Automotive Business

Archive for February, 2011

“Why go and reinvent the wheel?” It’s a question that’s been around for centuries; right? Here’s a better question: Why not reinvent the wheel? As a Peak Performance Coach, I do a lot of personal development trainings for adults and children, alike. I love kids! They don’t think like us adults. Kids are just so incredibly and infectiously optimistic. And, they are absolute Masters of embracing, “what could be.”

Recently, I asked a group of elementary school students this thought-provoking, question: “Why should we reinvent the wheel?” My aim was to challenge their beliefs and encourage them to think, outside of their thinking. Take a look at just a few of the amazing reasons they came up with addressing why they would reinvent the wheels … on their bicycles.

-They only come in one color

-They don’t bounce

-You can’t see inside

-They need some style

-They’re not made of steel

-Too many flat tires

-They’re boring

-They slow down when on grass

-They don’t glow in the dark

Pretty remarkable answers; I’m sure you agree.

But, the students didn’t stop there. They got on the computer and started letting the manufacturers know their demands. All of the children gained an incredible sense of empowerment. One of the students enthusiastically suggested that the group “think of even more things that could be reinvented!”

By nature, children are visionaries. Unlike their adult counterparts, they consistently tap into the “research and development” department within themselves. As such, they are always taking something apart, asking innumerable questions, and looking to do differently. Children are not only intrinsically free; but they give themselves permission to pursue … anything they want to.

The point is, when I implied (with my question) that the wheel should be reinvented, not one of the students deferred their opportunity to share with me the reasons why. Each took what has been recognized as the norm — for decades — and identified the concepts required for total transformation. Then, after crystallizing their incredible vision, they took immediate action in their quest to bring it into fruition.

What could you reinvent? Your bank account balance? The number on your scale? Your thoughts? Your marriage?

What about your life?

Does it only come in one color? Can you see inside? Do you need some style? Could you use more bounce?

Once you begin visualizing what could be, life will become much more fascinating. You’ll actually start to take the steps that will move you in the direction of your optimal self.

Challenge That Which Is!

This inspiring, mastermind group of students empowered themselves when they dynamically challenged, “that which is.” My hope is that you will use this magnificent model to construct new meaning (and perhaps even a new wheel) in your own life.

You’ve heard the saying “Power is nothing without control.” This is true for cars, SUV’s, CUV’s and trucks. We’ll stick with cars for now. More specifically compact cars. I will refer to cars such as the Subaru WRX/STI and the Mitsubishi EVO/Ralliart.

Both the WRX/STI and the EVO/Ralliart employ AWD as their method of transferring power to the road from the engine. Why? Both manufactures use high horsepower (HP) turbo charged engines that are developed for Rally style racing. In Rally racing, grip is very important. Rally cars typically have 300hp and are AWD. Races are run on dirt roads, tarmac and roads covered in snow and/or ice at speeds of up to 120mph! Tell me you would want anything other than AWD in those conditions?

AWD lets you attain levels of grip most Front Wheel Drive (FWD) and Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) cars cannot match. AWD lets the power shift to the front wheels, rear wheels, left wheels or right wheels or all of the wheels when needed. FWD only drives the front wheels and most FWD cars do not have a Limited Slip Differential (LSD) to control the power. The same goes for RWD. LSD’s are usually reserved for sports cars or luxury cars. The typical Honda Civic or Toyota Camry does not have a LSD. Cars such as the Honda S2000 or BMW M3 will have them, but they are specialized cars that are marketed to enthusiasts.

Cars such as the Subaru WRX/STI, Legacy GT/Outback and the Mitsubishi EVO/Ralliart come standard with AWD that employ 3 differentials! One each in the front, middle and rear for superior control in normal highway driving or driving on a race track to driving in the snow or off road. These cars are known for their performance and economical price points, even when equipped with the AWD system.

Most of the time you will not need AWD unless, you live in a rural area or an area that experiences a lot of rain or snow. Once you experience the feel and control of AWD at a time you need it you will never want to drive any other type of car again. If you are thinking about replacing your FWD or RWD car take a look at the Subaru line up. They have compact cars, family sedans and CUV’s all with standard Symmetrical AWD. Mitsubishi has the Lancer EVO and the Ralliart for compact sedans and the Outlander for small 7 passenger SUV needs.

