Hubcaps Or Wheel Covers, What s In A Name?

Cars and trucks built before about 1935 came on wire spoke wheels with small metal caps installed to seal the wheel hub on the axle. Those early "HUBcaps" were smaller than 3" in diameter, made of heavy gauge plated steel hammered onto the hub of the wheel. Their main function was to keep dirt out of the spindle nut and the wheel bearings.
In the 1930s, automobiles transitioned from mere modes of transportation to statements of status and style. Hubcaps became more decorative than functional. The dog dish style was born, chrome hemispheres 9 inches in diameter, covering the lug nuts and the center of the wheel. About the same time, wheel technology advanced and spoke wheels were replaced by wheels formed from stamped steel.
In the 40s, Cadillac lead the pack in adding sparkling chrome by the acre: bumpers, grills, trim lines, window borders, hood ornaments, hood vents, headlights, running boards, etc. Increasing the size of the chrome hubcaps added reflective surface.
By the 50s, hubcap diameters increased to the point they covered the entire steel wheel with chrome. Many of this period were flat rounds looking like chrome Frisbees, with little design differentiation. It was during this time the term wheel cover came into use.
Over the last 50 years, the terms hubcaps and wheel covers have become synonymous as the lightweight, full-diameter decorative coverings of standard steel wheels.
One of the hallmarks of modern hubcaps is their interchangeability. Nearly any hubcap of the correct size will fit any standard steel wheel that will take a hubcap. This means that changing styles is very easy. We are not limited to those styles designed by our particular auto manufacturer.
If you would like to read this article with pictures of classic cars that illustrate the examples given, go to http://www.autoamenity.com/FAQ/Hubcap-Wheelcover.htm



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What camera to get for car shots?

There are lots of cameras in the market so it might be confusing when you have to choose. Most important, before making the choice you must be sure that you are getting the right type of camera, depending on your needs. Because of the huge development of digital cameras, I& 8217;ll talk only about this category since the buyer has the digital advantages on his fingertips (like the almost instant review of the image shot, Changing ISO on the fly, costs per shot much smaller, etc.) Since in some cases the buyers realize that their needs are fulfilled, or not, after buying their camera, I& 8217;ll try to make sure that you have a clear vision of what is needed to have great shots of cars, presented in showrooms/events or in action. But first let me review the types of cameras, and for this I& 8217;ll consider only cameras with 5 Megapixels or above. First, strangely maybe, I& 8217;ll talk about the cameras with WiFi built-in such as Nikon Coolpix P1 or Canon Powershot SD430. Then in the 5-7 Mpx consumer class cameras are cameras like Sony Cybershot P200, Nikon Coolpix 5600, Canon Powershot A620, Panasonic LZ2 and many others. In the past few years, was launched a SuperZoom class (10-12x): Canon Powershot S3 IS (launched few days ago), Panasonic FZ30, Sony Cybershot H1, Nikon Coolpix S4. Please keep in mind that the cameras presented here, as examples, are not the only cameras in the class, but are definitely some of the best. Now we enter the area where the cameras are more expensive but their price is well deserved. In Semi-professional class, cameras offer you some capabilities that are not available on previous classes (extended manual control, higher ISO values, better optical quality, faster AF and more). In here we got: Sony Cybershot R1, Nikon Coolpix 8800, Canon Powershot Pro1, etc. The ultimate class of digital cameras is the DSLR class. These cameras have a significant advantage over other digital cameras: you can change the lenses depending on your needs or your budget. This advantage can easily transform into a huge disadvantage if you are not careful about what lenses you choose for your camera or if you do not intend to buy more than one lens, since the some of the semi-professional cameras have great lenses. Also DSLRs have faster start-up time, faster AF, better image quality of ISO for higher values (800-1600-3200), better burst mode because of the bigger buffer memory and other maybe less obvious (like minimum exposure time for example: 1/8000). The DSLR class has 3 sub-classes: Amateur, Enthusiast and Professional. Amateur DSLRs cost under $1000 (body + kit lenses): Nikon D70s, Canon 350D, Konica Minolta Maxxum 5D and others. Enthusiast DSLR have better body building, bigger buffers, and better quality (Canon 30D, Konica Milonlta Maxxum 7D, etc.). The top class professionals include Canon 1Ds MII, Nikon D2x, FujiFilm S3 Pro, etc. These cameras are pretty expensive and aren& 8217;t just for everybody (for example Canon 5D, over $3000 just for the body). After getting the body, there is also the lens problem. In here there is a lot to talk about and the DSLR lens are not the topic of this article. Now that we just reviewed the cameras, and knowing your budget you probably already get your eyes on a model. But our question has not found an answer yet. What is the camera for car events? If you are into photography then you should look into the semi-professional or professional classes since these cameras will meet all of your needs. If you are present at lots of car events where are cars in motion and you want to get the best shots, you may want to consider getting a DSLR, since the burst-rate they offer (3-5-8 fps, depending on the model you get) has no match in the semi-professional class. If you want a decent continuous shooting capabilities and you are not willing to spend 1500+ on camera and lenses (at least as a future plan), you can go for a semi-professional camera with wide angle lenses (for example Sony R1 > 24-120 mm). The wide lenses will help you make great shots from close range with a wide view. And as you try cameras, here are some points to consider: Does the camera fit in your hands comfortably? Can you keep the camera stable enough to avoid camera shake when you take pictures? Are the external controls intuitive and easily accessible? How quickly does the camera turn on and how quickly does it wake up from sleep mode? How quickly does the camera take pictures? In other words, after you press the shutter-release button, how long does it take the camera to actually capture the image? Is the LCD bright enough to view in moderate to bright sunlight? Are the menus easy to navigate, and are options in logical and intuitive groupings? If you& 8217;re a beginning photographer, or prefer to take quick snapshots, does the camera have scene modes appropriate for the scenes you most often photograph? Features to look for Digital cameras sport some very cool features that make it difficult not to get a good picture. New and notable features to look for include: Image stabilization to ensure crisp hand-held images even at slower shutter speeds. An adjustable LCD monitor that rotates for viewing at various angles. One-touch white balance settings to ensure that the color balance is accurate in various types of lighting. Multiple flash modes including night scene flash modes. Adjustable ISO and white balance (balances image color based on the scene light) settings. In-camera or post-capture filters that mimic film-camera type filters. In-camera digital adjustments that allow you to adjust exposure, color saturation, and contrast on the fly. To be able to make the best decision for your needs you need to continue reading, in part 2 I will tell you more about the technical details, that will help you understand the specs of the cameras and compare them keeping in mind your needs and knowing what different values are doing.
More info: Top Speed - Cars and News



