| Fascia |
In
American terminology, fascia is the front and rear body panels, or
bumper coverings above the bumpers of an automobile. Usually painted
to match the color of the vehicle. The flat panel where the license
plate mounts is considered a rear fascia. In British terminology,
fascia means the instrument panel. |
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| Fast
back |
An
automobile body style with a roof that gradually slopes downward from
the windshield. Many fastback vehicles are hatchbacks, but not all.
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| Fast
idle |
A
carburetor setting that maintains a faster engine idle speed when
the engine is cold to prevent it from stalling and facilitate faster
warm-up. It usually consists of a cam that is attached to the choke
that holds the accelerator partially open. Once the engine has reached
operating temperature, the choke opens and backs the cam off the throttle,
allowing the engine to idle at normal speed. Fuel injected engines
achieve fast idle via a valve or solenoid that is activated by the
computer which monitors coolant temperature, ambient air temperature,
engine speed/loads, etc.. |
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| Fatigue |
Failure
of a metal, plastic or other material from repeated stress. |
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| Faux
top |
An
artificial convertible top usually made from vinyl or cloth, sometimes
padded, stretched over and glued to the vehicle's roof. The treatment
became popular in the 1970's and 80's when cash-strapped domestic
automakers add a sense of luxury to automobiles. Also referred to
as vinyl top, cloth top and rag top automobiles. Three main top
styles include landau, brougham and cabriolet -- old names for carriages
now used to describe the various styles of customized automobile
roof covers
Full
top or Cabriolet roof- also referred to as a full-top, covers the
vehicle's entire roof and rear pillars and sometimes the top of
the door frames.
Half
top, Landau or Brougham roof- Covers the rear pillars and roughly
the rear half of the roof.
Quarter
top or Carriage roof -
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| Feathering |
For
tires - a tire wear pattern where the tread wears in a slanted manor
due to excessive tow in or tow out.
Autobody
- A technique used in auto refinishing that produces a smooth paint
surface where paint meets bare metal or primer. Involves careful
sanding of the paint or primer edge using fine sandpaper to produce
a gentle and indiscernible slope where the paint meets bare metal.
Once the paint has been properly feathered, It can be primed and
sanded so no discernible paint edge can be seen after the repair.
Also called "feather-edging".
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| Federalized
version |
A
term for a foreign-built automobile modified to be legal for sale
in the United States. Consists of meeting U.S. emissions and safety
standards. |
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| Federal
version |
A
vehicle that conforms to U.S. emission standards but not necessarily
tougher standards such as those required by California. Such vehicles
are often referred to as a "49-state" car. |
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| Feedback
mixture control |
Part
of a computer-controlled fuel system where an oxygen sensor senses
the amount of oxygen in the exhaust gasses and sends a signal back
to the computer, which in turn varies the air/fuel ratio to produce
the best mix for proper combustion. The feedback mixture control system
guarantees precise combustion ratios which are necessary for the proper
operation of catalytic converters. |
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| Feeler
gauge |
A
tool consisting of strips of metal of precise thickness' that mechanics
and engineers use for measuring the clearance between parts. Some
of the strips can be very thin, such as .0004 of an inch. Common uses
of a feeler gauge is measuring and setting sparkplug gap, setting
the gap of ignition points and measuring piston ring end gap. |
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| Fender |
The
steel or fiberglass body panel mounted over the front wheel of a vehicle.
Sometimes called a quarter panel, but quarter panel is mostly used
to describe rear fenders. |
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| Fender
flares |
Narrow
factory or aftermarket body panels usually constructed of durable
rubber or ABS plastic which can be mounted around the opening of a
vehicle's fenders in order to increase the width of the fender or
provide a more aggressive stance. Can be used as a design accent but
their main purpose is to prevent mud and rocks from being thrown up
onto the windshield and body panels when wider than stock tires are
installed. Most states have strict limits how far tires can protrude
from the fenders. Installing fender flares helps off-roaders comply
with local and state laws. |
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| Fender
skirts |
Small outer panels which cover rear wheel openings.
