Any car buyer knows how intimidating it can be to get your car serviced. Unless you have a real understanding of car parts and how they work, the parts your mechanic tells you need to replace may sound like a foreign language. We’ll go over some of the weirder auto part names so you’re in the know the next time your mechanic tells you you need to replace your caliper!
Some auto part names
Without further ado, here are some auto part names that might make you think twice if you heard them from your mechanic. Take some time to review them, so that if your mechanic mentions them during your next maintenance visit, you won’t be completely confused, or worse, think he or she is making up auto part names on the spot!
flange: A flange is basically a piece that is used to join two things together, like two pipes. Car flanges are generally circular with a large hole in the middle and several smaller bolt holes around the edge. As you can imagine, there are a lot of cable ties on a car! This is definitely one of the weirder names for auto parts, but it is an important part of your vehicle. If two essential pipes in your car don’t connect, your car may not work!
Calibrate: A caliper is part of your brakes. It puts pressure on the brake pads when you need to slow down and stop the car. You can have a floating caliper or a fixed caliper, but they both serve the same purpose.
steering wheel: Next on our list is the steering wheel. A flywheel helps keep your car running smoothly despite the rough movement of the pistons in your engine.
spindle: There are some auto part names you’ve probably heard of before, but in a different context! A spindle is a perfect example. You may have heard of spindles in terms of spinning thread, but your car has them too! In your car, the axles reside in the suspension system and help keep the wheels in place.
Strut: A strut is a common component on front-wheel drive vehicles and works similar to a shock absorber. You might hear this from your mechanic on a list of auto part names you need to replace if your vehicle doesn’t drive smoothly (bounces, sways, etc.).
Crankshaft: A crankshaft is a very important part of your engine. The crankshaft turns due to the power created by the moving pistons in your engine, which then turn the wheels. If your crankshaft is not working properly, you are likely going to have a very difficult time driving, if you can at all!
As you can see, there are many auto part names that end up being something a bit unexpected! There are many more not included in this list, so be sure to visit an experienced mechanic at a car dealership in Richmond or somewhere near you to learn more. It’s always good to be well-informed, especially when it comes to his car, so take the time to do some research and learn more auto part names!
