 for details.

Difference between Turbo 350 VS Turbo 400 transmission

 

The turbo 350 transmission is completely different from the turbo 400 transmissions. The turbo 400 transmission is a larger, longer and heavier transmission. 

• The turbo 350 transmissions were designed for higher torque applications like big blocks. 
• The turbo 350 transmissions cannot be considered a weak transmission. 
•  It is powered by TCI Automotive, Performance Automatic, and Hughes Performance. 
• Both transmissions can be used to deliver high power levels. 
• If you wish to switch to a turbo 400 transmission from turbo 350 transmission you will require mounting, a shorter driveshaft. You can buy used high-quality transmission from a reliable online auto parts store that has transmissions for sale that include turbo 350 transmissions for sale and turbo 400 transmissions for sale.
  

Turbo 350 transmission and turbo 400 transmissions are GM transmissions found in 1969-1979 models. 

Turbo 350 transmission

• The Turbo 350 transmission is a three-speed automatic transmission. 
• It is called Hydramatic 350 that made its debut in 1969. 
• It was a joint Chevrolet and Buick project.
• It was built to replace the Super Turbine 300 Power glide automatic. 
• Spawned similar to the other GM transmissions like 250, 250c, 350c and 375b.
  

Turbo 400 transmission

• Three-speed automatic transmission.
• It first appeared in 1964 Buick and Cadillac.
• It was called Super Turbine 400.
• 1965, Oldsmobile, Chevrolet and Pontiacs featured Turbo 400 transmission. 
• It could be distinguished from Turbo 350 transmission from its Texas-shaped oil pan.
  

• The Turbo 350 transmission has a first gear ratio of 2.52 -1.00; the second gear ratio of 1.52-1.00; the third gear ratio is a direct drive. The reverse gear ratio is 2.07-1.00.
• The Turbo 400 transmission has a first gear ratio of 2.48-1.00; a second gear ratio1.48-1.00; the third gear is a direct drive. In the reverse, the gear ratio is 2.07-1.00. 
• In both Turbo 350 transmission and Turbo 400 transmission, the torque convertors are the same along with many other components. A lock-up torque converter was added in the 1980s but was removed for inconsistent acceleration.
• The Turbo 400 transmission gained more popularity as it was a great choice for four-wheel drives. Its 3/4inch and 1ton GM pickup were preferred even by Ferrari for its ability to handle high torque. 
• Handling horsepower up to 500 and managing 4,56 axle gear ratios with 13,000-lb. towing capacity. 
• With the advent of smaller engines from 1973-1978, owing to the shortage of gasoline, Hydramatic 700R4 and 200-4R passengers from Chevy and GMC replaced Turbo 400 transmissions in passenger cars and pickup trucks. The last Turbo 400 transmissions were manufactured in 1986. It was renamed 3L80. The Turbo 350 transmission faded out in 1984.
  

If you are looking for turbo 350 transmission for sale, turbo 400 transmission for sale, find them at Big Mouth Direct.

• Find these 3 speed GM transmissions for sale at the cheapest price.
• The transmissions are fully tested by Big Mouth Direct’s highly experienced technicians before shipping them to customers. 
• You will get the turbo 350 transmission for sale, turbo 400 transmission for sale from the year that you require. 
• This online auto part store is linked with 4000 junkyards and salvage yards across the United States. So finding the perfect fit for your vehicle is easy for them.

Visit https://bigmouthdirect.com/ or call (844) 205-7332 for details.

All You Need To Know About Used Axles

Axles are essential for vehicles.

• They are the central shaft that connects with the wheels.  
• Controlling the force of the wheels, axles are essential for vehicles to function.  

How many axles does your car have? 

• Your vehicle type determines the number of axles that the car has. 
• Most cars have two axles that turn the wheel.
• Larger cars that have more wheels have more axles. 
• Count the number of tires to know the number of axles your car has.
• Most cars have two front and two rear tires that add to the number of axles.  

What determined the axle quality in your vehicle?

• The technical requirement and the force generated by your vehicle is the chief factor. 
• Many vehicles follow a standard format and have prebuilt axles. 
• Others have axles that are customized with the vehicle specifications. 
• These customized axles offer better control on the wheels according to the driving habit. 
• They are better adjusted with the speed and torque of the wheel.  

