RockAuto and PowerNation TV are at it again. Win a one-of-a-kind 1968 Jeepster Commando built by Ian Johnson, straight from the Xtreme Off Road shop! This hardcore-ready Jeep is loaded with performance upgrades like custom suspension, 40” tires and a complete drivetrain upgrade featuring a modern Jeep 4-liter straight six. From the fuel pump in the back to the radiator out front, there are fresh new parts from RockAuto to ensure this Jeep is reliable wherever it goes.

Visit the RockAuto Promotions & Rebates page for a link to the Sweepstakes Entry Form and to see all of the current rebates and promotions.

Are you a fan of old Mopars? If so, P15-D24 is a forum for you. Topics include Mopar cars and trucks from the '30s to '60s. From stock flatheads to highly modified, you will find Chrysler, DeSoto, Dodge and Plymouth cars and trucks all well represented in this friendly forum.

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 megant@rockauto.com

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 email 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!

A marcel spring is made by adding waves to a flat piece of metal (or other material). The flexibility of the waves acts as a spring or cushion. Where are marcel springs found in many cars and trucks?

A. Inside seat backs
B. Wedged between the Brake Pads and Brake Calipers
C. Sandwiched in the layers of the Clutch Friction Disc (vehicles with manual transmissions)

Answer below

Last weekend, my daughter noticed the burned-out Turn Signal/Tail Lamp/Brake Light Bulb in her '05 Mustang had 3057 stamped on it, while the new bulb from RockAuto was part number 4057. Was she installing the wrong bulb? In a few decades, will the car show judge grab back the first-place trophy after noticing her Mustang has mismatched Brake Light Bulbs? My daughter was relieved to discover the other two bulbs in the Tail Lamp Assembly were 4057s. The bulb from RockAuto made the Mustang factory-stock again!

A previous owner had likely installed the 3057 bulb because it was the only bulb an auto parts store had. The 3057 and 4057 bulbs have similar wattage and brightness, so why take up more space by stocking both part numbers. The 3057 was close enough to a 4057.

One of the nice things about getting parts from RockAuto.com, is not having to accept "close enough" parts. Why pay a lot more for "similar" specifications when RockAuto has the part with OE specs? I am not as particular about things as my daughter is, but I do wonder about the impact of stacking together too many "close enough" variations over the years. Maybe current, resistance, voltage, etc. errors will eventually add up to something that a computer module will flag as a problem.

This simple bulb repair taught my daughter that a part is not necessarily OE just because it was already on her used car. It was a great reminder for me too. Her '05 Mustang is only the second vehicle in the family fleet built this century. I have trouble remembering that it stopped being a new car long ago and has its own repair history.

New 4057 bulbs next to burned out 3057

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

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

I have always enjoyed daily-driving odd cars, from a Saab SPG Turbo to a Ford Contour SVT, but my current car is the one I am truly in love with, a 1984 Audi Coupe GT. I am the fourth owner of this 200k mile, square body, front wheel drive, inline 5 cylinder, manual transmission car, built in Germany on a chassis designed for rally racing. The car is such a joy to drive in a world full of computer controls where visceral feelings are lost. Driving the Audi transports you to a time when you truly feel connected to the car with a cable operated dual throttle body, a mechanical clutch and non-intrusive power steering. Some things that some modern cars are trying to emulate with computers, but failing at.

That being said, the car is over 30 years old, and needs constant maintenance to run at its best. Thankfully RockAuto has the hard to find parts I have needed. Parts like engine gaskets, spark plug wires, ignition reluctor, hard to find light bulbs, A/C dryer, A/C gaskets, air filters, and most recently, bearings to install a limited slip differential. The best part is that the prices are so affordable. I find myself buying extra parts to keep in stock just in case.

Thanks!
Christopher in Virginia

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 email flamur@rockauto.com with your vehicle's history, interesting details, your favorite images (tips for taking pictures of your car) and what parts from RockAuto you have used.

A marcel spring is made by adding waves to a flat piece of metal (or other material). The flexibility of the waves acts as a spring or cushion. Where are marcel springs found in many cars and trucks?

A. Inside seat backs
B. Wedged between the Brake Pads and Brake Calipers
Answer: C. Sandwiched in the layers of the Clutch Friction Disc (vehicles with manual transmissions)

Marcel springs are sandwiched in the friction material layers

Back up to trivia question