Before the days of ultrasounds and home pregnancy kits, when women suspected they were pregnant, they calculated the approximate due date by starting with the first day of their last menstrual period, added on seven days and then counted back three months. When they visited the doctor for a urine test to confirm the pregnancy, the doctor used a cardboard wheel, called a pregnancy wheel, to come up with the same calculations. Now with the advances in technology, this wheel is now available in electronic form. The wheel is a useful tool to use when you are planning to get pregnant so that you can actually know when your body is in its most fertile state.

When you turn the wheel, you will see when you are most likely to conceive during the month. You will also know when your baby will likely be born if you do become pregnant during this month. The wheel also contains a pregnancy planning guide so that you will know what to expect at each stage with the a glance?feature. Along with knowing what to expect in the changes in your body and your emotions, you will be able to see the stages of development of the fetus and know when different parts of its body are developing, such as the facial features and the vital organs.

When you use the wheel to determine the due date, it will also tell you how long it will be before you see positive results on a pregnancy test. Some other valuable information you can gain from using this device include knowing when the first ultrasound will show the baby in the womb and the various types of screening tests that your doctor will likely order. This is comforting because many women become very worried in their first pregnancy when they have to have a test to see if the baby has Down’s Syndrome or when the doctor orders a glucose test. When you know that this is routine procedure for pregnancy, you are able to have peace of mind.

There is valuable information on the reverse side of this wheel as well. Here you can get answers to questions that you probably have and may feel silly asking your doctor. Although the questions and answers are very general, you may get the answer to your question by consulting this feature of the wheel. Most women are concerned about how much weight they will gain during pregnancy and if they will be able to lose the extra weight after the baby is born. Weight gain is one of the facets of pregnancy addressed on the wheel, but you should realize that each expectant mother is unique. You may gain more or less than the amount mentioned on the wheel. When in doubt, you should always ask your doctor.

To find your due date using the wheel, you will find that it is the same process used for decades in determining the approximate date when the baby will be born. The wheel assumes that the time in between your menstrual cycle is the same each month ?28 days. This is not true for all women, as some have longer lengths of time between periods. However, you will have a pretty good idea of a due date, but an ultrasound will tell you for sure.

According to archaeologists, the wheel was probably invented around 8,000 B.C in Asia but the oldest wheel as we know it dates back to Mesopotamia in 3,500 B.C. The invention of the wheel leading to today’s caster wheel Chicago, Illinois can be broken down into six stages:

1) Objects were placed on a roller similar to a log, used to roll heavy objects easier.2) Then they placed runners like a sled, under a heavy load to drag it and this was called, a sledge.3) Later, the sledge and the roller were combined to move objects farther by alternating one roller with a second roller and repeating the process as they moved an object forward.4) As the sledge runners wore grooves into the rollers, men realized that the grooves helped to move the load a greater distance before the next roller was needed.5) Eventually, the rollers were changed into wheels and in the process, the wood between the grooves of the roller were cut away to form an axle and wooden pegs were fastened to the runners on each side of the axle. When the wheels turned, the axle turned in the space between the pegs and the first cart was invented.6) The cart’s axle and wheels were made to move separately and by 2000 B.C. the Egyptians made chariots with spokes in the wheels.

Of course today the wheel has undergone drastic transformation from a simple wooden wheel to wheels of various sizes and various materials to move loads from Point A to Point B.

MERCEDES-BENZ Rear Suspension

Mercedes-Benz rear suspension is independent type with coil springs and 5 individual links. Rear axle carrier is mounted to body at 4 points and supports rear axle assembly.

Shock absorbers and coil springs are mounted on rubber bushings to reduce vibration and noise. ADJUSTMENT

SPECIFICATIONS & ADJUSTMENTS FOR WHEEL ALIGNMENT

Use self-locking bolts and nuts with plastic coating (micro-encapsulated) only once. Refinish threads with tap prior to screwing in self-locking bolts.

