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Another Happy Customer!

I needed four strut assemblies for a 1999 Ford Taurus. After checking the local auto parts stores, the lowest price I could find was $149 each. RockAuto came in at $55 for each. With shipping the total for four was still less than buying two locally!

Thanks,
Bob in Iowa



Upcoming Events
If you would like your event featured here e-mail with details.

Robbers Cave Fall Foliage Cruise
10/17/2014
Wilburton, OK
e-mail

St. Bernard School 8th Annual Fall Auction
10/17/2014
Indiana, PA
e-mail

Murrieta Rod Run
10/17/2014
Murrieta, CA
e-mail

Tucson Rough Riders 21st Annual Trail Dust Days
10/17/2014
Tucson, AZ
e-mail

Annual Jeeptoberfest Jeep Show
10/18/2014
Belleview, FL
e-mail

14th Annual Gathering of the Faithful Car Show
10/18/2014
Rochester, MA
e-mail

41st Annual Artesian City Car Club Show
10/18/2014
Albany, GA
e-mail

Gearheads Club 6th Annual Open Car Show
10/18/2014
Buda, TX
e-mail

Urbana Halloween Car & Truck Show
10/18/2014
Urbana, IN
e-mail

CMSJA - Quarterly Meeting
10/18/2014
Brandon, MS
e-mail

Ocean Gate EMS Car Show
10/18/2014
Seaside Park, NJ
e-mail

Rebels 25th Annual Car & Truck Show
10/19/2014
Miami, OK
e-mail

Annual Swayze Mill Park Show
10/19/2014
Blairstown, NJ
e-mail

Annual Freedom Park Car Show
10/19/2014
Plymouth, IN
e-mail

Annual Shirley Looney Memorial Car Show
10/25/2014
Mobile, AL
e-mail

Classics on the Green Car Show
10/25/2014
Lumberton, NJ
e-mail

Oshkosh Speed Zone Raceway
10/25/2014
Oshkosh, WI
e-mail

High Rollers Chapter VMCCA Annual Show & Shine
10/25/2014
Las Vegas, NV
e-mail

Alex Scudder Memorial Dirt Drags
10/26/2014
Madison, IN
e-mail

San Antonio Mustang Club Annual Charity Open Car Show
10/26/2014
San Antonio, TX
e-mail

Golden Gears 25th Annual Last Chance Fun Run & Car Show
10/26/2014
Alamogordo, NM
e-mail

Trunk or Treat Car Show
10/26/2014
Hilliard, OH
e-mail

ETSRA 26th Annual Car Show
10/30/2014
El Paso, TX
e-mail

Golden City Car Club Annual Car Show
10/30/2014
Villa Rica, GA
e-mail

Hampton Middle School Car Show
10/31/2014
Hampton, New Brunswick, Canada
e-mail

Annual “Saluting Our Veterans” Open Car & Bike Show
11/1/2014
Asheville, NC
e-mail

Fort Worth VolksFolks Annual Stampede & Roundup
11/1/2014
Fort Worth, TX
e-mail

Hell City Saints Car Club; 5th Annual Blessing of the Rods
11/1/2014
Phoenix, AZ
e-mail

Chester Fall Health Fair & Classic Cruise
11/1/2014
Richburg, SC
e-mail

Spartan Locker Differential Lockers

See what we have from Spartan Locker

RockAuto now offers more Spartan Locker differential lockers by USA Standard Gear. With a locking differential, if one tire loses traction, the other wheel on the axle still receives a full complement of torque that hopefully keeps the vehicle moving. If you are looking for improved traction for your rear wheel drive or four wheel drive Ford, GM, Jeep, Nissan, Toyota, Dana 30/44HD/60 axled truck or even Suzuki Samurai at a great price, look no further than the Spartan Locker. The Spartan Locker is a mechanical locker that installs into a standard differential carrier, replacing the open spider gears. Each Spartan Locker contains a new and stronger center pin.

Installation is relatively easy! The Spartan Locker design excludes thrust washers, instead offering a revolutionary spring and pin mechanism. This allows for a simple installation using Spartan Locker's patented 8-step process (find installation instructions on the "Info" Info button page for your part).

Spartan Locker Differential Lockers

If you need affordable, reliable traction, find your Spartan Locker under the “Drivetrain” category in the RockAuto catalog. The Spartan Locker does not require an installation kit. However, while you are inside the differential housing it may make sense to replace the bearings. Bearing kits can also be found under “Drivetrain.”






Forum of the Month

TaurusClub.com
TaurusClub.com is a forum dedicated to all things Ford Taurus. We are a knowledgeable community comprised of Ford Taurus owners and other car enthusiasts. Find thousands of topics related to general Taurus discussion, technical discussion, generation specific discussion, and so much more. Join today and start asking questions, talking and forming new friendships with your fellow Taurus Enthusiasts.


