Don't know what to gift your Gear head friend this Christmas?? Check out some amazing ideas on automotive gifts @PartsAvatar

Christmas is around the corner, so it is time to think of perfect gift for your car enthusiast friend! Do you have limited funds and don’t know what to get them? Fear not as PartsAvatar has ideas for perfect motoring gifts! ~ Brought to you by PartsAvatar Auto Parts.

Are you planning to think of a automotive gift for a car nut around you? There are a number of gifts out there that can fit your budget and will definitely satisfy any car enthusiast.

From item to use in the garage, on the road, in the cars or even a car itself, there are various ideas of motoring gifts. Take a look at some of the ideas that you can use to satisfy your gear head friend.

Bluetooth Cassette adapter

Well there is no doubt that older cars are great but they still lag behind in terms of technology. For those around you, who still love to ride their old car, try to gift them Bluetooth cassette adapter.

This adapter can be used to play music from a portable Bluetooth enabled device and what’s amazing is that you can even take calls, but they will be on speaker mode! So if you want your friend to update his old car this Christmas, then Bluetooth adapter is not that costly.

Automatic cordless tire inflator

Under inflation of tires is really a frustrating issue and also dangerous in regard to our safety on the road. Care for your loved ones by gifting them cordless tire inflator, so that they can easily fill appropriate pressure in their car’s tires. Also give them advice to deploy car's TPMS sensors to monitor the inflation level of your vehicle’s tires.

Believe it or not, properly filled tires make a big difference when it comes to fuel efficiency.

Car Brake Caliper coasters

Shaped like Slotted brake rotors of a car, this set of six coasters are sure to be appreciated by any car nut. 6 individual coasters rest upright in the red metal brake caliper with sufficient weight to serve as a base.

Driving Shoes

Driving shoes were invented for men who wanted extra grip while driving seriously gorgeous Italian roadsters. No man who owns a luxury car would wear his driving shoes until the nubs are worn off and the toe is dirty.

Do you someone who no longer wears his driving shoes? Christmas is probably the perfect time to gift them a pair of driving shoes. Driving shoes are now available in vast range and are manufactured by many big brands.

Car Seat Gap Filler

Do you know someone who spends most of his time in their car? Help them to keep their car seats clean by buying them car seat gap fillers. The benefit of using these fillers is that they squeeze in between the seat and the centre console to keep out fries, change and more.

Is someone having a habit of dropping things like jewelry, keys, change, pens or gum in the car seat .Care for your friends by gifting them drop stop that prevents dangerous distractions due to lost things on the road and can be fit easily between seat and console.

Car Jump Starter

Nothing is worse than standing stranded on a road with dead battery. Many around us love to collect cool car gadgets. Jump starters of cars are one of the cool innovations that can jump start a car using electrical energy.

Make your friend happy by gifting him a jump starter and surely it is going to be a great gift this Christmas for him!

Car Brake Service tool

It is a perfect gift for those folks who love to spend their time in garage engaging and disengaging their car’s auto parts. Electronic auto Brake service tool is a good tool for safe and professional replacement of brake pads on modern vehicles.

You can configure and monitor a lot of brake system components and their functions with this tool. Brake service tool can be used to easily perform service on car’s brake system. And of course brakes can’t be ignored!

Car Mats and Kick Mats

Preserving a car’s interior is very important. Car lover knows how important it is to keep their car spotless. If you know someone with same ideology, help them do that by gifting car mats. High quality mats like one gallon mats can soak up to a gallon of liquid and are highly durable.

Preserving car’s interior is not restricted to floor mats. You can also encourage your friend to take the kids for a spin with the kick mats. They fit so snugly over the back of the driver and passenger seat even a muddy feat can’t damage car’s interior.

Isn’t it a great idea!

Racing Event Tickets

Guys go crazy over racing events. Canada holds various motorsport events which are quite famous in North America like Honda Indy Toronto etc.

Any track event or a race weekend is a great experience for a car fan. The noise and the spectacle is enough to satiate any of them.