SHOCK ABSORBERS

1. Remove trunk lining. Remove nut and rubber ring of upper shock mount. Raise vehicle on rear axle.

2. Remove holding clamps on spring link and remove cover. Remove lower shock absorber mounting bolt. Pull shock absorber downward and remove from vehicle.

CAUTION: When removing gas shock absorbers while vehicle is raised and axle tension relieved, do not rotate piston rod while loosening main strut nut. This could result in the sudden extension of the piston rod.Removal

To install, reverse removal procedure.

COIL SPRINGS

1. Raise vehicle and remove rear wheel. Remove holding clamps of spring link cover and remove cover. Insert Spring Tensioner 201 589 00 31 00 with spring Tensioning Plates 201 589 00 63 00. Compress spring until spring link is free of load.

2. Remove shock absorber as previously outlined. Remove rear spring with rubber mount. To install, reverse removal procedure.

Use extreme caution when removing gas pressurized shock absorbers.Removal & Installation

REMOVAL REAR SUSPENSION & AXLE

1. Raise vehicle and support with safety stands. Remove wheel assemblies. Disconnect exhaust system at flange connection. Remove intermediate lever of parking brake and disconnect cable controls.

2. Disconnect both brake lines and seal. Loosen clamp nut of drive shaft and intermediate bearing on frame floor and remove. Disconnect rear of drive shaft and slide forward, out of centering position. Wire drive shaft to brake cable holder.

3. Remove spring link covering. Remove shock absorbers and coil springs. Loosen torsion bar connection toward rear axle and remove.

4. On vehicles with ABS, drain rear axle. Remove RPM sensor from rear axle housing. Cover magnetic edge of RPM sensor.

5. On vehicles with auxiliary heater, remove electric fuel pump and suspension plate of exhaust. Remove the cable connector from rear axle cross member. Raise rear axle assembly to lift stop. Force water drain hose out of rear axle carrier.

6. On vehicles with CIS-E fuel injection system, pinch fuel suction hose between fuel tank and fuel pump with a clamp. Loosen clamp on fuel hose to accumulator and pump. Remove fuel hose.

7. On all models, remove front and rear rubber mounts on frame floor and remove with stop plate. Lower the rear axle assembly from vehicle.

CAMBER STRUT

1. Raise vehicle and support with safety stands. Rubber mounts of camber strut cannot be replaced individually. If rubber mounts are damaged, replace camber strut.

2. Remove strut-to-axle carrier bolt. Remove strut-to-wheel carrier bolt. Force clamping sleeve of strut out of wheel carrier.

3. Remove camber strut at axle carrier while pulling slightly outward on wheel carrier. Remove strut in a downward direction.

To install, reverse removal procedure. Bleed brake system and adjust parking brake. Ensure differential is filled to proper level.

To install, reverse removal procedure. Axle shaft must be horizontal prior to tightening camber strut nut.

PULLING STRUT

1. Raise vehicle and support with safety stands. Rubber mounts of pulling strut cannot be replaced individually. If rubber mounts are damaged, replace pulling strut.

2. Mark position of eccentric bolt in relation to axle carrier. Using Wrench 201 589 00 03 00, remove strut-to-axle carrier nut. Prior to pulling out eccentric bolt, push wheel carrier in forward direction to slacken.

3. Remove strut-to-wheel carrier bolt. Force clamping sleeve of pulling strut out of wheel carrier. Remove pulling strut.

1. Raise vehicle and support with safety stands. Remove rod-to-wheel carrier nut. Using Puller (201 589 01 33 00) and Thrust Piece (201 589 05 63 00), force track rod from wheel carrier.2. Mark position of eccentric bolt in relation to axle carrier. Remove rod-to-axle carrier nut. Remove cam disk, eccentric bolt and track rod.

To install, reverse removal procedure. Grease from ball pin and conical seat in wheel carrier. Hold ball pin with an Allen wrench while tightening. Axle shaft must be horizontal prior to tightening tracking rod-to-axle carrier nut.