Types of axles

Rear axle

• The rear axle supplies power to the drive wheel.
• Rear axles come in two halves; half-wave connected to the differential. 
• Rotating with the wheel, rear axles are under a lot of tension.  

Front Axle

• This axle is located in the front of the vehicle.
• Assisting steering and meeting the road bumps adequately especially on uneven roads. 
• Front axles come in four major parts, beam, swivel pin, tie rod and stub axle. 
• The front axle should be strong and made of steel or nickel steel.  

Stub Axle
Attached to the front of the vehicle with kingpins, this axle is connected to the front axle.  

Types of Rear Axle
The mounting methods of rear axles differ and not all rear axles are the same. 

Semi floating axles

• Connects the wheel to the flange on the outside of the axle shaft and holds it securely together.
• The axle shaft is supported by bearings located in the axle casing. 
• With two bearing the semi-floating axle should be large enough to produce the same torque. 
• Found mostly in SUVs and medium-sized trucks, such as pickups and half-ton low power trucks.  

Full-floating rear axle

It has two bearings that float to maintain its position.

It transmits the drive torque.

These axles are well suited for large vehicles like heavy trucks, large towing and medium-sized trucks. 

Four-wheel drives also use fully floating axles.  

Three quarter floating axles

• These are more reliable.
• Maintain wheel alignment.
• Handle side thrust and driving torque.  

Some vehicles have two main types of axles

Dead front axles 

• These are fixed axles that do not rotate with the wheels. 
• They are inside a housing that covers them from road dirt and water.

Live front axles

They derive power from the gearbox and transmit it to the front wheel.  

Stub Axles

Elliot: Using kingpins, yoke, and a cotter this is connected to the front axle. 

Reverse Elliot:  This Elliot is opposite to the standard Elliot stub axle. 

Lemoine: A L shaped spindle, in place of a yoke type hinge. 

Reserve Lemoine: The layout is opposite to the layout of a standard Lemoine stub axle.  

When is an axle replacement needed?

When the vehicle is in gear you can hear loud clunking sounds.

The car vibrates when it moves.

The forward and backward movement is stopped.  

What should you look for when buying a used axle?

• Look for the customized axle ratio in your vehicle.
• If the vehicle has an axle ratio of 3.55:1, it indicates that the drive shaft will turn 3.55 times with every wheel rotation. 
• The standard drive ratio meets the demands of most vehicles. Vehicles that carry heavy weight need a higher ratio. 
• Vehicles with a custom axle ratio support better fuel economy. 
• You cannot compare the axle ratio of different auto brands. The tire sizes are related to the performance of the system gear and the result of the ratio. 
• Lower axle ratios or tall gears have better mileage than higher axle ratios or short gears. 

Why choose Big Mouth Direct to buy used Front, stub and rear axle?

• The axle price in Big Mouth Direct is less than half of OEM parts.
• The axles are fully tested by highly qualified technicians and then shipped to your address.
• The axels are sold with a warranty.

Visit Big Mouth Direct online at https://bigmouthdirect.com/  to know more about their warranty system or call (844) 205-7332 to speak to their customer representative. 

USED AUTO PARTS FOR SALE

 

Big Mouth Direct has an extensive list of auto body parts and we are covering them in the greatest detail. In this blog, we discuss some important car body parts, rear clip assembly, front end assembly and the dash panel. Understanding the function of each will help you discover how used auto parts prove to be equally good as OEM parts.

Types of used car engines in the market

 

Car engines have come a long way. While some people prefer powerful engines others value engines that provide fuel efficiency. Car manufacturers have designed and are continuously designing different kinds of engines that meet the highest standards in efficiency, performance and fuel management.  As we discuss the different engine types, you must understand that it is a mechanical device that is given to wear and tear. Engines are one of the most expensive and important parts of the vehicle. Instead of investing in OEM engines, investing in quality used engines from reliable vehicle engines and parts online store is a wise investment. While saving thousands of dollars you are assured of high-quality used car engines that last as long as an OEM engine.

