Is It Worth Fixing a Steering Rack?
This isn’t a single yes no question the answer comes from comparing repair cost against your vehicle’s overall value and mechanical condition not from the rack problem in isolation As a rule of thumb if the repair cost approaches or exceeds roughly 25 30 of the car’s current value or the vehicle…
Sleeve Bearing vs. Bushing: Is There a Real Difference?
Most of the time no a sleeve bearing and a bushing are the same part Both describe a cylindrical sleeve that supports a shaft through sliding contact with no rolling elements involved Where a real distinction exists it’s about scope bushing is the broader term covering some parts that aren’t bearings at…
What Grease Should You Use for CV Joints?
No plain lithium grease the kind you’d use for general chassis lubrication isn’t what a CV joint needs CV joints require dedicated CV joint grease a formula built around molybdenum disulfide moly and extreme pressure EP additives designed for the sliding high pressure contact between the joint’s balls and races Using the…
What Is DOM Tubing? (Also Called DOM Steel, DOM Tube, or DOM Pipe)
DOM tubing short for Drawn Over Mandrel is precision steel tubing made by cold drawing an electric resistance welded ERW tube through a die and over an internal mandrel The process isn’t a type of steel it’s a finishing method that tightens the tube’s OD ID and wall thickness tolerances smooths both…
Can You Drive With Bad, Worn, or Broken Bushings?
Yes in many cases but it depends entirely on how far gone the bushing is not just whether it’s bad A bushing with light surface cracking is usually safe to drive to a shop A bushing that’s torn separated or completely gone is a different situation it can let suspension or steering…
Does a CV Joint Have Ball Bearings?
Yes but it depends on which joint a CV axle has two joints and they’re built differently The outer joint Rzeppa style uses six steel balls riding in grooves between an inner and outer race The inner joint is more often a tripod design using needle bearing rollers instead of balls Both…
Where to Buy DOM Tubing (And What to Check Before You Do)
DOM tubing is sold through three channel types national online metal distributors suppliers that specialize in off road racing fabrication tubing and local metal service centers Which one is right for you depends less on who’s cheapest and more on whether you’ve already locked down the right specification because getting that wrong…
What Are the Symptoms of Bad Bushings? Sound, Feel, and What Happens When They Fail
Bad bushings tend to announce themselves in three ways a specific kind of noise a change in how the car feels to drive and if you ignore both long enough a chain of consequences for the parts around them The exact bushing control arm sway bar strut mount subframe varies by vehicle…
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a CV Joint?
Before the price what most shops actually replace when a CV joint fails isn’t the joint’s internal bearing on its own it’s the entire CV axle assembly the half shaft with both joints attached Rebuilding a single joint in place takes about as much labor as swapping in a new pre assembled…
Why Is DOM Tubing So Expensive, and Is It Actually Stronger Than Regular Tubing?
DOM tubing costs more than standard ERW electric resistance welded tubing because it’s ERW tubing plus an entire second manufacturing stage cold drawing through a die and over a mandrel with tooling lubrication and inspection all added on top of the original weld And yes it’s generally stronger than as welded tubing…
What Is the Lifespan of Bushings, and How Urgent Is It to Replace Worn Ones?
There’s no fixed mileage interval for replacing suspension bushings but a useful reference range does exist Two independent research sources Gemini and Google’s AI Overview put standard rubber bushings at roughly 50 000 100 000 miles with the year equivalent varying depending on how many miles you drive annually Polyurethane bushings typically…
What’s a Good CV Joint or CV Axle Brand? Is Aftermarket Reliable?
Aftermarket CV axles can be very reliable but the gap between a premium aftermarket axle and a bargain bin one is real and aftermarket alone doesn’t tell you which side of that gap you’re on The more useful question isn’t OEM or aftermarket it’s which tier of aftermarket you’re looking at because…