So, Do you owe someone concert tickets or musical show event tickets? Then these racing event tickets are a good idea to pay them back and of course they will be on cloud nine. Who won’t like to watch his favorite sports car zooming in then big race tracks?

Heated Massage Cushion

Modern vehicles come equipped with seats which provide high degree of comfort ability. But classic cars aren’t always comfortable. You can be thoughtful this time by gifting them comfortable heated massage cushion, they can have fun ride.

Many special cushions with heat and massage capabilities are available in the market that can easily go from the car to the office.

Even if spend hundred thousand dollars and still don’t get a comfortable ride, that car is just a crap. Help them ride comfortably by gifting them such an amazing item. It will make wonders for those who spend more time on road driving their car.

No Blind Spot Rear View Mirror

Is someone around you a newbie in racing? Or maybe a family member who loves to collect unique car accessories. No blind spot rear view mirror is a cool gift and is widely used by police officers and race car drivers because it provides field view of 180 degrees, thus reducing blind spots.

If you know someone with a passion for automobiles, they are sure to love this gadget.

Being a car enthusiast is all about having fun. Make their Christmas unforgettable by presenting something that they can cherish and use it well!

Happy Christmas from PartsAvatar Auto Parts!!

So, you hear weird noise coming out of your car while driving? Diagnose Symptoms of a failing wheel bearing @ParstAvatar.ca

It is not safe to drive with bad or missing wheel bearing. So, check out the symptoms and other measures @PartsAvatar Canada.

Wheel bearing is an important component of vehicle’s suspension system. It helps the car roll smoothly. A failing wheel bearing may cause loose steering wheel and uneven tire wear.

Like tires, wheel bearings are also overlooked. But, you will not experience smooth drive with bad wheel bearing as they work collectively with tire, hub and wheel to run the car smoothly. Not only bad wheel bearing affects driving but also your safety is at stake. If neglected, they can cause the wheel to get locked because wheel bearings function is to enable the wheel to rotate as the car moves along.

Wheel bearings are highly susceptible to wear and tear over time. A faulty wheel bearing will cause your wheel to wobble. Loud noisy wheels are also considered as the first sign of a failing wheel bearing. But sometimes, tire’s noise and wheel’s noise is often termed as same so, you should make a correct judgment.

Along with wheels they also tend to damage braking system if neglected. Let us read some of the signs of a failing wheel bearing here.

Uneven Wearing of Rotor or Brake Pad

A bad or failing or even missing wheel bearing can cause severe looseness which in turn would result in premature wearing of brake pads or rotors. A defective caliper can also cause uneven wear on the rotor and brakes. Excessive run out, due to looseness may cause the brakes to pull. So if you feel such symptoms, then make sure to get your car's rear or front brake rotor, auto brake pads and brake system auto parts replaced if needed along with wheel bearings of car.

Vibrating Steering Wheel

A vibration in steering wheel can be caused with worn out wheel bearings. You can observe this problem at low speeds and it may even get worse when the vehicle accelerates. It is quite unsafe itself, as the vehicle may go out of your control with the shaky steering wheel. So get your wheel bearings checked by the mechanic.

Uneven Tire wear

There are many causes of abnormal tire wear. The most common factors are improper inflation, misalignment, failing shocks and struts or damaged suspension components. A bad wheel bearing can cause you to shop for tires sooner i.e. uneven tire wear will happen. Economically thinking, replacing a bad wheel bearing is better and cheaper as compared to replacing tires. Take a wiser decision, if you suspect such problem get it solved immediately. However, they need to be changed together on the same axle.

Grinding when the vehicle is in motion

This is the most common symptom of the bad wheel bearing. Grinding noises or loud strange noises can be heard coming from tire or wheel side of your vehicle. As the vehicle goes faster, the sound will also go louder. The noise is caused due loss of lubrication on the wheel bearings which is caused due to excess heat built inside. So, if you hear any grinding noise contact a professional before it becomes a safety issue for you.

Missing Wheel Bearing

It is advised not to drive if the wheel bearing is missing from your wheel. This is because at some point, while the vehicle is in motion, the wheel can fall entirely causing an accident. Wheel bearing keeps the wheel attached to the vehicle. You cannot take chances with missing wheel bearing because you can get into dangerous situation if you are driving down the highway as you can lose control of your car and will cause obstruction to the other drivers.