Internal combustion Engines 

• This is a type of engine where fuel combustion takes place. 
• As the fuel burns inside the engine the temperature increases producing high pressure.
• This high pressure produced by combustion is applied to the piston, rotor, and nozzle. 
• The force produced from the pressure moves the car. 
• The chemical energy is transformed into mechanical energy.
• These engines are used in power cars.
• The internal combustion engine is evaluated on various variables like ignition type, number of stokes and design. 
• Internal combustion used engines for sale are available at reliable online used engine stores.
  

Two-stroke engines

• In this type of engine, the piston’s two strokes complete a power cycle. 
• Going up once and down inside the cylinder, the crankshaft revolution is complete for the fuel to burn a single time. 
• The end and the beginning of the combustion stoke take place at the same time. 
• The intake and the exhaust function happen simultaneously. 
• The torque in two-stroke engines is higher than a four-stroke engine.
  

Four-stroke engines

• In this internal combustion engine, the piston completes four strokes when turning a crankshaft.
• In a four-stroke, the piston moves up and down inside the cylinder and the crankshaft completes two revolutions.
• This is a stronger engine compared to a two-stroke engine.
• These engines are found in cars and trucks.
• Buy used car engines from a reputed online auto part store selling used car engines for sale.
  

Six stroke engines 

• The six-stroke internal combustion engine is creating ripples in the motor industry. 
• This is a much more fuel-efficient motor and has reduced mechanical complexities with low emissions. 
• Find used car engines from a reputed online auto part store selling used motors for sale.
  

Reciprocating engine 

• The piston which is the main functionality of a reciprocating engine converts pressure into rotating motion. 
• The engine can have one or more pistons located inside the cylinder. The pressurized heated gas gets injected inside the cylinder, the pistons reciprocate with a to-and-fro motion, the crankshaft converts this to a rotary motion. 
• Find reciprocating used car engines for sale from a reputed online auto part store.

Wankel engine

• This is a rotor engine as it works on eccentric rotary motion instead of a line piston motion. 
• Converting pressure into rotating motion, this mechanism is simpler, smoother and more compact compared to the reciprocating engine piston.
• These engines are not popular in the auto industry.
• Considered non-efficient due to improper fuel efficiency they have also shown emission disorders. 
• The power consumption per revolution is much more than two-stroke or four-stroke engines.
• These engines are found in racing cars such as Mazda RX-8
• Find used car engines from a reputed online auto part store selling quality used engines.

Compression-Ignition Engine 

• The high compression achieved in this engine from the gas emerges from adiabatic compression. 
• The best examples of these engines are diesel engines. 
• They only work with compressed air. 
• They express higher thermodynamic efficiency and reduce the parasitic load among many other advantages.
• Buy used car engines from a reputed online auto part store selling quality used engines.

Spark ignition engines 

• All petrol cars work on spark ignition engines or petrol engines. 
• Buy Spark ignition used car engines from a reputed online auto part store selling quality used engines.

Electric motor

• Electric cars are powered by rechargeable batteries.
• These batteries power the engine and other electric vehicle components. 
• The electric motor converts the electric energy to mechanical energy.
• They show higher onboard efficiency than diesel engines.
• Most electric cars use lithium-ion or lead-acid batteries
  

HCCI (Homogenous Charge Compression Ignition)

• With maximum fuel efficiency and minimum emission, this is a combination of gasoline and diesel engine. 
• These engines are hybrid solutions.
• The engine’s reduced temperature does not burn the fuel completely causing negligible nitrogen oxide emission. But the carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions are high.

Single-cylinder engine 

• These engines come in one cylinder connected to the crankshaft.
• They are lightweight and are found in motorcycles.
  

Multiple cylinder engines 

• Opposite of single-cylinder engines, these are either two or four-stroke engines. 
• They can be diesel or spark ignitions engines. 
• These achieve higher revolutions per minute and can neutralize imbalance more efficiently.
  

Inline engine 

• The cylinders in these engines are arranged in a straight line. 
• They are arranged one behind the other along the length of the crankshaft. 
• The inline-four engine is the most popular in the auto industry.
• This is compact and power-efficient in terms of weight and ratio from a six or eight-stroke engine.
  