Often found on luxury automobiles and some street rods. |
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| Ferrous
metal |
Metal
that contains some iron. |
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| F-head
engine |
A
discontinued engine design where one valve is mounted in the engine
block next to the piston, and another valve mounted in the cylinder
head, usually above the piston. |
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| Fiberglass |
A
material widely used in automobiles to make body panels and other
parts such as interior parts. Fiberglass is made of ultra-thin threadlike
glass filaments mixed with plastic resin to form a sturdy, flexible,
yet non-corrosive material. The 1953 Chevrolet Corvette was the first
highly-publicized production vehicle to feature a completely fiberglass
body. |
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| Filter |
A
device that removes large particles from air or fluids. Filters used
in an automobile include air filters, oil filters and fuel filters.
Most filters contain a pleated paper-like material made of a special
fiber matrix which traps large particles suspended in air or fluid.
Filters play an important role in reducing abrasive dust and other
particles which can increase friction and thus engine wear. Filters
should be changed periodically. |
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| Fin |
A
thin body panel used on race cars to help improve aerodynamics or
handling.
In
a radiator, thin metal strips or "fins" connect between
radiator cooling veins to help conduct heat from the coolant flowing
through the radiator into the atmosphere.
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| Final
drive ratio |
The
ratio between the transmission output shaft (or driveshaft) and the
axle speed. Generally the final drive ratio is determined by ring
and pinion gearing in a vehicle's differential. If the driveshaft
makes 4 turns for each turn of the axle, the final drive ratio is
4:1. Installing differential gears with more or less teeth can change
the final drive ratio. Racers and off-road enthusiasts commonly change
differential gearing to produce a final drive ratio that suits their
performance needs. |
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| Finish |
Commonly
used to describe the paint on a vehicle. Includes factors such as
smoothness, gloss, and luster. Often coupled with the term 'fit' which
describes how well body panels fit together, evenness at the gaps
between panels. The quality of a vehicle's fit and finish is a way
to describe the overall quality of construction and attention to detail.
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| Firewall |
The
metal panel between the engine compartment and passenger compartment.
Originally to protect passengers from a potential fire in the engine
compartment. |
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| Firing
order |
The
sequence that each of an engine's spark plugs fires. Important because
a spark must occur at a precise moment when the piston is nearing
the top of it's travel. If the spark occurs slightly too early or
slightly too late, performance will lack. If spark plug wires become
mixed up, say, during a spark plug change, the spark will occur at
the wrong time and the engine will not run/perform smoothly. Firing
order numbers are usually cast on most engine's intake manifold to
avoid confusion. An example for a particular GM V8 is: 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2
(distributor rotating clockwise). Also see Four-stroke engine (below). |
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| Fit |
How
well parts and components align. Generally applied to how well body
panels fit together, that the gaps between the doors, fenders, hood
are narrow and even. Often used with "finish" to describe
the quality of a vehicle's paint. Together fit and finish describe
the overall quality of construction and attention to detail. |
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| Five
link suspension |
An
independent rear suspension design originated by Mercedes Benz that
uses five connecting arms to support each wheel. |
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| Fixed
caliper |
A
disc brake caliper that remains stationary relative to the brake rotor.
