How to Perform a Windshield Repair And Replacement?

If you want to keep your car safe, make sure the windshield of your vehicle is strong enough. The windshield helps ensure the integrity of your car. However, with the passage of time, the windshield fights with harsh weather and other elements. At times, windshields break. If this is the case with you, we suggest that you get it replaced or repaired.

Types of Car Windshield Cracks

These cracks are of many types. Based on the objects that hit the car, given below are the most common types.

Chip: When your windshield comes into contact with a small object or crack, the glass may lose a tiny chip or piece. With time, these chips tend to spread and evolve into a bigger area.

Edge crack: these cracks occur along the edge of the windshield. Often, when this area gets hit by something hard, meandering cracks occur. As a result, you need to replace the entire thing.

Stress crack: As the name suggests, this type of crack occurs when the glass experiences a lot of stress due to heat.

Should You hire a Professional or do it yourself?

Let's answer this important question first. Usually, if the size of your windshield chip, break or crack is less than 6 inches, you can repair it. But if the crack is bigger than that, you may need to replace the whole windshield.

Ideally, you may want to fix the chip as soon as you can. If there is an underdeveloped chip, you can use an adhesive kit to fill in the chip. The idea is to remove the air from the inner layer and then seal the impact point.

Here is how a Professional Performs the Windshield Replacements

You need to go through multiple steps in order to remove and replace the car windshield. Therefore, it may not be a good idea to do the repair yourself. Given below is how a professional does the job.

Step #1: First off, you need to cover the interior and exterior to ensure it is protected from the tiny pieces of glass that may drop from the broken windshield.

Step #2: Now, you may want to remove the molding from the windshield perimeter.

Step #3: Grab the right tool to disconnect the windshield from the area where it's welded to the car. All you need to do is use the tool to cut and separate it.

Step #4: At this step, you need to remove the glass by lifting it up and pushing out from the inside. You can get a helping hand to do so.

Step #5: Follow a couple of priming steps in order to ensure the frame sticks to the new windshield.

Step #6: Once installed, you can leave the windshield to set based on the manufacturer's guidelines.

Conclusion:

So, if your windshield is broken, make sure you get it fixed as soon as possible. However, if the problem is too serious, you may want to contact a technician to do the job for you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10146135

Some Tips and Tricks for Saving on Auto Insurance

Finding the best auto insurance rates can sometimes be tricky. It is absolutely necessary to be insured on the roads, though. In fact, it is required, by Illinois state law to have coverage. Some find auto insurance to be extremely expensive but, there are ways to help make it more affordable. Here are some things to consider to find the ideal price of insurance.

Shop Around

Get quotes from multiple insurance companies, including different types of companies. Also, realize that the lowest number does not mean the cheapest.

Consider Insurance While Shopping for Cars

Some vehicles have lower reliability ratings and other factors that contribute to higher premiums. While researching cars it is important to compare potential premiums for each of your options to ensure you are getting the best deal.

Increase Deductible

By increasing your deductible, you can decrease your premium. Just be sure that the deductible is manageable for your budget and that you have enough money saved in case you need to file a claim.

Bundle Insurance

If the insurance agency that you choose offers bundling, take advantage of it. If not, try to stay with the same company for all of your insurance needs. This results in discounts in most cases.

Keep Good Credit

Having good credit helps lower insurance rates. Researchers have found a significant relationship between your credit score and amount of claims filed. Insurance companies tend to rely on this correlation to define your financial responsibility.

Low Mileage Discounts

Research mileage averages and see if you fall below that. Do not be afraid to ask about a low mileage discount. This discount could also apply to you if you are someone who carpools.

Group Insurance

Some people fall into the category of people who receive insurance from their employer or other groups they belong to. Some insurance providers offer discounts on auto insurance to people who fall into this category.

Other Discounts

Ask your agent if there are any additional discounts you are qualified for based on certain qualities such as how you drive, etc.

Purchase 10+ days before you actually need it

By purchasing coverage before you need to use it helps drive down premium costs.

Pay in Full Up Front

If possible pay in full, rather than setting up a payment plan. The amount you save annually will add up.

Get New Policy When You Move

Especially out of state! Some states have significantly higher insurance rates than others.

Older Cars

Buying a brand new car, just released is exciting, but if your priority is lower insurance premiums it is better to purchase models that are 5+ years old. They are considered more reliable.

VIN Number for Quotes

The purpose of this is to see if you are eligible for a discount if you have anti-theft devices.

Go Paperless

Some companies value using less paper and offer a small discount to those who opt out of using paper which is not hard to do in this age if technology. It is a small offering, but it adds up.

