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Raybestos Performance Specialty Disc Pads
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By Mighty Auto Parts
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link hidden, please login to view appeared first on link hidden, please login to view. When diagnosing engine performance complaints such as misfire symptoms, be advised that several systems and components can contribute to those symptoms. When considering single or multiple misfire codes, some checks may seem farfetched but trust me if not all are considered the symptoms can elude the most experienced technician, resulting in a misdiagnosis. When this […]
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By Daysyore
The catalytic converter is a critical component in modern vehicles that plays a crucial role in reducing harmful emissions. This device, typically located in the exhaust system, helps convert toxic pollutants from the engine's exhaust gases into less harmful substances. While catalytic converters have been instrumental in improving air quality and meeting emission standards, they have also become a hot topic of discussion due to their environmental impact, cost, and potential for theft. In this article, we will explore the significance of catalytic converters, their environmental benefits, challenges faced, and potential future developments.
Environmental Benefits:
Catalytic converters have made significant contributions to reducing air pollution and improving overall environmental quality. They primarily work by facilitating chemical reactions that convert harmful pollutants into less harmful compounds. Key environmental benefits include:
1. Emission Reduction: Catalytic converters effectively reduce emissions of harmful pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and unburned hydrocarbons (HC). These pollutants contribute to smog formation, respiratory issues, and environmental degradation.
2. Compliance with Regulations: Catalytic converters enable vehicles to meet stringent emission regulations imposed by governments worldwide. These regulations aim to mitigate the adverse effects of vehicle emissions on public health and the environment.
Challenges and Concerns:
Despite their environmental benefits, catalytic converters face several challenges and concerns:
1. Precious Metal Usage: Catalytic converters contain precious metals like platinum, palladium, and rhodium, which act as catalysts. The extraction and mining of these metals can have negative environmental impacts, including habitat destruction and water pollution.
2. Cost and Maintenance: Catalytic converters are expensive components, and their replacement or repair can be financially burdensome for vehicle owners. Additionally, improper maintenance or the use of low-quality fuels can lead to premature failure or reduced effectiveness of the catalytic converter.
3. Theft: Catalytic converters contain valuable metals, making them a target for theft. Criminals often remove catalytic converters from vehicles due to their high resale value, leading to inconvenience and financial loss for vehicle owners.
Future Developments:
To address the challenges associated with catalytic converters, ongoing research and development efforts are focused on potential advancements:
1. Alternative Catalyst Materials: Scientists are exploring alternative catalyst materials that can reduce or eliminate the need for precious metals in catalytic converters. This could help mitigate environmental concerns related to metal extraction and lower production costs.
2. Improved Efficiency: Researchers are working on enhancing the efficiency of catalytic converters to further reduce emissions and improve fuel economy. Advancements in catalyst design and optimization of chemical reactions can contribute to more effective pollution control.
3. Anti-Theft Measures: Automotive manufacturers and law enforcement agencies are collaborating to develop anti-theft measures, such as tamper-resistant designs and identification technologies, to deter catalytic converter theft.
Conclusion:
The catalytic converter remains a vital component in the automotive industry's efforts to reduce harmful emissions and improve air quality. While it has made significant environmental contributions, challenges such as precious metal usage, cost, and theft persist. Ongoing research and development endeavors aim to address these concerns through alternative catalyst materials, improved efficiency, and anti-theft measures. As technology advances, striking a balance between environmental impact, automotive performance, and affordability will be crucial in shaping the future of catalytic converters and sustainable transportation.
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By NAPA
Ron Capps’ bid for a third consecutive Funny Car win at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals came to an end in a close second-round race Sunday afternoon at Bristol Dragway. Capps qualified third in his NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra before falling in the quarterfinals to J.R. Todd. The overall weekend performance showed Capps and his Dean ‘Guido’ Antonelli-led team that the drastic changes they made in the early part of the season are paying off as the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series heads into the hot summer races. Capps leaves Bristol No. 6 in the point standings after eight of 20 races on the 2024 schedule.
Capps was one of several drivers who struggled to find traction in the first qualifying session on Friday, but crew chief Dean ‘Guido’ Antonelli got the NAPA Auto Care entry back on track for the second session. Capps laid down a 3.976-second pass at 320.74 MPH to move up from ninth to third, while also earning a bonus point for making the third-best pass of the session. Capps maintained the No. 3 spot through two more qualifying sessions on Saturday.