Fixed calipers usually have pistons mounted in each side of the caliper
and apply braking pressure evenly on both sides of the rotor. Floating
calipers, are another type of caliper that often use one piston. When
the brakes are applied, the caliper slides laterally in a groove to
apply pressure to both sides of a brake rotor. One advantage of a
fixed caliper is more precise braking. |
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| Flame
front |
The
leading edge of a burning air fuel charge as it burns throughout the
combustion chamber. End gas is a term used to describe the last portion
of the burning air/fuel charge. |
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| Flange |
A
f flat plate welded onto the end of a pipe or bracket so it can be
bolted to another device. Exhaust pipes use a flange to bolt to a
catalytic converter or exhaust manifold. |
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| Flash |
Excess
material that occurs around the edges of cast materials from the casting
process. |
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| Flash
point |
The
point where the vapors of a flammable liquid burst into flame (flash)
but do not continuously burn when an open flame is brought near. |
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| Flat
engine |
An
engine where the banks of cylinders lie 180 degrees opposite of each
other on the same plane. The Volkswagen engine used in the original
VW Beetle was a flat engine. |
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| Flathead
engine |
An
engine design where the valves are located in the block allowing the
use of a low-profile or "flat" cylinder head. Also called
an L-head or side-valve engine because the combustion chamber protrudes
past the edge of the piston in the shape of an L. |
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| Flat
spot |
A
flat area on a tire's tread usually caused by a skid.
Also,
a term that describes an engine hesitation at some point during
acceleration.
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| Float |
A
device that is lighter than the liquids it is immersed in. In automobiles,
a float is used in the fuel tank and carburetor. In the fuel tank,
the float is connected to a rheostat by a rod. As fuel in the tank
empties, the float lowers altering the voltage of the rheostat thereby
changing the position of the fuel gauge needle.
A
float is also used in a carburetor to sustain the level of fuel
in the carburetor's fuel bowl. When the fuel level rises to the
appropriate level, a valve connected to the float, shuts off fuel
flow.
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|
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| Floating
caliper |
A
disc brake caliper that slides (floats) on a groove as it clamps against
brake rotors. Most floating calipers use one piston on one side of
the caliper. As the piston pushes on one side of the rotor, the brake
slides and squeezes the surface of the other side of the rotor. Also
called a Sliding caliper. |
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| Float
level |
The
adjustment of the float in a carburetor's fuel bowl which regulates
the level of fuel. Adjusting the float level can increase or decrease
the level of fuel in a carburetor. After rebuilding a carburetor it
is imperative to inspect and adjust for proper float level. If a float
is set too low the carburetor will have too little fuel in it's fuel
bowl. If it is set too high, excess fuel might spill over causing
fuel to run out the overflow, or into the motor (causing flooding). |
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| Flood |
Pumping
excess fuel into a cold engine's cylinders making it difficult to
start. Flooding an engine coats the spark plug electrodes with fuel
reducing their ability to produce a good spark. In severe cases, flooding
can wash the thin film of oil off the cylinder walls reducing engine
compression. |
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| Floorboard |
Technically
speaking, the angled part of the floor near the passengers feed between
the lower edge of the firewall and the front of the horizontal floorpan.
Also called Toeboard. |
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| Floor
mats |
Pieces
of molded rubber or carpeting that are meant to lay on the floorboards
to protect the vehicle's carpeting or mat. Usually come in complementary
interior colors. The driver's carpeted mat usually contains a heel
pad to prevent premature wear beneath the accelerator region. |
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| Floorpan |
The
flat lower part of the passenger compartment where passenger's feet
rest. From a structural standpoint, the floorpan is important because
it connects the chassis side rails as well as the front and rear panels.
On unibody vehicles it is provides necessary strength to the chassis. |
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| Floor
shift |
A
transmission shift lever that protrudes through the vehicle floor
(as opposed to being attached to the steering column). |
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| Flow-through
ventilation |
A
ventilation system used in all modern vehicles that routes outside
air through the vehicle's passenger compartment and exits through
vents in the rear of the vehicle. Fresh air ventilation reduces driver
fatigue. |
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| Flush
glass |
A
design concept where the surface of the glass is positioned at the
same, or very close to, the height of body panels in order to reduce
turbulence, noise and aerodynamic drag. |
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| Flush
headlight |
A
headlight usually made from composite materials that is mounted near
the surface of surrounding panels to reduce aerodynamic drag. |
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| Flywheel |
A
heavy metal wheel that attaches to the crankshaft of an engine that
smoothes out an engine by reducing the sudden increasing/decreasing
of speed to the crankshaft when each cylinder fires. The flywheel
also hooks to the clutch and helps transmits power to the transmission.