Insurance Vocabulary

Be sure to understand what the verbiage means so that you have a good idea of what you actually need covered and what questions you need to ask your agent.

Automatic Billing

This is another way to save over time, similar to going paperless.

Education

Some insurers offer discounts based off of the level of education you have. For example, some offer discounts for college graduates.

Teen Drivers

Teen drivers are known to drive up insurance costs, since they are more accident prone. But, if they are in a college that is 100+ miles away without a car some insurers allow them to be temporarily taken off of the plan. Additionally, most companies offer a "good student" discount implying that they correlate this test of intelligence with responsible driving habits. Proof of a safe driving class can also save some money on teen auto insurance.

Change Insurance When Lifestyle Changes

If you expect to drive less due to retirement or other factors, report this to your insurer. This can reduce the amount that you have to pay for insurance.

Most importantly, be aware of your needs and form a relationship with your insurance agent. Awareness is the first step towards savings.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10004312

The Benefits of Recycling Steel in Junk Cars

Recycling junk cars has a huge impact on our environment, economy, and more; an impact that is entirely positive. There are many benefits of junk car recycling, most of which involve steel. Continue reading to learn why it is important to recycle the steel in junk cars, and how you can personally contribute to this wonderful initiative.

Most Vehicles are Mostly Steel:

Most vehicles are manufactured with steel because it is a highly durable, strong, and dependable metal. Not only can it protect drivers and passengers, it can be recycled and repurposed over and over again. In fact, most steel is made from existing steel materials, which does wonders to preserve our natural resources, conserve energy, and reduce harmful emissions produced by metal refining factories. According to the Steel Recycling Institute (SRI), "recycling a single ton conserves 2500 pounds of iron ore, 1400 pounds of coal, and 120 pounds of limestone."

Vehicles, on average, are 60% steel and iron. The shell alone is 25% of the total amount of steel in a car or truck, on average. This includes the quarter panels, trunk, hood, and doors. Additionally, internal parts and metal components are recycled for their steel, such as automotive parts, gaskets, circuit boards, and more.

Steel Recycling:

Motorized vehicles are among the most frequently recycled consumer product in the country. Regardless of who owned them or what happened to them, virtually all cars end up in the recycling process. According to the Steel Recycling Institute (SRI), more than 14 million tons of steel from cars are recycled each year. This can actually be argued as a 100% recycling rate among vehicles no longer suited for the road!

Junk Car Salvaging Process:

The junk car recycling process, although not too complicated, requires a fleet of highly-specialized equipment and technology. Most metal reprocessing centers will start by draining the vehicle of any remaining fluids to stay within environmentally responsible recycling practices. These fluids include transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, windshield wiper fluid, radiator fluid, battery fluid, and motor oil. Next, they will begin to dismantle the vehicle of all its reusable parts, like wheels, tires, headlights, doors, windows, fenders, bumpers, trunk lids, stereos, and any operational or repairable auto parts.

After a vehicle is finished with the draining and dismantling process, all that's left are scattered hulks. This is usually shredded in an industrial metal shredder, which is an enormous and innovative machine that can shred large hulks down to fist-sized pieces in less than 45 seconds. These pieces are a compilation of steel, non-steel metals, and fluff (non-reusable rubbers, plastics, glass, etc.). A large magnetic sorter is used to separate the steel and iron pieces from the rest of the shredding material, which are then shipped all across the country to various metal buyers, reprocessed, and steel mills.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9981997

Die Stamping Our Way to Remarkably Better Automotive Parts

Two qualities of automotive parts have stood the test of time. The lighter and stronger the materials used for making a part, the better. Considering the integrity of the automobile as a whole, the quest for the right mix of metals for each particular component is ongoing. The process most relied upon for the manufacture of parts nowadays is die stamping because of its mass production advantage. Also known as pressing, this is the process of stamping shapes from sheets of metal.

High Strength Steels

Towards the end of the 1900s, increasing awareness of the human impact on our planet sped up the search for ways to reduce our energy use. This was most apparent in the automotive parts industry. Safety regulations became stricter. People increasingly want cars that are more environmentally friendly and that operate more cost effectively. Advanced high strength steels developed for the automotive industry are changing the way cars are made.

Steel versus Aluminium 

There is constant debate in the automotive industry about whether to use aluminium or steel in the production of automotive parts. Essentially this is a quest for finding material strong enough to be safe for use in automobiles that is formable and cost effective. Most of the top car manufacturers are opting for decisions of which material to be used being made on a part by part basis.