PUSHING STRUT

1. Raise vehicle and support with safety stands. Remove pushing strut cover. Rubber mounts of pushing strut cannot be replaced individually. If rubber mounts are damaged, replace pushing strut. Remove strut-to-axle carrier bolt. Remove strut-to-wheel carrier bolt with washer and contour disk.

2. Turn strut on rear axle carrier downward. Force clamping sleeve out of wheel carrier. Remove pushing strut.

To install, reverse removal procedure. Axle shaft must be horizontal prior to tightening pushing strut nuts.

SPRING LINK

1. Raise vehicle and support with safety stands. Remove spring link cover. Remove lower shock absorber bolt. Remove torsion bar from spring link. Remove coil spring as previously outlined.

2. Remove spring link-to-axle carrier bolt. Remove spring link-to-wheel carrier bolt. Remove spring link.

To install, reverse removal procedure. Axle shaft must be horizontal prior to tightening spring link nuts.

WHEEL CARRIER

1. Loosen collar nut fastening rear axle shaft prior to lifting vehicle and removing wheel. Using Remover (201 589 00 61 00), remove rear axle shaft out of rear axle shaft flange.

2. Remove brake caliper and hang out of way using a hook. Remove brake disc. Remove intermediate lever of parking brake and disengage cable control. Pull out lock on hand brake cable.

3. Remove camber strut-to-wheel carrier bolt. Force clamping sleeve of strut out of wheel carrier. Remove pulling strut-to-wheel carrier bolt. Force clamping sleeve of pulling strut out of wheel carrier.

4. Mark position of eccentric bolt of pulling strut in relation to axle carrier. Using Wrench (201 589 00 03 00), remove strut-to-axle carrier nut. Remove complete pulling strut.

5. Remove track rod-to-wheel carrier nut. Using Puller (201 589 01 33 00) and Thrust Piece (201 589 05 63 00), force track rod from wheel carrier.

6. Mark position of eccentric bolt of track rod in relation to axle carrier. Remove rod-to-axle carrier nut. Remove cam disk, eccentric bolt and complete track rod.

7. Remove nut of pushing strut on wheel carrier and remove with washer, contour disk and bolt. Force clamping sleeve out of wheel carrier.

8. Remove nut on spring link and remove from wheel carrier. Pull complete wheel carrier from rear axle shaft.

1. To install, reverse removal procedure. If position of eccentric bolts were not marked for pulling strut and track rod, position eccentric bolts in center position.

2. Prior to tightening any nuts axle shaft must be in horizontal position. Clean grease from ball pin and conical seat of track rod. Check toe-in and track angle of rear wheels.

A Wheel Balancer Can Help You Smooth Out Your Ride

Giving your vehicle workshop clients the best service possible means ensuring that when every car leaves the shop it is like new. When you do a good job, customers will return again and again, so the better each car drives, the more satisfied your customers will be. One area where every workshop can make a significant improvement to the way a car drives is in the way the wheels are set up, and the best way to do this is using a wheel balancer.

A wheel balancer allows you to quickly and conveniently assess any slight imperfections in the way a wheel turns, and then add small weights to the wheel in order to offset the effect of these problems.

Getting the balance of wheels right on a vehicle will make a huge difference for the driver. When the wheels are running completely in true the ride quality will be a lot smoother, and the fuel efficiency will also be much improved.

The long term benefits of balancing wheels properly on a vehicle are that it reduces the mechanical vibration that the car feels and the vehicle will be much smoother on the road. In turn this reduces the amount of wear and tear suffered by key components of the vehicle – in particular the axle assembly and shocks, giving these parts a much longer lifespan.

One of the reasons why a wheel balancer is required in an auto work shop is that due to the manufacturing process used in making tires, there are always slight imperfections in them, such as slightly different thicknesses of rubber, and these cause the tire to be slightly uneven. This must be compensated for by adding small weights to the wheel in order to offset the effect of the tire’s imperfections.

The method by which a wheel is balanced is very straightforward. Quite simply, the process begins with the wheel being removed from the vehicle and mounted onto a wheel balancer. This is a computerized machine that rotates the wheel at a variety of different speeds. At the same time as this is done, the computer measures the vibration on the axle caused by the imbalances in the wheel. A calculation is then performed that advises the amount of weight that needs to be added to the wheel.