The ring gear, a toothed gear that the starter uses to turn the motor,
attaches to the flywheel. |
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| Follower |
Another
term for valve lifter. See Cam follower and Valve lifter. |
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| Foot-pound |
A
unit of work or energy equal to the amount of energy required to raise
a weight of one pound a distance of one foot. Not to be confused with
Pound-foot, a measurement of torque. |
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| Footprint |
The
area of the tire that actually touches the road surface. For most
automobiles, it's roughly the size of a dollar bill for each tire.
Also called Contact patch. Also see Airing down. |
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| Forced
induction |
Forcing
air into an engine's cylinder, rather than letting it draw in air
for the purposes of increasing performance. Usually done by using
a turbocharger or supercharger. Forcing air into the cylinders produces
a denser air/fuel charge which yields increased performance and more
power. Can also be accomplished by use of a hood scoop. Also see Turbocharger,
Supercharger, Hood scoop, Shaker hood, and Cowl induction. |
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| Ford
Motor Company |
A
U.S. auto manufacturer founded by Henry Ford in Detroit, MI in 1903.
Also owns Lincoln, Mercury, Jaguar, Land Rover, and a percentage of
Mazda, Currently the worlds third largest automaker. |
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| Forge |
A
process of making metal parts by pressing or hammering molten metal
into die cavities. Parts made of such metals are much stronger and
less prone to fatigue. Crankshafts, camshafts, connecting rods and
suspension parts are usually forged. |
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| 49-state
car |
A
vehicle that meets U.S. emission federal standards but may not meet
tougher California standards. Therefore, such car is said to be salable
in 49 states. |
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| Fouled
|
A
spark plug where the electrodes are coated with deposits or fuel reducing
it's ability to produce a good (or any) spark. |
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| Four-banger |
A
four cylinder motor or vehicle with one. |
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| Four-barrel
carburetor |
A
carburetor that has four air chambers (venturies). Typically can produce
smoother and more power during acceleration. For economy purposes,
many four barrel carburetors are divided into two sets of two barrels:
Primary and Secondary. The primary jets provide sufficient fuel during
normal driving and cruising. During acceleration or passing, when
fuel demands are high, additional fuel is delivered into the airstream
from the secondary jets. |
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| Four-stroke
cycle |
The
fundamental combustion process by which virtually all automobile (and
other) engines operate. The process consists of four cycles or piston
strokes -- Intake, Compression, Combustion and Exhaust. Each stroke
is the movement of the piston either up or down in it's cylinder.
During the first cycle, the intake stroke, the intake valve is open
and the exhaust valve is closed as the piston moves from the top of
the cylinder to the bottom drawing in an air/fuel mix. The second
stroke (compression stroke) occurs next as the intake valve closes
(exhaust still closed) and the piston travels upward from the bottom
of it's cylinder to the top compressing the air fuel mix and making
it highly combustible. During the third stroke (power stroke), the
spark plug fires, igniting the air/fuel mix creating an explosion
inside the combustion chamber. The piston is forced downward from
the top of the cylinder to the bottom. This is the only stroke that
produces power. Then the fourth stroke (exhaust stroke) begins --
the exhaust valve opens and the piston travels upward expelling the
combusted gases. The cycle is repeated continuously for each cylinder.
An explosion occurs in each cylinder every two revolutions of the
crankshaft. |
|
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| Four-valve
engine |
An
engine that uses four valves per cylinder -- typically two intake
valves and two exhaust valves. The advantage is that it increases
the total valve area in the combustion chamber allowing the motor
to "breathe" better, thereby increasing it's efficiency
-- output. |
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| Four-wheel
drift |
A
driving technique used commonly by race car drivers that involves
negotiating a turn in a controlled four wheel skid thereby allowing
the vehicle to maintain a higher rate of speed. Careful modulation
to the steering and throttle are required to keep the car at the limit
of adhesion without going into a skid. |
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| Four-wheel
drive |
A
drive system where power is directed to all four wheels. With more
drive wheels contacting the surface, traction and driveability is
greatly increased, particularly in low-traction conditions such
as mud, snow or ice.