History of Die Stamping

Dating back to 2000BC, with stone-age man beating iron with a hammer to make tools with heated metal resting on a bed or bolster, the idea of stamping metals is not new. Die stamping was first used to produce bicycle parts in the 1890s. Although die stamping produced parts with less durability than traditional forging, there was advantage in using machines to manufacture automotive parts more quickly. As demand for motor vehicles grew, faster production methods were welcomed.

Progressive Stamping

A variety of metalworking methods are incorporated into the die stamping manufacture of automotive parts. Beginning with simple methods like bending the metal along straight lines, there are nine other ways machines are working with metal during the stamping process. Flanging, embossing, blanking, coining, deep drawing, stretching, ironing, curling and hemming each allow progressively more detailed parts to be made.

Improving Automotive Parts Manufacturing

Along with developing steel sheets for die stamping that are thinner and more lightweight than ever while having increased strength, machining is becoming more technologically advanced. Modern control systems and computer aided design and machining along with improved mechanisms for spot-welding, riveting and door-latch making are transforming the automotive parts manufacturing process.

Overall Productivity

Computers are an integral part of numerical control at play in today's component design and machining systems. Along with advances in automation using computer aided manufacturing, automotive parts can be more productively and cost-effectively produced than ever before. The precision possible through die stamping methods used in automotive part manufacturing going into this millennium is improving productivity and lowering environmental impact.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9217850

Introduction To Traxxas Nitro Cars and Trucks

Traxxas is one of the biggest and most well-known companies in all of RC racing. They have an impressive list of accomplishments that has been ever increasing since the company started in 1986. They were the first company to produce high quality, competitive RC cars that came pre-assembled and ready to run. Nowadays, RTR is a commonly used term in the RC community, and it was coined by Traxxas way back in the late 80's. They would go on to create the first RTR RC boat, then the first RTR nitro truck, then the first RTR nitro boat (which was also the first nitro boat with a clutch). In 1999 they unveiled the Traxxas T-maxx, which among other things was the first nitro RC car with a true forward/reverse transmission.

For the past four years, Traxxas have been the number one selling company in the worlds of RTR electric and nitro RC vehicles. Traxxas are the original manufacturers of RTR RC vehicles, and continue to produce some of the most competitive and affordably priced vehicles in the category.

One of the newest and most exciting products from Traxxas is the Slayer Pro 4X4. This short-course nitro racing truck has recently been redesigned and now has an even larger wheelbase, coming in at 26mm wider and 30mm wider than the original Slayer for an impressive total wheelbase of 14 inches long. This is a 4WD vehicle with the extremely powerful TRX 3.3 racing engine that features the Traxxas EZ-Start electronic starting system. It can reach speeds of over 50mph right out of the box and is simple to control with its 2.4Ghz remote. The remote features the revolutionary Traxxas Link system that uses no channels and no crystals. It is fully programmable for settings like steering, braking and throttle sensitivity.

Those looking for a hardy monster truck will love the Traxxas Stampede VXL. The Stampede is one of the most popular products from Traxxas and is available in many different variations. This particular model is the electric, non-4X4 version. It takes the classic Stampede formula and adds the raw power of the Velineon Brushless Power System. This allows the truck to reach speeds of over 65mph. The Velineon system is one of the simplest brushless systems on the market and allows the user to simply plug in and start ripping. It also accepts and extremely wide range of batteries, including the new 3-cell LiPo packs. The Stampede VXL is also completely waterproof so mud, rain, sleet or snow will not stop this beast. It uses the same remote as the Slayer Pro, and the remote is actually programmable for up to 20 different vehicles so all of the user's settings can be stored in one remote.

Traxxas produces quite a few models that are officially licensed by the Ford Motor Company. These include Ken Block's Ford Fiesta, an F-150 Raptor and the Mustang Boss 302. This is a 1:16 scale electric RC car with a licensed body that replicates the real Mustang Boss 302. It is equipped with a Velineon 380 brushless motor that allows the car to reach speeds of over 30mph stock, and over 50mph with a few basic upgrades. The servo is also sealed in waterproof housing to prevent any nasty accidents. Rocker actuated coil-over shocks and full-time 4WD are featured on this car as well, and it makes an excellent machine for perfecting those power slides.

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Strut Bar - Is it Really Needed in Your Car or Vehicle?

Strut Bars are the evolutionary aftermarket addition to the normal McPherson Struts. Usually a favorite in car customization and an integral part of heavy trucks and SUVs, strut bars are now finding their place in the sun when it comes to normal small cars as well.