The variety of different wheel balancers available today is enough to ensure that every single workshop can have access to an appropriate model for the kinds of work that they most often carry out.

These days, even the most basic entry level wheel balancer will come armed with hi tech software that makes finding an imbalance and taking appropriate action as straightforward as any other mechanical task, and thanks to the easy to use and understand computer interfaces that have been built into these machines, diagnosing the problem with a wheel is straightforward.

A model like the Ammco Standard volume wheel balancer retails for less than $4000 at Red Hill Supply (special offer), and is ideal for smaller jobs. It runs a diagnostic on a 14 inch wheel in around 10 seconds and offers an accurate guide to where the weights need to be added for best effect. Moving up the line, the Ammco AMM950 high volume wheel balancer can carry out the diagnostic check in 5 seconds, making it ideal for a busy garage where time is important. The wheel balancer can take a comprehensive range of different wheel sizes, making it versatile and convenient.

At the very top end of the market, wheel balancers like the Ammco XR1800 are designed for environments where precision is essential. These top end models, which retail for less than $10,000 offer a comprehensive suite of diagnostic tools designed to make your job as easy as possible, and give you the highest possible standard of accuracy, making this product ideal for workshops dealing with high end vehicles.

With increasing demand for all areas of wheel balancing from customers who want to ensure better reliability, a more enjoyable ride, and better handling, now is definitely the time to invest in a tool that will make carrying out this precision task a lot faster and more convenient, giving you more time to concentrate on your key areas.

Wheel chair lifts have been one of the most significant advances in disabled mobility since the wheel chair itself was invented. They play a supporting role. Certain kinds extend the range handicapped people can move about directly, by transporting them across the stairs that would otherwise hinder them. 

Wheel chair lifts are designed to lift a person who needs to utilize such a device for mobility in an area where a person without one would ordinarily go by negotiating stairs or some other route that is difficult, hazardous, or impossible in a wheelchair. To safely and reliably lift both a person and the wheelchair he or she sits in, the lift must be quite powerful. Generally, these lifts consist of a platform that can be wheeled onto and a motor that raises the platform up or down to one or more different levels.

Before the invention of wheel chair lifts, buildings could only provide handicapped access through ramp systems. In some cases, ramps work perfectly well, and they are widely used to this day. Sometimes, however, a ramp is impractical for one reason or another, and in these cases, the lifts are employed instead. The most common reason for using a lift instead of a ramp is architectural. Sometimes there isn’t room to build a large ramp anywhere conveniently. Wheel chair lifts take up far less room than ramps, because they don’t entail any horizontal movement. In most cases, they move in a direct, vertical direction, just like an elevator. Ramps are also often impractical where stairs are prolonged or steep, because a gradual ramp would need to be dangerously steep or inconveniently large.

When wheel chair lifts were first implemented, they were often found in the private homes of those who were handicapped or who wished to accommodate handicapped guests. Houses rarely have room for ramps, especially if they were designed without this accommodation in mind. Since the staircases in houses rarely see heavy traffic, wheel chair lifts in private residences are often built directly over the stairs. In this case, they follow the path of the stairs, which means moving horizontally as well as vertically. The advantage of this system is that it saves space. The disadvantage is that when wheel chair lifts of this sort are in operation, it usually keeps others from using the staircase.

These lifts are important, not just for handicapped Americans, but for all Americans. The handicapped are better able to make their contributions to society when they have uninhibited access to all areas. In addition, providing equal access with ramps and wheel chair lifts supports the values that the United States was founded upon.

We believe in inalienable rights and dignity. We believe in opportunity, rather than privilege. We also believe in self-reliance. Rather than believing that certain people deserve or garner power over others, Americans believe that individuals naturally carry power and responsibility for themselves. Wheel chair lifts allow handicapped people to be independent, rather than reliant on others.

Wheel chair lifts have been important to disabled people and to supporters of equality since their invention decades ago and have gradually found service in more and more locations worldwide. Today, they are woven into the everyday lives of those who use wheel chairs. They have facilitated disabled people in ascending, literally and figuratively, to the stage and to the highest places in society. Upward mobility has never so gracefully emblemized itself.