Knocking or clunking Noise

Excessive backlash in different gears may cause damage to CV Joints or U joints. It can normally be heard while turning and shifting from changing directions. You can get aftermarket CV joints of cars or automotive Ujoints at Partsavatar at cheap prices.

Snapping or clicking

Damaged CV joint can cause the vehicle to produce snapping or popping noise. Inadequate clamping and excessive bearing endplay can cause this problem. Drivers can hear this noise while taking sharp turns. CV joints can be replaced at cheap aftermarket prices.

Replacing and Cleaning Wheel Bearing

With caution, you can easily change the wheel bearing yourself without spending money on the mechanic. Let us take a look at some steps to do so.

1. Park your vehicle securely and lift the vehicle using jacks.

2. Unscrew the lug nuts and remove the wheel.

3. Using socket and ratchet remove the brake caliper.

4. Now remove castle nut, dust cover and automotive rotor sequentially.

5. To gain access to the bearings, you will need to take apart the hub.

6. After removing the races, clean the inside of the bearing assembly around knuckle.

7. Finally after setting the new automotive races in the assembly with the help of hammer, install the new greased wheel bearing in the assembly.

8. Now that you have changed the wheel bearings, you can now re install all the parts in reverse order.

Note that it is recommended to use manufacturer specified grease to repack new or used bearing. If you run into any problem while doing the task yourself, it is better to call the mechanic rather getting any other part damaged. It is wise to watch the mechanic do the practical, rather performing yourself for the first time.

On the ending note, it is advised not to neglect the problem of bad or missing wheel bearing as you may be putting your and other driver’s life at risk. So get it replaced as soon as you detect it.

If you want to replace your suspension system components or wheel bearings then Partsavatar is better option. You can also get the benefit of free shipping on all orders over $99. 

Know how to Bleed your car's brakes @PartsAvatar Canada

Brake bleeding is a repair job that must be done throughout the life span of a car. Parts avatar advises to bleed your car’s brakes every two or three years.

Whenever our mechanic advises to bleed the car’s brakes, we often ignore it. It is not like we are waiting for our car to break down. So why not give it a go now rather waiting for the damage to occur. Most automobile manufacturers advise to bleed your vehicle’s brakes every three years. As the fluid’s heat resistance reduces by time, it can cause brake system to corrode. So it is necessary to bleed the brakes to get optimum performance out of brake system.

Before moving further, let’s know what is bleeding of brakes and why it is necessary.

Basically, when we are bleeding the brakes, we are actually removing air out of hydraulic brake lines of car. Air makes its way through leaks in brake system components. Brake fluid’s heating resistance decreases by time as over the period of time it absorbs water from atmosphere. Due to friction, caused by heavy braking, fluid heats up thus turning water into steam. Air leaking in the brake lines makes the pedal spongy, and in worst cases the brakes may fail completely.

Before starting bleeding process, it is essential to check the brake system parts for leakage. If you find a leak, replace the faulty component immediately. Entire braking system is like a closed compound so if the fluid level is low, that means there may be a leak in master cylinder. So fix the leak first. Front and rear Brake pads of car wear out frequently so they may also cause air to enter the brake system. Brake pads should also be replaced if necessary.

PRE - BRAKE BLEEDING PREPARATIONS

Have all the tools prepared beforehand. For the full replacement of the fluid in the brake system you will need at least three cans of brake fluid. 10mm box wrench for disc brakes and 8mm box wrench for drum brakes can be used if necessary. You will also need one way bleeder screws, pressure brake bleeder and vacuum brake bleeder to bleed the brakes. No matter what method for bleeding you use, same tools are used.

Before you plan to bleed the brakes, loosen the bleeder valves by applying the penetrating oil. 

When you place the vehicle on the jack stands, on the day of bleed, after removing all four wheels, tighten one lug nut against rear and front disc brake rotor of car's brake system and place a square object to keep the brake pedal from falling to the floor when you start bleeding. Mostly you have to bleed the brakes several times, so keep the equipments ready with you. 