People consider additional struts especially horizontal bars as high performance additions to their cars. There is a general belief that McPherson Struts or independent suspensions can be unstable at higher speeds. As an additional feature to increase the stability, independent suspensions on either side of the vehicle are joined by a common horizontal bar called the Strut Bar.

The two suspensions on either side when connected by a common bar experience reduced flex between them and that provides much needed stability at higher speeds. This is an important feature in heavy and large vehicles and performance cars but what makes people think that strut bars can stabilize their small cars? Do smaller cars really need stability?

Well the answer is No. Unless you are traveling at really high speeds, which you anyways shouldn't do with normal cars, you definitely do not require additional struts to support your car suspension. Auto experts believe that horizontal struts have been popularized as a high performance addition to cars in the name of car customization. There is no real need for normal cars to have extra struts but in case someone wants his vehicle to have one, there is no serious harm either.

At most, additional struts will make the suspension in your car stiffer reducing the drive comfort especially over rougher terrains. Since suspensions are linked together, there may be slight vibration on rough roads because of the reduced independent movement. Also the added weight of the strut may decrease gas mileage to some extent. In case you are hell bent on having additional struts fixed in your vehicle, make sure you ask an expert mechanic to do it or else there may be serious performance problems with your car suspension.

Most sports cars, heavy and light trucks, SUVs, 4x4s and ATVs are available with strut bars as a normal fitment.

So what kind of vehicles need a strut bar if they don't have it as a standard fitment?

If you are optimizing your normal car to perform at higher speeds and exhibit greater accelerations or powering it with turbo-chargers and NOS (Nitrous Oxide Systems), then the strut bar will be a useful addition to the pack. If you own a larger vehicle and it does not have a strut bar as a standard fitment, you should invest in one. In that case, I would suggest to for used strut bars as they cost almost one-third of the cost of new ones.

To conclude, you are the best person to assess whether your car needs a strut bar or not. Although it is not a decision to ponder over but you can certainly weigh the pros and cons depending on the type of vehicle you own and the type of use you subject it to.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3874185

Tuning Your RC Nitro Engine For Optimal Power - A Guide For Beginners

When I first started racing Gas Powered RC cars, I used to struggle to get the engine into tune, while I was able to get the engine to start on a dime and it used to run fine for almost an entire fuel tank, it always seemed to over-heat near the end of the run. After many hours out on the track I can now finally say that I've got it down, tuning for me is now a 5 minute operation before I take my RC car out, and once it's dialed in I only need to adjust one needle a fraction of a turn to get it back to it's optimal settings.

I assume that you understand the basics of a RC Nitro Engine and how it works, if not please see my other articles which you can find on my website, see the resource box for details.

The Idle Screw:

I always start with the idle screw, I adjust it so that the car will idle high when I'm first dialing in the engine. Once I get the engine up to temperature and with a tube that can keep it running without stalling I slowly adjust the idle down to the point where it's about to stall, then I turn it back about 1/4 to 1/2 turn depending on the temperature. If your car stalls often it can be worth while increasing the idle to prevent this, it's only a temporary fix while you sort out the other tuning issue, but it helps keep frustration levels down.

Low Speed Needle.:

One of the great debates is which needle to adjust first, if your carburetor only has one needle adjustment screw then it's not a problem, but if like most glow engines you have two you need to decide which to tune first. I always start with the low speed needle, this is because when you adjust the low speed needle you change the high speed needle. Once the low speed needle is dialed in you shouldn't have to adjust it again. Make sure you keep it slightly on the rich side, when you RC Car idles the combustion chamber should start to fill up with fuel, this helps keep it cool. After a while the engine will stall, by measuring this you can tell if it should be richer or leaner. A good time is about 30 - 60 seconds before it stalls. The RC Car should pull off quickly from a standing start and should not bog down or flame out when you apply full throttle.

High Speed Needle:

Once you have your low speed adjustment needle dialed in it's time to start getting the power out of the RC engine. This is done with the high speed needle, which adjusts the air to fuel mixture of the engine while it as high RPM (about 40% and up). Keep an eye on the trail of smoke as this is your first clue about the tune. You want to have a lot of smoke coming out of the engine at all RPM, if at some point there is little or no smoke then you are running too lean.

Hints, Tips and Tricks:

• Turn the needle clockwise to lean out and counter-clockwise to richen the mixture.
• A lot of smoke means you tune is rich.
• The sound can tell you about your tune.
• Reading your glow plug after a run will tell you a lot about your tune.
• Make sure to run your engine on the rich side, this will extend it's life.
• A lean engine will always put out more power, but it will shorten the life of your engine.
• Temperature, air pressure and humidity play if big part in the tune, different days will need different settings.
  

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1438672