Wheel bearings are needed in order to ensure the safe turning of a wheel, whether it is with regard to a bicycle, car, truck or any other kind of vehicle as of the present. These bearings handle the friction and pressure inside a wheel, ensuring that the bearing itself will not touch each other, enabling a smoother and more relax rotation of the wheel in the process. There are numerous types of wheel bearings available in the commercial market as of today. These are the tapered bearings, needle bearings and ceramic bearings, all of which have the same purpose of reducing if not eliminating friction and handling pressure inside the bearing of the wheel.

These wheel bearings are one of the most if not the most essential components of a wheel. If these are lacking, then the wheel cannot turn, rendering the car, truck or any other automobile useless in the process. The most modern made bearings are have the function of automatically realigning itself, ensuring that a longer lifespan or time frame for the wheel itself. The lifespan of these bearings usually take around 750,000 rotations up to 1 million rotations before breaking or falling apart.

These wheel based bearings usually contain numerous parts like the inner surface, the outer surface and the bearing assembly or roller assembly. The bearings themselves function as a repelling agent in order for the inner and outer part not to touch each other. Friction is reduced at a high percentage because of these bearings, allowing the wheel to turn efficiently and smoother. This will ensure that the wheel will not fall apart or break during the usage of the car, truck or any other type of vehicle having such wheel. Wheel bearings can be found in most car shops and bearing stores situated all across the United States as of the present.

Manual wheel chairs work for a great number of people, but for those with limited arm or core strength, electric wheel chairs are a better choice. A gel cell or wet cell battery is used to power an electric wheel chair. The joystick is used as the steering device that controls your speed and direction. Electric wheel chairs are more expensive and heavier than a manual wheel chair, but they do allow greater mobility and freedom for some wheel chair users.

An electric wheel chair provides freedom for the user both inside and outside the home. Smaller homes are often the most difficult to navigate, but with a motorized chair, it’s much easier to maneuver around furniture and to safely pass through doorways. Electric wheel chairs enable people to live on their own without the assistance of a family member or caregiver. Going uphill is no longer an obstacle and you won’t be exhausted by the end of the day from propelling yourself around manually.

Electric wheel chairs are available in rear-wheel drive, mid-wheel drive, and front-wheel drive. A rear-wheel drive (RWD) will typically move faster than a front-wheel drive, but aren’t known for their turning capabilities. A front-wheel drive (FWD) wheel chair seems to be the most popular model, despite the fact that the speeds available are slower than one with rear-wheel drive. However, with tight turning capabilities, the front-wheel drive lends more freedom of mobility to the user. A mid-wheel drive motorized wheel chair delivers the best turning radius of the three models, but is known for being somewhat questionable when it comes to stopping and starting (unsteady).

Electric wheel chairs are more expensive, ranging from a low-end price of roughly $1,700 to a higher end price of around $7,600. Additional features can be added, which will impact the price point as well. Features on an electric wheel chair can include removable armrests, adjustable footrests, power-tilt seats, or a reclining seat.

Ruggedly built, electric wheel chairs are specifically designed for consistent, all-day use. Batteries last roughly 4-6 hours with a full charge. Depending on your activity level throughout the day, it may be a good idea to have spare batteries charged and ready to go so you’re not left without power during the day. An electric wheel chair meant for indoor use only can be constructed from a lightweight frame to make mobility easier. However, if you plan to use your electric wheelchair out of doors relatively often, it would be a good idea to purchase one with a heavy-duty frame rather than a lightweight frame. There are some motorized chairs available now with spring suspension, making the trek over uneven terrain much easier.

The benefits of choosing an electric wheel chair over a manual wheel chair far outweigh the disadvantages. However, there are a few things to consider with an electric wheel chair. Most of these models are not designed to fold or disassemble. You’ll need to have a lift or ramp in order to get them into a vehicle for transport. Some vans can be outfitted to safely secure an electric wheelchair for transport. These would be additional costs to the user, but many feel the freedom and mobility the electric wheel chairs provide is well worth the extra cost.