If you see the traces of air in the system, bleed it again until there is no air and fluid is flowing clearly inside. Also the fluid to be used for bleeding should be manufacturer’s recommended. There are DOT ratings specified by the manufacturer. Not every vehicle runs on same brake fluid of car so check owner’s manual before buying any fluid.

THE BLEEDING TASK

In bleeding task you can either do it yourself or can take help of your friend.

Step 1

Jack up the car and secure with jack stands. Now remove all the four wheels.

Step 2

The next task is to locate the bleeder screw and spray them with penetrating oil. Find the proper wrench that fits the screw and loosen the screw. Using proper wrench could decrease chances of screw’s hex head going round. If the screw is stuck, you can spray penetrator like WD- 40. After doing so, retighten all the screws again.

Step 3

Now, the fluid level in the master cylinder should be checked. If the fluid level is lower, then add more fluid level up to the mark. This process should be done at frequent levels because its level drops as the old fluid is drained off. Filling it to the top is necessary because if the reservoir empties, air will get into the system and you will have to repeat the whole task to release the air out. Always use manufacturer’s recommended fluid. Using any other fluid may damage the brake system as not every fluid is compatible with every brake system. Do not spill the fluid because it penetrates easily.

Step 4

You must keep owners manual with you. The sequence of bleeding the brakes differs from one car to other. This information can be found in owner’s manual. In some cars, the most distant brake from the master cylinder of car is bled first. For example, if you ware bleeding a rear wheel drive vehicle then start with right rear wheel, then move to the left rear wheel; then move it to the right front wheel and eventually to left front wheel.

Step 5

After bleeding each brake properly and adding fluid to the master cylinder, pump the brake several times when the car’s engine is off with the help of a helper. Brake pedal should no longer feel spongy when you press it. If there is still spongy feeling coming while pressing the brake, master cylinder and bleeder screws must be checked again.

Step 6

When your helper maintains pressure on the pedal, open the bleeder screw a small amount. The fluid will pass through the clear tube and the pedal will begin dropping towards the floor. When your helper signals you for “floor”, close the bleeder screw. Also check the fluid level again.

Repeat the process of pumping the brake, opening the bleeder screw and closing it, several times until the stream of fluid flowing is free of air bubbles. After every five times the brake pedal is depressed, top off the master cylinder reservoir with fresh fluid. Do not let the air enter the master cylinder in any case.

Repeat these steps on the remaining three brake locations in the sequence instructed in your owner’s manual. If there is fluid eruption, there may be some air bubbles still trapped in the system.

Step 7

Visually inspect all the bleeder screws for any signs of leakage. Check that all the bleeder screws are tight. Put the tires back on. Test the brakes before heading out onto the road.

To test the brakes on the road, wait until there is no traffic, drive slowly and press brake pedal as you would normally. The car should pull up quickly and the pedal should not feel spongy.

Now your brakes have been properly bled.

There are several ways to bleed the brakes like pump and hold method, vacuum method and pressure method. So you can choose whatever method you want to provided you successfully the air out of the brake system. You can consult your owner’s manual if you find difficulty in locating the components of brake system.

For other brake system part’s aftermarket purchase, do not forget to visit Partsavatar.ca

You can save your car's brake pad from wear out issue by replacing them at partsavatar canada

Does your car’s brake pad wear out regularly? Now shop for the exotic Brands of Brake Pads at Parts avatar

Brakes are very important when it comes to car’s safety. A lot of mishaps happen on road due to brake failure. Some parts of braking system wear out regularly. Sooner or later, you will have to decide what level of repair does your car need especially Brake pads of car and automotive brake Shoes. Basically the function of the brake pads is to convert the kinetic energy of the moving car into thermal energy by friction. When the brakes are applied, the automotive brake caliper clamps the two brake pads together into the rotor to stop or slow down the speed.

Due to this friction and thermal energy, brake pads are highly susceptible to wear and tear. Luckily there are incredible amount of choices available at Partsavatar when it comes to Braking system auto parts especially Brake pads and brake shoes. So it would be easy to find brake pads according to your car’s design and pattern.