V engine

• The cylinder and piston align to form a V on two separate planes. 
• This shape reduces engine weight and length when compared to inline engines.
  

W engine 

• This engine, used in Volkswagen uses a W or double V-shaped engine.
• This has three configurations.
• The configuration uses three banks of cylinders with a common crankshaft.

Resembling the British broad arrow mark.

• The second has four banks of cylinders with a common crankshaft.

This is also called the double V.

• The third has two banks of cylinders with two crankshafts. 

The W engines are used in Volkswagen cars and feature in Bugatti Veyron. 

OPOC engines 

• The opposed cylinder and opposed-piston engines have two cylinders and a piston at both ends.
• This engine has no cylinder head and no valves.
• The bearing load is low with less friction. 
• Being small it has high power to weight ratio.
  

Naturally aspirated engines 

• The air intake depends on atmospheric pressure.
• The engine does not depend on forced induction through a turbocharger or supercharger. 
• The naturally aspirated engine is used by sports cars as this engine has no turbo lag. 
• The petrol engine, small engines required for non-automotive purpose use this engine.
  

Supercharged turbocharged engine

• A supercharge uses a crankshaft for energy to produce power as opposed to turbochargers that exhaust stream.
• Supercharges connect with a belt to the engine and can achieve a speed up to 50,000 RPM.
• Turbocharges not being directly connected to engines can pick up speed up to 15,000RPM. 
• The turbocharger has smog altering equipment and has recoded low carbon emission, therefore more ecofriendly than superchargers.
  

Big Mouth Direct is the best place to buy used engines?

• Big Mouth Direct is connected with 4,000 junkyards across the U.S and is the top vehicle engine & parts store online. 
• Find used motors for sale of any brand. All engines sold are quality used engines.  
• They sell tested engines at a price you will not find anywhere else. 
• A team of technicians test the used motors carefully. 
• The used engines for sale comes with a warranty.
• They are in the business since 1975 and are a name you can trust for used car engines.

Visit https://bigmouthdirect.com/ or call (844) 205-7332 to speak to the experts.

When do you know that your Driveshaft is failing?

 

Identifying driveshaft problems in your vehicle

You hear vibration from your vehicle underneath, this is a sheer sign that something may be wrong with your driveshaft. The reason is mostly from worn-out joints or brushing that cause vibration in the driveshaft.

Whenever you experience shaking from your vehicle underneath you must head to a motor mechanic garage. Neglecting will cause your vehicle to face turning problems as the steering ability of the vehicle is left compromised. Since you driveshafts rotate quickly that can move the rare wheel of your vehicle quickly. If the balance is correct and weighted down, then the rotation is smooth and balanced.

Mostly when you are driving fast you will experience a shudder in your car when you take off from a static position or start at low speed. These are indications of a bad center bearing or loose U -joints.

It is not a good decision to drive with a faulty drive shaft. As if there is a snapping of a part of the driveshaft, your vehicle loses power to the axle. In worst cases, the driveshaft will fall and get jammed between the ground and the vehicle restricting forward movement. In some four-wheel drives, the disconnection with the axle can cause failure if the center differential. In cars that have coupling center differentials, which are sensitive to continued speed variation between the front and tear axels, there the risks are higher.

If the driveshaft is spinning quickly then there are chances that the underside your vehicle will be subjected to massive damage. If one end is still connected to the vehicle then the driveshaft will continue spinning and take out anything from its path which could be the hand brake, cable, the brake lines and other parts of the vehicle circuit.

The surest indicator is a loud clunking sound which again stems from faulty worn-out joints. The ability to rotate correctly is disturbed and when lubrication in the U-joints run out you also hear a squeaking sound when driving at low speed. A faulty CV joint is also responsible for the squeaking noise in the car. So, get in touch with a vehicle technician who will be able to determine the exact nature of the problem. 

Conclusion 

Once a driveshaft problem has been identified by your vehicle technician, will tell repair it. However, if changing the driveshaft is the only way out, then search for Big Mouth Directs used vehicle parts near me and find the most trusted online used auto part store selling used drive shaft USA helping you. Order your parts from https://bigmouthdirect.com/. They will ensure that you get the best driveshaft used part for your vehicle.