All-wheel
drive is the similar in principal to four-wheel drive with the distinction
that most four-wheel drive systems can be switched between two and
four-wheel drive, while all-wheel drive systems are typically in
the four-wheel drive mode all the time.
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|
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| Four
wheel steering |
A
steering system where both front and rear wheels turn sideways during
steering. The advantage of four-wheel steering is a significantly
tighter steering radius compared to two wheel steering used on most
vehicles. Particularly beneficial for long wheelbase vehicles. Also
referred to as All-wheel steering. |
|
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| Frame |
The
main structure of a vehicle containing load-carrying beams which support
the engine, drivetrain and body panels. Older vehicle's, some SUV's
and pickup trucks use a separate frame and body structure. Most modern
cars use a unitized structure where the frame and body are integrated. |
|
|
| Frame
horns |
The
part of the frame that sticks out past the radiator support. Usually
used for mounting the bumper on. On vintage automobiles, it's the
part of the frame that sticks out past the front fenders also used
to mount the front springs mount to (also called dumb irons).. |
|
|
| Free
play |
A
term normally associated with clutch adjustment. The distance a clutch
pedal moves before it begins separating the clutch disc from the flywheel
and clutch plate. A small amount of freeplay is desired to prevent
ensure the clutch is fully engaged, and to prevent drivers who ride
the pedal from prematurely wearing out the clutch disc. |
|
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| Free
radius |
The
radius of the part of the wheel that does not deflect (bulge) under
load. A horizontal measurement of the wheel through it's centerline
is it's free radius. |
|
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| Freewheel |
Rotating
or moving without any braking resistance. A one-way clutch or drive
mechanism can use a freewheeling drive mechanism to drive a gear in
one direction but the gear can spin freely in the other direction.
A common example is a starter drive. Some older transmissions were
of the freewheeling type. No engine braking would occur when the driver's
foot was let off the accelerator pedal. |
|
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| Freeze
plug |
A
dish-shaped plug made of steel or brass that can be driven into a
bore and seals tightly. Commonly used on the sides of engine blocks
to plug casting holes that are also used as water passages and also
on carburetors and fuel injection devices. Also called Core Plugs,
Frost Plugs or Freeze plugs. The name Freeze Plugs comes from the
tendency of the plugs to deform if water or coolant in the cylinder
block freezes -- the plugs expand or pop out of place. However, this
is a common misconception, the intention of the "Frost"
plugs is to seal casting holes not prevent engine damage from freezing
coolant. |
|
|
| Friction
circle |
A
graphical representation of a tire's available traction during acceleration,
braking, cornering or any combination, used by engineers and racers.
If a tire is using all it's available traction for cornering, no traction
is available for braking or acceleration. If braking were to occur
while the tire is at it's limit of adhesion, it would go into a skid.
If a tire is using all of it's available traction for braking, no
cornering can occur unless it "steals" some of the cornering
traction. A race car driver that can keep his vehicle's tires near
the outer edge of the friction circle will be faster than other drivers
that fall further inside the circle. |
|
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| Friction
disc |
See
clutch disc |
|
|
| Friction
horsepower |
The
amount of power an engine losses from driving itself. Power is absorbed
at various points including, mechanical friction (moving pistons,
rotating cam/crankshaft, etc.), power required to drive the oil pump,
camshaft and distributor as well as power required to produce compression. |
|
|
| Frontal
area |
The
area of a vehicle's front end. Important for aerodynamic reasons.