If you are the administrator or member of a forum and you would like to see your website featured in an upcoming newsletter and receive a discount code to share with your members, contact cynthia@rockauto.com.





Repair Mistakes & Blunders

Ouch!

In 1980 I purchased my first car, a 1964 Ford Ranchero. Like many teenagers, I decided that the AM radio was not sufficient for my listening needs, let alone the listening needs of the hundreds of girls I was sure would flock to my car for a ride. The previous owner had installed speakers in the doors, so I hustled on down to the swap meet and bought an under dash cassette player.

I chose to connect the unit’s power wire to a wire that was always hot so I wouldn’t have to turn the ignition key to ACC to play music. So under the dashboard I went with circuit tester in hand. As I lay on the floor pan, half in and half out of the car (you’ve been there), I probed a wire and the tester bulb lit up. I turned the ignition to ACC, OFF, and ON; the tester bulb stayed lit. Perfect! I connected the cassette player’s power wire to the wire I had found and completed the installation.

Now it was time to go to town and show off my hard rocking tunes, as well as my incredible automotive electrical skill. I sat in the driver’s seat and popped in my trusty Beach Boys cassette tape. The music was so beautiful; it might as well have been Beethoven. I started the car, and the soundtrack of my success played on. Overjoyed, I was ready to leave the house, and I shut the car door.

The music stopped.

Maybe the power wire fell off? I opened the door to look, and the music started again. It must have been a loose connection.

I shut the door. The music stopped.

Open the door – music starts. Close the door – music stops.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, was how I learned which wire operated the dome light.


Greg in Washington



Tell us about your most infamous auto repair blunder or unconventional fix. Use your woe to help others avoid similar mistakes or share off-the-wall solutions that worked (at least for a while!). Please e-mail your story to flamur@rockauto.com. Include your mailing address and if you would like a RockAuto T-Shirt (please let us know your shirt size) or Hat if we publish your story. See the T-Shirts and Hats under Tools & Universal Parts in the catalog. The story will be credited using only your first name and your vague geographic location (state, province, country, continent, etc.) so you can remain semi-anonymous!






Automotive Trivia

Automotive Trivia

What is the major difference between a "semi float" and "full float" solid rear axle?

A. Semi float axle designs include air chambers that can help the vehicle (for example, the original VW Beetle) temporarily float in water. Full float axles have blown aluminum housings and are packed with foam. They are used on military/specialized vehicles that need to remain buoyant indefinitely.

B. Semi float rear axles are attached to the car body/frame at three or more points such as leaf spring shackles, panhard rod, shock absorbers, etc. Full float axles are connected to the vehicle body/frame with only two large coil springs.

C. Semi float rear axles have axle shafts that both support the weight of the vehicle and transmit torque from the differential to turn the wheels. Older design rear wheel drive passenger cars and most light duty trucks have solid, semi float axles. Full float axles have axle shafts that only transmit torque from the differential to turn the wheels. The weight of the vehicle is supported by the axle housing (the steel tube and other structure surrounding the axle shafts). Large trucks that haul heavy loads typically have full float, solid axles. Front wheel drive and modern independent rear suspension axle shafts are similar to full float, solid axles in that they transmit torque but do not bear vehicle weight.


Answer below






Used Car Buying Guide

RockAuto

Friends were shopping for a used car this month and sought my advice. They apparently think having a fleet of old cars is a sign of wisdom rather than a sign I need to see a psychiatrist. Below is a list of shopping tips I thought they might not already know.

The list is just a start. RockAuto carries the Used Car Buyer’s Guide by Haynes that covers the basics as well as tips for advanced used car shoppers. The RockAuto Repair Index is a handy (free) tool RockAuto software engineers created to make it easier to compare the cost of replacement parts for two used cars. Simply looking at the parts available for the prospective car in the RockAuto catalog can reveal more about how easy the car will be to maintain over the years. For example, clicking on a part number shows a list of other cars the part fits. If the car shares a lot of parts with other cars and model years, then it should be less costly to keep on the road. Vehicle specific online club forums can also be a good source of information on any chronic problems affecting certain models, engines, transmissions or other systems.