The NAPA team’s strong performance carried over into the first round of eliminations on Sunday morning when Capps got a big starting line advantage over opponent Buddy Hull and maintained the lead with a winning 3.962-second pass at 323.12 MPH to Hull’s 4.176 E.T. In a second-round battle with fellow Toyota driver J.R. Todd, Capps ran quicker to the 60-foot and 330-foot marks, but he started to lose ground and finished second behind Todd. Capps ran a 4.001 E.T. at 316.45, while Todd recorded a 3.977 E.T. at 319.75.
“I’m so proud of Guido and our NAPA Auto Care team to go out there and compete like we did, to qualify as well as we did, and not only that, but to do it in completely different conditions like we did,” said Capps, the winningest Funny Car driver at Bristol with seven victories. “We qualified well in the Friday night conditions that we didn’t think we’d see the rest of the weekend. We went out and made a great run in the first round and got lane choice against a really good team, our Toyota teammate J.R. Todd and his team, in the quarterfinals. The fans got their money’s worth. It was a great side-by-side race, but we came up a little bit short. We’ve got a string of hot, summer races coming up and it gives me such confidence knowing Guido’s got a combination for that. I’m just so proud of these guys.”
The next stop for Capps and the Ron Capps Motorsports Funny Car team will come in two weeks at the Virginia NHRA Nationals, June 22-23, at Virginia Motorsports Park outside Richmond.
Start / Finish: No. 3 / def. in quarterfinals
Points Standing / Total: No. 6 / 360 pts. (-220)
Next Race: June 22-23, Virginia NHRA Nationals
How to Watch or Listen: FS1,
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By Counterman
Like many product lines in our inventories, brake pads are often dual or even triple lined. To service a wide variety of vehicles and customer types in a dynamic market, it has become a necessity to offer various price points on one of the most critical safety items we offer.
Price is only one of the criteria we should be using to determine the most appropriate product for the customers’ needs, but it is the one that seems to get the most attention. Too often, price is quoted as shorthand for quality, and we present a good/better/best option based on their price points. Rather than presenting the features and benefits of each product, we often gloss over the “how and why” in favor of the “how much.” When we present items in this manner, we commoditize them, leading the customer to believe there is very little difference between the products, aside from the amount of money they are going to spend today. Often, the value derived from improved performance and longer lifespan of the better-quality product exceeds the difference in price between it and the lesser-priced equivalent.
For brake pads, the composition of the friction material is the first area where quality really counts. Beyond the basic “semi-metallic” vs. “ceramic” terminology lies a complex chemistry of elements that created a slab of material that is expected to provide excellent stopping power in all driving conditions without squealing or leaving dusty residue on your customers’ wheels. Premium brake friction material is often designed with specific applications and usage in mind. The friction formulation of a “ceramic” pad intended for a commuter sedan will be different than a ceramic pad intended for a police pursuit vehicle, or even a full-size truck that is used commercially. The entry-level pad manufacturer may take a more “universal” approach, with the friction material providing average performance across a wide range of appli-cations, but underperforming in critical areas where a premium pad would give better longevity and quality of service.
Beyond the friction material, the backing plate is another area where you get what you pay for. Galvanized, E-coated or powder-coated backing plates have better corrosion resistance than those plates treated with a simple coat of paint. When corrosion creeps between the pad material and the backing plate, a phenomenon known as rust-jacking can weaken the bond between materials, leading to pad delamination. Premium pads also are more likely to feature an attached shim, which can help reduce the vibrations that cause squealing.
NVH complaints are also commonly caused by reusing existing pad retaining hardware, or eliminating it altogether. Unfortunately, I have seen more than a few instances of poorly-stamped or thickly painted backing plates preventing the pad and hardware all fitting correctly into the caliper bracket. Some folks resort to grinding or filing away the edge of the backing plate, creating another path for corrosion down the road. Worse yet, others entirely omit the stainless hardware clips, resulting in a clunk or rattle with every pedal application. It continues to baffle me that some entry-level (and even mid-grade) pad pack-ages still do not include hardware, even though they are a critical part of a complete disc brake job.
Electronic brake pad wear sensors are an increasingly common design feature, either molded directly into the friction material, or clipped into the backing plate of one or more pads. In my own opinion, the ideal premium brake pad set should include friction material purpose-built for the intended application, a good quality shimmed and coated backing plate, the necessary installation hardware, electronic wear sensor (if equipped), and any included warranty should be commensurate with the intended service life of the pads.
When it comes to premium products, it is often these “extras” that people don’t consider when comparing them to lesser brands. Application-matched friction materials, manufacturing and design features that ensure a long and trouble-free service life, as well as the convenience of having all the necessary components collected into one package, saves the customer time and labor initially, and over the (longer) life of the product, actually provides more value per mile than lesser competitive products.
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