First in this article we would read about different types of brake pads available in the market.

NON ASBESTOS ORGANIC BRAKE PADS

Opposite of Asbestos pads NAO brake pads as they are generally known, use combination of fibers and materials such as Kevlar, Fibers, glass, rubber and carbon. They are less abrasive on brake discs and most aftermarket Brake rotors of car or brake discs are compatible with them. Materials used are quite affordable so automobile industries often produce cars with NAO brake pads.

NAO brake pads made with Aramid fibers and Kevlar provide high friction level and ability to handle high temperature to sports or race Brake pads. So NAO with aramid fiber of Kevlar would be a right choice if you are looking for sports brake pads that would last long and can handle heat and grips well.

NAO brake pad’s one disadvantage is that they wear out and loss their coefficient of friction quickly. Simple NAO brake pads are suitable for everyday vehicles but not performance driving. These produce a fair amount of dust.

CERAMIC BRAKE PADS

These are composed of porcelain and clay bonded to copper flakes and filaments. These brake pads were introduced as replacement for metallic and semi metallic brake pads. They are exceptionally quite as the material used elevates the sound coming from brakes.  These have longer life span and are also easier on rotors. They produce very light dust that does not stick to wheels. They are quite expensive and sometimes increase brake system temperature as they do not dissipate heat well. This can cause the pads and other components to warp. These pads offer quite drive, clean wheels and long pad life due to its hard composition. Ceramic and semi metallic car brake padscan be compared on the basis of their benefits. Ceramic brake pads have lower coefficient of friction than the other two brake pads.

SEMI METALLIC BRAKE PADS

These are long lasting brake pads and harder than non metallic pads. Its mixture is made of metal flakes of copper, iron or steel with fillers. They have higher thermal threshold and aid in efficient brake cooling. The car's front semi metallic pads and rear semi metallic pads provide fade resistance and number of compounds suitable from daily driving to extreme driving. These are effective on wider range of temperatures and are more versatile than the other two types.

You will have to compromise with noise and dust if you are planning to buy semi metallic brake pads. It causes brake rotor to wear easily and they need replacement sooner. These are expensive than metallic brake pads and need to be carefully bend in for good results.

FULLY METALLIC BRAKE PADS

Racing vehicles require hard brake pads contain large amount of steel which could be very damaging to the rotor. Fully metallic brake pads are made of sintered steel with synthetic additives. These are long lasting, handle high temperature and provide higher friction level but also at the same time produce loud noise. These are made for racing vehicles.

HYBRID BRAKE PADS 

  

Hybrid brake pads have been an evolution in the world of brakes. Raybestos named auto parts manufacturing company has introduced world’s first enhanced hybrid front and rear car brake pads . As they state, hybrid brake pad’s new friction combines best characteristics of both semi metallic brake pads and ceramic brake pads. It combines the braking performance and control/stopping power of semi metallic with low noise, reduced dust and durability characteristics of ceramic brake pads. Raybestos hybrid brake pads are also available at partsavatar.ca.

CHOOSING RIGHT BRAKE PAD

Bonded brakes ruin the rotor and drums if not changed promptly. All brakes need soft friction material. Choose between bonded and riveted friction material.

It is important to consider advantages as well disadvantages of all the brake pads. Organic pads loose braking capacity when they get wet. Semi metallic wears the rotor faster than organic materials. Fully metallic provide great friction level but rotor or drums do wear faster.car's Front Ceramic pads and rear ceramic pads tolerate high temperatures and come with best warranty. But they are expensive than other three options. Hybrid brake pads also offer the functionality of both ceramic and semi metallic. Though they are expensive as compared to other, but its cost is also providing benefits of two braking pads. If you are a regular driver then you may consider semi metallic brake pads provided the weight you carry is not heavy duty. For mountains you can consider fully metallic, ceramic or hybrid brake pads as they provide high friction and low noises.

The bottom line is so as to get right brake pads for your vehicle you need to seriously consider your driving conditions.

If you want additional assistance and aftermarket auto parts then check out Parts avatar website.