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Your Life Depends On This Little Hose Being In Good Shape!

I won t go into details with this job, but I want you to think about it.

Your brakes are very important. Your life depends on them.

When you have to have brakes repaired on your favorite vehicle, don t skimp.

Sure, it looks like all you need is a set of pads, or shoes.

But, if the pads or shoes are wore out, what about the other parts?

I don t recommend having the rotors or drums turned.

I know, a lot of technicians will tell you that you will have better braking if you turn them.

On the small cars with the removable rotors on the front, I have had some turned, and then I had to buy the customer a new set of rotors and pads!

For some reason, the little rotors seem to eat the pads, after you have them turned.

They are not that expensive. Go ahead and replace them if they are not usable.

By that, I mean, if the pads were down to the metal plate and rubbing on the rotor.

Another thing to take into consideration is the rubber line coming from the caliper to the metal line that goes to the master cylinder.

If your vehicle is several years old, those lines are, too.

Those lines tend to deteriorate inside.

With the heat from the outside air, and from the engine, and the rotor when you apply your brakes, the fluid gets rather hot.

If you don t replace those two lines on the front you may have to replace a lot more parts.

The particles from the inside of the hoses will get into the master cylinder and the caliper.

The master cylinder can cause a major malfunction and not apply the brakes when you need them.

See the little child playing ball in the street?

If the particles get into the caliper, they can cause it to "stick" in the outward position.

That could happen, and I ve seen it, when you apply your brake, and release them.

Only thing, the caliper doesn t release.

This causes the piston in the caliper to keep pressure on the pads against the rotor.

It will cause the vehicle to pull to one side upon braking.

It will burn the pads before their time.

It will probably overheat the rotor and cause it to crystallize, causing it to loose its braking power even if you put new pads on it.

It can also cause extreme heat through the system.

Causing the grease in the wheel bearing to melt and run off the bearings.

Then you have a wheel bearing to go out.

Is a $39 hose worth it?

Replace it the next time you have a major brake repair.

Have the master cylinder and brake lines flushed, and new brake fluid added every two or three years.

I don t want to lose a reader just because the brakes failed in a curve with a high-line pole in the way. :-)

Tommy Sessions has been in auto repair since 1970. He publishes Auto Repair Answers Newsletter so you can learn how to keep your vehicle looking new, running safely and efficiently, while you save money and time...also, learn how to avoid shop rip offs. Don t be at the mercy of the dealerships and auto repair shops...they will have more respect for you.
http://www.auto-repair-answers.com



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When Fogs Become a Hindrance to Your Driving

When the fog comes rolling in to your area, you might think this is something that you should not worry about. Children would even love it when this happens because they would feel like they are playing among and amidst the clouds. Even older people love this kind of phenomenon for they are able to have a good relaxing feel around them because fogs oftentimes bring about a cool kind of temperature to everything that it envelopes.
However, on some areas, the fog could get quite heavy and dense that one s visibility is lessened. There are even some instances when the fog is so great that a person could not even see the object right in front of them. When this happens, it is not very advisable for people to move about for they could only bring harm to themselves or to other people. This also goes true for driving.
Driving in the fog is not advisable as according to safety and driving experts. Of course, we all know that driving in the fog could be quite hazardous especially if the conditions are extreme. However, during instances when the fog is not that heavy, one could still drive through it. You should only have to put on your headlights so as to assist you with your visibility.
Your car could also get foggy inside and the very first things that could fog up is your windshield. You can try defrosting it first to get the fog out. Or, so as to be able to reduce the chances of your windshield fogging, you should maintain its cleanliness. You can keep them clean by wiping them down about every two weeks. You can use glass cleaner to do this.
You can also keep out moisture from your car. This moisture could come from various external sources like rain or snow that could come inside your vehicle through your clothes, umbrellas, or shoes. So make sure that you shake them off first before you get inside your car.
Auto Accessories Giant sells Kia accessories and Mini accessories online and these come with low prices. You can access this store any time you choose to and if you do need assistance, Auto Accessories has an expertly-trained customer service support staff to help you out.



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