Brake Pad Categories

RockAuto has recently updated the way brake pads are sorted in the catalog. The change should help make it quicker to choose between the many brake pad options available.

The brake pads have been separated into three categories based on how the manufacturers classify the performance of their pads. The three categories are Economy, Daily Driver, and High Performance/Heavy Duty. Any brake pads that haven't been classified will be listed under a blank category bar at the bottom. Not all categories are available for every vehicle.

To help narrow your search, the categories can be collapsed to reduce the number of part listings on the screen. The “Filter By Keyword(s)” box can still also be used to help narrow down your search by manufacturer, detailed description, etc. if desired.

RockAuto will be sorting other part types in the catalog this way in the future in hopes to make your search for All The Parts Your Car Will Ever Need even more simple!

Forum of the Month

Fbodyonline.com is a community of Firebird and Camaro enthusiasts looking for advice regarding parts, modifications, and budget minded repairs. Fbodyonline.com has members from all over the nation, and even a few international members! We're currently developing our Tech Articles section on the homepage and encourage our members to compose How-To based articles to further support others. The site is constantly growing, and we pride ourselves on making the site more and more user friendly and attractive.

If you used to or currently own an F-body, enjoy talking cars, or are crazy (like some of us) about Firebirds/Camaros, you'll find yourself right at home posting with the FBO community. Members range from first time drivers to veteran car owners who have daily drivers, weekend warriors, drag strip monsters, and car show award winners! Registration is free, and once you join, don't forget to introduce yourself and tell us a little about your car history.

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 jessa@rockauto.com.

Repair Mistakes & Blunders

Back in 1968 a friend of mine came over and wanted me to check his compression on his 1950 Cadillac V8. He parked his Cadillac at my curb and then I removed all the spark plugs. To ensure the compression check was accurate, I opened the throttle wide open and jammed a long screwdriver down the throat of the carburetor to keep it wide open. I then shorted the solenoid to crank the engine over for the compression check of each cylinder. After I got done checking the compression of all 8 cylinders, I put the spark plugs back in. I then shorted the solenoid again and the engine suddenly started and went to full throttle...and the rear tire started spinning. The car took off down the street, hopped the curb, and headed straight for my neighbor's house. I managed to catch the runaway Cadillac, open the driver's door, and slam on the brakes, stopping the car just inches from the house. I didn't know it at the time but the car had been in DRIVE the whole time I did the compression check and the ignition switch was also on.

I was about 21 years old at the time and stupid. I just assumed my friend had put his Cadillac in PARK and turned the ignition off. I learned a very valuable lesson that day. Never assume anything.

Steve in California

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 awhile!). Please email your story to flamur@rockauto.com. Include your mailing address and shirt size (large or extra large) and we will mail you a RockAuto "Do it yourself?" t-shirt if we publish your story (see the t-shirts under Extras 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

The average human walking speed is about 3 mph (4.8 kph). Regulations in the US and Canada require bumpers on new vehicles to prevent significant damage at what impact speeds?

A. 2.5 mph (4 kph) for front and rear impacts and 1.5 mph (2.4 kph) for corner impacts
B. 5 mph (8 kph) for front and rear impacts and 3 mph for corner impacts
C. 5 mph for front impacts, 3 mph for rear impacts, and 2.5 mph for corner impacts

Answer below

Father-Daughter Repair Project

The Cadillac CTS charged out from a side street and crashed into the front corner of my wife’s Ford Tempo. The sickening sound of crunching plastic made pedestrians turn and stare. This was not the pitiful end of the Tempo, but rather the start of a great father-daughter repair project paid for by the CTS owner’s insurance company.

The Ford’s bumper was crushed and the header panel (part the grille and lights attach to) was cracked. Only two parts to replace, but they comprised most of the Tempo’s front end.

The plastic bumpers on newer vehicles often extend from one wheel well to the other. They look formidable to remove. We were pleased to discover the Ford’s bumper was held on with just four bolts. Slots in the bumper simply slid over metal pegs near the wheel wells. The bumper was nearly as easy to remove as the license plate.

Taking off the header panel was a more time consuming job. Three fasteners held on each headlamp assembly, two screws attached the turn signals, the grille mounted with two screws, and eight bolts fastened the header panel to the body. There were a handful of fasteners, but my eight-year-old daughter could remove most of them.

We just used spray cans to paint the replacement bumper and header panel. The results were not show car perfect but adequate for a 17-year-old daily driver.

Every accident and vehicle is unique, but this project confirmed that there is a lot of body work a do-it-yourselfer can do successfully. In some ways the newer plastic body parts are easier to work with than the all-metal parts found on very old vehicles. Cracked and crushed can be easier to replace than rusted or bent. Look under Body-Exterior in the RockAuto.com catalog to get a better idea how your particular vehicle fits together.

Repairing my wife’s Ford was a clean, easily accessible project with dramatic results. A great way to get a young person interested in cars and feeling competent!

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

I acquired this 1959 New Yorker 4 door hardtop in 1991 with the help of my mother. She had always encouraged my car hobby and allowed me to drag home a rusty hulk of a 1927 Model T coupe when I was just 15 years old. So here it was 30 years later and mom spotted another derelict and said I should go look at it. I paid $300 for it and had it towed home. It had been cheaply painted sometime in the 70's with a dark green over the original light green. It seemed pretty straight and solid and after a liberal application of Marvel Oil to the cylinders we turned the engine over. It has the new for 1959 Golden Lion 413 wedge engine that replaced the 1958 392CI Hemi in the top of the line New Yorker and 300 models. A basic carb rebuild, new brake master cylinder and a fresh battery got us to a self-propelled project.

But I still had too many other cars to work on so this one just sat. Once a year, I’d fire it up and drive it around the neighborhood for a weekend but then put it back into storage. Finally, on its 50th birthday, I made the commitment to start restoring her. The first thing I did was undertake a thorough cleaning. Under the dirty, shredded 1960s aftermarket carpet was the original full rubber floor mat. When that came out it revealed nothing but rust. I was so disheartened! I didn’t really have much invested in the car, maybe it just wasn’t meant to be. On a whim, I Googled and found RockAuto. Right there, ready to ship, an economical set of preformed floor pan panel replacements. I couldn’t believe it. I took this as a good omen and a signal to proceed with the restoration. Placed the order on-line. Service and delivery was first rate (of course).

The floors fit perfectly and after that everything else seemed easy. We repainted with an enhanced finish in a slightly brighter light green than original and a metallic pearl white for the two-tone accent. Interior was replaced with original fabric after we found a set of the optional swivel seats (another feature introduced in 1959). It’s now a very nice driver quality car. Our plans for it include re-chroming the bumpers and some of the interior trim and rebuilding the engine and transmission as they are showing signs of age. I’m confident that I can find the rings, bearings, gaskets and other parts I will need at RockAuto. Thanks for being there!

Greg in Washington

Share Your Hard Work
Do you purchase parts from RockAuto? If so, RockAuto would like to feature you and your car or truck in our monthly newsletter. Please email flamur@rockauto.com with details.

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