Posted on 10/12/2025
There are some boots that don't come in a shoe box and aren't worn on your feet. They are called axle or CV boots, and they can be important parts for many vehicles. That CV stands for constant velocity. CV axles are mainly used in front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive vehicles. They're also used in some rear-wheel drive vehicles with independent suspensions. They have two CV joints, one inner and one outer, placed between the axle and the drive wheels. That way the vehicle's engine power can drive the wheels, no matter what angle they are. They also adjust for the different speeds wheels turn as they go around corners. Because roads are full of all sorts of hazards (dirt, oil, water, grime), these CV joints need to be protected. They also have grease in them to keep the bearings moving smoothly. That's the job of the rubber boots that are supposed to keep that debris out. These CV or axle boots are made of rubber or plastic and usu ... read more
Posted on 10/5/2025
If you have a vehicle with an automatic transmission, you probably never think about gear shifting. When motor vehicles were invented, all of them had to be shifted manually. But that wonderful self-shifting transmission, referred to these days as simply an “automatic,” changed everything. Automatic transmissions have a lot of moving parts, and they are bathed in a fluid that keeps them lubricated and cool. That fluid also is vital to the whole gear shifting process. As you might imagine, the longer that fluid does its job, the more chance it has to pick up some contaminants. Sometimes a leak will spring up in an automatic transmission. Dirty transmission fluid or not enough of it will both create problems. It may cause your Check Engine light to come on, or your transmission may run rough and make strange noises. The best strategy is not to let it get to this point. That means you should have your transmission fluid replaced at regular i ... read more