The smaller area of a vehicle's front end, the less of a "hole"
it needs to poke in the air and lower air resistance. Lower aerodynamic
drag allows engineers to use smaller engines and adjust gearing for
increased fuel economy. |
|
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| Front
engine |
A
design concept used with most vehicles where the engine is positioned
slightly ahead of the front wheel centerline. This results in front
weight bias which produces understeer. Understeer makes a vehicle's
handling and cornering more predictable than a vehicle with oversteer. |
|
|
| Front
mid-engine |
Positioning
the engine within the vehicle's wheelbase in the front of the car
but behind the centerline of the front wheels. The most common mid-engine
placement strategy is to put the motor being behind the passenger
compartment but ahead of the rear wheel centerline. But some manufacturers
(i.e. Mazda RX-7) put the engine between the passenger compartment
and the front axle. Mid-engine vehicles have more even weight bias
than front engine designs which results in more nimble handling. |
|
|
| Front-wheel
drive |
A
drive system where engine power is sent to the front wheels. Most
modern cars are front wheel drive. |
|
|
| FRP |
See
Fiberglass reinforced plastic |
|
|
| Fuel/air
ratio |
The
ratio of the mass of air to the mass of fuel supplied to an engine.
From a chemical standpoint, a specific amount of air is necessary
to completely burn all carbon and hydrogen in a given amount of fuel
and produce carbon dioxide and water with no excess oxygen remaining.
More commonly referred to as Air-fuel ratio. |
|
|
| Fuel
cap |
A
cover which screws onto the fuel filler neck and keeps dirt and debris
from entering the fuel tank. On modern automobiles, the fuel cap prevents
vapors from escaping the fuel tank. A locking gas cap, prevents tampering.
Also called Gas cap. |
|
|
| Fuel
consumption |
The
amount of fuel used divided by the number of miles driven. Usually
referred to as "gas mileage". In Europe, it is liters of
fuel used per 100 kilometers. |
|
|
| Fuel
door |
A
small hinged panel, usually painted body color, which, when closed,
covers a recessed fuel cap. Some fuel doors can be locked shut to
guard against stolen gasoline. |
|
|
| Fuel
door release |
A
lever or switch, usually mounted in the passenger compartment that
remotely unlatches a locking fuel door. Allows the driver to conveniently
unlock and open a locking fuel door from the inside of the passenger
compartment without using a key. Can be a lever-controlled cable or
switch-operated electric solenoid. |
|
|
| Fuel
filler neck |
The
narrow stretch of pipe on the side of the vehicle where the fuel cap
fits and fuel is added. May be a long steel pipe that extends to the
fuel tank or be a short segment of pipe mounted to the body panel
that connects to fuel tank via hoses. |
|
|
| Fuel
filter |
A
device installed in a vehicle's fuel line that removes particles and
impurities from gasoline which could possibly clog passages in the
carburetor or fuel injection system. Nearly every vehicle uses a fuel
filter. Must be replaced periodically. For more information, see Filter
(above). |
|
|
| Fuel
injection |
A
fuel delivery system that uses a pump and fuel injectors to introduce
fuel into the airstream to produce an air/fuel mix rather than using
a carburetor.
There
are four types of fuel injection systems: 1) Direct injection -
fuel is sprayed directly into the combustion chamber. Used primarily
on commercial diesel motors (semis). 2) Pre-chamber injection -
fuel is injected into a chamber above or next to the cylinder's
combustion chamber (used on almost all automotive diesel engines).
3) Throttle body injection - a carburetor like device (throttle
body) houses one or two fuel injectors that supplies fuel to all
cylinders. Fuel is sprayed into the passing airstream in a similar
method to how a carburetor delivers fuel, but more precise. 4) Port
injection, often called Multi-port fuel injection - uses individual
fuel injectors for each cylinder and sprays the fuel into each cylinder's
intake runner near the intake valve.
