Automobile Engineering Basic Concepts:
Following are the list of Automobile Engineering Basic Concepts
A/B/C Pillar – Car `s pillars are easily identified by looking from side. The A-pillar is the pillar in front of the front door on each side of the windshield. B-pillar is the pillar onto which the front door latches and the rear door is hinged. The pillar behind the rear door is called the C-pillar.
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) – A system which prevents the wheel from skidding during hard braking.
A-arm – A suspension linkage of shape of letter ‘A’ found commonly in front independent suspension.
Active suspension – A suspension in which desired characteristics as per requirements are achieved during running by means of computer-controlled actuators.
Adaptive steering – A steering system which adjusts the steering ratio of a vehicle to adapt to the changes in vehicle speed.
Adhesive – A polymeric material which when applied to the surfaces of materials, can join them together and resist separation.
Adjustable shock absorber – A damper which can compensate for varying needs of stiffness or softness. It may be manual or automatic.
Air bag – A bag which inflates immediately during collision, thereby preventing the driver or the passenger’s head, chest from slamming into the dash board, windshield or steering wheel.
Air cleaner – Filtering device for the air entering engine.
Air shock absorber – A damper having a rubber bladder filled with compressed air. As the air pressure increases, the vehicle is raised. Used in automatic leveling suspensions.
All Wheel Drive (AWD) – A variation of four-wheel drive designed to improve on-road traction in unfavorable road conditions or for ultra high performance driving.
Alternative fuels – Automotive fuels other than petrol or diesel.
Angle nose pliers – Pliers with long jaws that are bent at right angles to aid in gripping something which cannot be reached with regular pliers.
Anti-dive – The suspension geometry which resists the vehicle body’s tendency to nose down during braking.
Anti-roll bar – A bar employed to resist body-roll, which connects the left wheel suspension assembly with the right wheel side. It may be there at the front and/or the rear. It also affects handling. A front anti-roll bar increases understeer, while rear bar increases oversteer. Also called anti-sway bar or stabilizer bar.
Anti-squat – The suspension geometry which resists the vehicle body’s tendency to nose-up pitching while accelerating.
Approach angle – When viewed from the side, this is the angle between the ground and a line running from the front tyre to the lowest hanging point directly in front of it, which is usually the front bumper. It indicates the ability of the vehicle to climb up a steep incline without any damage to the front bumper.