What Thickness or Size of DOM Tubing Do You Need? (Roll Cage OD/Wall/ID Guide)
Roll cage tubing is specified by outside diameter OD and wall thickness never by inside diameter directly Most builds land somewhere between 1 5 and 2 0 OD with a wall thickness of 0 083 0 120 and where exactly you land depends on vehicle weight and which sanctioning body’s rulebook you’re…
How Do You Know If Your Bushings Are Bad? Which Ones to Check, and How to Test Them
Knowing your bushings sound or feel off is one thing see What Are the Symptoms of Bad Bushings for that This article is about the other half how to actually go check with the vehicle in front of you That means knowing which bushings to look at first and running three specific…
CV Joint vs. Ball Joint: Are They the Same Thing?
No a CV joint and a ball joint are not the same part and they don’t do the same job A CV joint is a drivetrain component that transmits rotational power from the transmission or differential to the wheel while allowing the axle to operate at a changing angle A ball joint…
Drive Belt vs. Timing Belt: What’s the Real Difference?
A drive belt also called a serpentine belt or accessory belt and a timing belt are both rubber belts in a car’s engine but they’re not the same part and they don’t do the same job The drive belt sits on the outside of the engine and uses friction to power accessories…
How Much Does It Cost to Replace Bushings? Parts, Labor, and Why the Price Swings So Much
A bushing replacement runs anywhere from about 150 for a simple sway bar job to 2 000 for a full subframe bushing service and the biggest reason for that spread isn’t the part it’s labor The bushing itself is usually 15 100 what changes the bill is how much has to come…
What Is a Clevis? Structure, Types, and Common Uses
A clevis is a U shaped mechanical connector with a hole through each of its two prongs A clevis pin passes through both holes and usually through a matching hole in whatever part sits between the prongs letting the connection pivot around the pin’s axis while still carrying load It’s a fastener…
Is a Drive Belt the Same as a Timing Belt?
No A drive belt and a timing belt are different parts that do different jobs in the same engine The drive belt also called a serpentine belt sits outside the engine and uses friction to power accessories like the alternator A C compressor and power steering pump The timing belt is hidden…
Bushing vs. Bearing vs. Sleeve vs. Reducer: What’s the Real Difference?
These four words get used almost interchangeably in casual conversation but they’re not the same category of part The real dividing line is how the part handles motion a bushing and a sleeve bearing rely on sliding contact with no rolling elements a rolling bearing uses balls or rollers instead and a…
Clevis vs. Shackle: What’s the Actual Difference?
They’re not two unrelated fasteners a shackle is actually a type of clevis built and rated specifically for lifting and rigging Every shackle uses a clevis style U shaped body with a pin but not every clevis is rated or designed to be a shackle The real question isn’t which one is…
What is the Difference Between Drive Belt and Cam Belt?
Cam belt and timing belt are two names for the same part there’s no third kind of belt hiding behind that terminology So the real question is the same one covered in drive belt vs timing belt a drive belt serpentine belt sits outside the engine and powers accessories through friction while…
What Material Is Best for Bushings — Rubber, Polyurethane, or Something Else?
There’s no single best bushing material the right choice depends on whether you’re prioritizing ride comfort handling precision durability or maintenance free operation and those priorities pull in different directions Rubber polyurethane bronze and engineered plastics each trade off differently on those four axes and picking the wrong one for your use…
What Are the Two Types of Clevises? (It Depends Which “Two” You Mean)
If the question is about a clevis hanger specifically the answer is well documented a clevis hanger is built from two clevises a standard U shaped clevis and a V shaped clevis joined by a pin But clevis as a whole isn’t a two type category it’s a family of four recognized…