Clicking on a part number shows a list of other cars the part fits
Clicking on a part number shows a list of other cars the part fits
  • Does the sellers' story match the car’s VIN history (reported by Carfax, etc.)? Has the car spent time in areas that have experienced major floods (Louisiana, New York, etc.)? Why are they selling the car? Who services the car? Do they have repair receipts? Are they showing the car at their house or do they not want the buyer to know where they live? Shop the sellers and the car’s history as much as the car. If the sellers’ story does not make sense, then I would walk away.
  • Does the car smell super nice inside? That may be bad. Has the interior been doused with a perfumed product to cover up a permanent stink (vomit, rodent droppings, cigarette residue...)?
  • Ask about engine oil. Using the weight (0W20, 5W30, etc.) specified by the manufacturer is extra important on many newer cars because the oil does a lot more than simply lubricate and cool the engine. Engine oil might run the cylinder deactivation system (Chrysler), control the tension on the timing chain (VW) or who knows what else. If the owners did not regularly change the oil or were careless about the oil weight used, then I would run away.
  • Old tires might need to be replaced sooner than new ones, but old tires show the condition of the car’s suspension and steering. Tires worn unevenly might indicate bushings, engine mounts, ball joints or other parts need to be replaced, or that the car has been in a wreck and correct wheel alignment is now impossible.
  • Look for spots on the ground where the car is normally parked. Water that dripped out of the A/C evaporator is good, but chemical stains indicate the transmission, engine, brakes, steering and/or cooling system are leaking and need work.
  • Watch the dash lights when the key is first turned but before the car starts. Do the ABS (brakes), oil, temperature, airbag, TPMS (tire pressure), etc. warning lights all briefly light up like they should or are some warning lights not working or intentionally disabled?

The last tip is one my friends reminded me of. Used cars are all individuals, not commodities like new cars. The more flexible the buyer is about everything from paint color to even the brand, the more likely they are to get a car that matches their most important needs (reliability, price, towing capacity, number of seats, performance...). The friends considered Fords, VWs, 1964 Cadillac ambulances and more. (OK, maybe I was the one excited about the ambulance!) They ended up buying the right car for them from people they trusted that just happened to be a ten year old Infiniti.


Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

To read more of Tom's articles, click this link and choose from story titles on the Newsletter Archives page.






Jason's 2004 Monte Carlo SS
Jason's 2004 Monte Carlo SS

I am the proud owner of a 2004 Monte Carlo SS. I have owned this car since fall of 2008. This car was originally purchased with the intent of having it be my primary vehicle to drive, but it would be stored winters until my current car failed.

My previous car outlived my expectations, and as a result, I began modifying my Monte Carlo, both in performance and appearance. By the time I needed to part ways with the car this Monte Carlo was originally meant to replace, I had decided to buy a different car to use as my “daily driver.” This Monte Carlo has not seen winter roads since its purchase six years ago.

I have been using parts from RockAuto now for a number of years with all of my cars. Over the years, I have been very pleased not just by the RockAuto prices, but with the friendly and efficient work of the customer service staff. Parts from RockAuto such as Delphi Oxygen Sensors, Timken Hubs, Moog Tie Rods, ACDelco/Bendix Brake Rotors/Pads, and Fel-Pro/Dorman Intake Manifold parts have played a major role in both modifying and maintaining my Monte Carlo.


Thanks,
Jason in Ohio



Share Your Hard Work

Do you purchase parts from RockAuto? If so, RockAuto would like to give you the opportunity to have your car or truck possibly featured in one (or occasionally more) of our publications such as the monthly newsletter, collector magnets or RockAuto social media. New, old, import, domestic, daily driver, trailer queen, classic, antique, we want to see them all! Please e-mail flamur@rockauto.com with your vehicle's history, interesting details, your favorite images and what parts from RockAuto you have used.






Let RockAuto Help

Let RockAuto Help

Are you organizing a car show or other auto related event? From goody bag stuffers to gift certificates...RockAuto can help. We can even publicize your event in our newsletter.

Just send an e-mail to marketing@rockauto.com with information about your show.






Automotive Trivia Answer

Automotive Trivia

What is the major difference between a "semi float" and "full float" solid rear axle?

A. Semi float axle designs include air chambers that can help the vehicle (for example, the original VW Beetle) temporarily float in water. Full float axles have blown aluminum housings and are packed with foam. They are used on military/specialized vehicles that need to remain buoyant indefinitely.

B. Semi float rear axles are attached to the car body/frame at three or more points such as leaf spring shackles, panhard rod, shock absorbers, etc. Full float axles are connected to the vehicle body/frame with only two large coil springs.


Answer: C. Semi float rear axles have axle shafts that both support the weight of the vehicle and transmit torque from the differential to turn the wheels. Older design rear wheel drive passenger cars and most light duty trucks have solid, semi float axles. Full float axles have axle shafts that only transmit torque from the differential to turn the wheels. The weight of the vehicle is supported by the axle housing (the steel tube and other structure surrounding the axle shafts). Large trucks that haul heavy loads typically have full float, solid axles. Front wheel drive and modern independent rear suspension axle shafts are similar to full float, solid axles in that they transmit torque but do not bear vehicle weight.


Back up to trivia question




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