March 17, 2022 through the end of March 2022, GSP is offering RockAuto customers an exclusive 10% instant manufacturer rebate on their entire selection of CV Axles. Since 1985, GSP has been a leading manufacturer of automotive driveline parts. Their CV Axles incorporate premium-grade materials, undergo rigorous quality-control testing, and are made to OE specifications for precise fit, form and function.
CV Axles, or constant velocity axles, transfer power from a vehicle's transmission to the wheels. This allows the vehicle's suspension to articulate and the front wheels to turn. It is important to know the symptoms of CV Axle wear to ensure safe vehicle operation and maintenance. Common symptoms include:
Whether you drive a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, a 2013 Nissan Rogue, or a 1997 Honda Civic, RockAuto has CV Axles for your vehicle in the "Drivetrain" category of the RockAuto.com catalog. Simply add a GSP CV Axle to your cart to instantly save 10% on RockAuto's reliably low prices. Do not delay, this offer ends March 31st, 2022!
Forum of the Month
TahoeForum.com is a large and well-organized community of Chevrolet Tahoe owners and enthusiasts. This comprehensive forum is active with friendly members sharing information on all aspects of these SUVs, from answers to technical questions to general all around Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade conversations.
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 marketing@rockauto.com.
Repair Mistakes & Blunders
As a college student in Colorado back in the 1970s, I was very much into cars and became somewhat of a "shade tree mechanic." My dad had a friend who owned an AMC Gremlin and he relayed that the red "brake" light on the Gremlin's dash just came on. Having just replaced the brake master cylinder on my car which had the same symptom, and with no further research into what may have happened, I confidently offered to replace the master cylinder on the Gremlin. Funny thing though, with the new master cylinder, bleeding the brakes did not result in a firm pedal and that light stayed on!
That is when I started asking questions. I learned that the light came on after they hit a big pothole. I pulled the left front wheel to find the impact had dislodged the brake shoes which allowed the wheel cylinder to simply expand unabated and the resultant pressure differential from front to rear set off the warning light. Lesson learned; take the time to get the whole story.
Lee 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 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 RockAuto 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
What do the DeLorean that starred in the first "Back to the Future" movie and the first Volkswagen Beetle assembled outside Germany have in common?
A. Both cars have the engine mounted in the rear
B. Both cars were built in Ireland
C. Both cars are on display in museums
D. All the above
Do not wait until your rear end starts sagging to learn how your vehicle's air suspension works. Everything from late-model Jeeps to Teslas may have an "air suspension" pressurized by an Air Compressor, but system design and components differ significantly between models, option packages and model years. Inspecting your vehicle's particular suspension and looking at the replacement parts available for it under "Suspension" in the RockAuto.com catalog will help you understand what maintenance is possible and what repair options are available. They all help improve vehicle ride height and ride quality, so the words are often used interchangeably, but there are actually major differences between air shocks, springs and struts:
Top to bottom: Air Shocks, Air Spring,
Air Strut, and Conversion Kit
Air Shocks replace conventional rear shock absorbers either as an aftermarket upgrade (ex/ 20-year-old Dodge Grand Caravan) or original equipment (ex/ 10-year-old Cadillac Escalade). Vehicles with rear air shocks usually have conventional steel springs. The air pressure in the shock absorber is adjusted by the driver and/or computer to better maintain ride height and comfort when the vehicle is loaded. (Air shocks are typically included with "adjustable" shock absorbers for specific vehicles in the RockAuto.com catalog.)
Air Springs replace conventional steel springs with OE air spring bladders (ex/ Lincoln Town Car and five-year-old RAM pickups). Air springs may even improve the ride of an empty truck by reducing jouncing. The vehicle usually still has conventional shock absorbers that should be replaced as part of routine maintenance (usually after 50,000 miles (80,000 km)) to help maximize the life of the air springs and other suspension parts as well as restore braking, handling and ride.
Air Strut is just "Strut" in the RockAuto.com catalog because like a conventional hydraulic strut, they do the job of spring and shock absorber while also providing suspension structure. Air pressure in individual struts can often be adjusted independently by the computer to optimize handling, braking and ride. They tend to be relatively expensive since they fill so many roles in the suspension system. The Tesla S and newer high-end SUVs, trucks and cars frequently have air struts.
Suspension Conversion Kits are also available under "Suspension" for many vehicles in the RockAuto.com catalog to help customers who want to replace an air suspension with conventional hydraulic shocks/struts and steel springs. A suspension conversion kit can cost many hundreds of dollars less than replacing leaking/failing air struts, air compressor, etc. The kits also provide a solution if replacement air suspension parts are no longer available. Some owners just prefer hydraulic instead of air suspension because of their driving style or how they use their vehicle; make that luxurious Lincoln handle more like a Police Interceptor!
Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com
To read more of Tom's articles, click this link and choose from story titles on the Newsletter Archives page.
David's 1997 BMW 528i
This is my 1997 BMW 528i. I bought it April of 2020 to use as a daily driver while performing some extensive work on my other car, but I learned very quickly that a 1990s BMW might not have been the best choice for daily reliability. I have since replaced rear axles, rear shocks, driveshaft mounts/joints, pretty much everything for the steering system (reservoir, fluid lines, rack rebuild kit, tie rods, boots), oil pan gasket, valve cover gasket, oil filter housing gasket, timing cover gasket, several cooling hoses, and a plethora of various seals and bearings to keep this thing functional.
I love it. My wife hates it. It is a perfect car and well on its way to being the reigning RockAuto parts champion in my driveway.
David in Florida (RockAuto customer for over seven years)
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, RockAuto social media or other commercial use. New, old, import, domestic, daily driver, trailer queen, classic, antique, we want to see them all! For submission instructions and tips for taking pictures of your car, please visit our Photography Tips & Submission Info page
Automotive Trivia Answer
What do the DeLorean that starred in the first "Back to the Future" movie and the first Volkswagen Beetle assembled outside Germany have in common?