Electronic
fuel injection systems used on most automobiles and light trucks
use an electrically-driven fuel pump (typically mounted inside or
near the fuel tank) to maintain constant fuel pressure. Throttle
body injection system supplies a continuous flow of fuel to all
cylinders. Sequential and multi-port fuel injection systems electromechanically
open each fuel injector timed precisely to the intake valve opening.
|
|
|
| Fuel
injector |
A
device used in fuel injection systems that sprays a metered amount
of fuel into an engine's airstream to produce an air/fuel mix which
is then burned in the combustion chamber. Injectors are electromechanically
operated to adjust fuel amounts. |
|
|
| Fuel
line |
The
pipe or tube used to transport fuel from the fuel tank to the engine.
Can be made of steel, rubber or plastic. |
|
|
| Fuel
pump |
A
device used to transfer fuel from the fuel tank to the carburetor
or fuel injection system. Pumps can be mechanically or electrically
driven. A mechanical pump is mounted to the engine and uses a lever
that reciprocates from a rotating cam (on the camshaft). Used mostly
with older, carbureted vehicles.
Electrically
driven pumps are used mostly with fuel injections systems. Electric
fuel pumps can be pusher-pumps that are located inside the fuel
tank, or suction pumps located outside but near the tank and draw
fuel out of the tank. Both supply constant fuel pressure to the
fuel system. The gentle whine of an electric fuel pump can often
be heard as the ignition key is turned. Electric fuel pumps generally
employ an inertia switch as a safety measure that cuts power to
the pump in the event of a collision.
|
|
|
| Fuel
rail |
A
fuel line used on multi-port injection systems which runs the length
of an engine's intake manifold and supplies fuel to the injectors.
Resembles a rail. |
|
|
| Fuel
system |
The
system that delivers fuel to the engine. Includes the fuel tank fuel
lines, fuel pump, fuel filter and fuel injection system (or carburetor
if a carbureted engine). |
|
|
| Fuel
tank |
A
container made of metal or plastic typically mounted to a vehicle's
chassis for use of storing fuel until needed by the engine. A fuel
filler neck extends from the fuel tank to the side or rear of the
vehicle for inserting fuel. |
|
|
| Fuel
tank selector valve |
A
valve that allows switching between multiple fuel tanks. Commonly
found on pickup trucks with dual tanks. Can be a floor-mounted manual
lever, or dash mounted electric switch which operates an under-vehicle
solenoid operated selector valve. |
|
|
| Full-floating
axle |
An
axle housing design where the drive axle does not support any weight
of the vehicle. Most axle housing designs used on light trucks and
sport utility vehicles support vehicle weight as well as drive the
wheels. At the outer ends of a full-floating axle are wheel bearings
which a hub and wheel mount to. The bearings carry the weight. A drive
axle protrudes through the center of the wheel bearings and connects
to the hub. This is a stronger axle design, one that is used on all
large semi trucks and many heavy-duty 3/4 ton and larger pickup trucks.
Also used on race cars because if an axle should break the wheel won't
fall off. Another nice feature of a full-floating axle design is that
the axle can be unbolted and removed from the vehicle without removing
the wheel or even jacking up the vehicle. |
|
|
| Full-flow
oil filter |
A
type of oil filtration system found on modern vehicles where all oil
pumped through the engine must first flow through the oil filter without
a bypass. For more information, see Bypass filter. |
|
|
| Full
power |
Slang
that describes a vehicle with many power accessories such as power
windows, door locks, seats, cruise control, etc. Usually applied to
classic cars where power accessories make the vehicle particularly
desirable and valuable. Not associated with engine power. |
|
|
| Fuse |
A
device that contains a small piece of wire that melts or "blows"
if excessive current flows through it. Designed to prevent the circuit
from being overloaded. |
|
|
| Fuse
box |
A
box-shaped device usually mounted under the dash or in the engine
compartment that contains the vehicles fuses. Usually a main junction
where a thick group of wires come together. Also called Fuse block. |
|
|
| Fusible
link |
A
fuse soldered to or placed in a series with a wire designed to protect
a particular circuit from damage should it become overloaded. |
|
|
| FWD |
See
Front-wheel drive and Four-wheel drive. |
