A brake booster can be found in most modern vehicles.

When you press the brake pedal, you don’t need to apply too much pressure to brake the vehicle. This is due to the brake booster, which amplifies the pressure you apply and helps to stop the car comfortably.

Brake boosters are also called “servos,” and they not only increase the car’s safety but also help improve performance. Like any other component of a car, the brake booster can be damaged after some time, which can cause problems when stopping the car.

In this article, we will discuss the most common symptoms you will encounter with a faulty brake booster and how you can replace it.

(more…)

It is very dangerous to drive with worn brakes.

How often you change your brakes depends on the type of brakes you use, whether you are a diligent driver, and the type of loads you carry.

If you are the kind of driver who drives fast around difficult corners, you should expect your brakes to wear out faster than a cautious driver.

Brake pads are made from various materials: organic, semi-metallic, and ceramic. Ceramic brake pads have a longer lifespan, with organic pads being the least durable.

Finally, you should also consider the type of load you expose your car to. If you have a trailer, you should expect the brake pads to be subjected to greater loads.

Most people will change their brake pads every 40,000 to 60,000 miles. The factors above may cause you to change your brake pads sooner. You can check the thickness of the pads and ensure they are not less than ¼ inch thick.

(more…)

The Anti-lock Braking System or ABS is an advanced safety feature found in almost all vehicles nowadays.

The ABS system consists of the ABS module and ABS sensors located on each tire. The entire system works in tandem to ensure that your vehicle does not skid or become uncontrollable during sudden braking maneuvers.

The ABS control unit is the main processing module of the entire anti-lock braking system or ABS system of your vehicle. All modern vehicle models come with a pre-installed anti-lock braking system.

The main components of the ABS system are the control module, valves, and sensors. The control unit essentially receives all the information, records it, and makes it available to the vehicle’s engine system to ensure that the brakes are applied safely without the vehicle skidding.

(more…)

The braking system is one of those things that is very important to take care of because you really want it to work properly in an emergency situation.

Brake fluid is one of those things that you need to replace every one or two years, otherwise it can cause rust inside the braking system and damage other parts.

There are two general types of brake fluids: silicone-based or glycol-based. Dot3 and Dot4 are popular glycol-based brake fluid options available for many vehicles. While Dot3 is popular with regular drivers, Dot4 is more common in newer car models.

But what is the difference between them and can you mix them with each other?

(more…)

Modern cars are increasingly advanced, and nowadays, you can’t even replace your brake pads on your own vehicle without a computer.

At least, that’s what our customers tell us. But is it true? Has it really come to the point where you need a computer to replace your rear brake pads?

In this article, you will discover how you can replace your parking brake with or without a tool.

(more…)

So you want to get rid of your old R12 AC system and be able to fill it with R134A?

(more…)

When your car’s heating or air conditioning is activated, the fan turns on and blows air out of the car’s vents. The motor that spins the fan is called the blower motor.

(more…)

Since oil is the lifeblood of your car, you need to ensure the blood doesn’t boil. Discover how an oil cooler prevents this from happening.

When winter is deep, you struggle to clear ice from the windshield and your breath fogs up even inside the car, an oil cooler for your engine oil might be the last thing you think your car needs. But regardless of the weather, engine oil gets very hot inside your engine.

The constant movement of pistons and other moving parts that keep the engine running creates a lot of heat through friction, and it’s part of the engine oil’s job to remove this heat. Although oils are very well designed to do this, especially fully synthetic engine oils with additives, they can take all the help they can get, and that’s where the car oil cooler comes into play.

By helping to keep the oil and your engine cool, this device is a key part of the car’s cooling system, and although most drivers never interact with their oil coolers, keeping them in working order will ensure they last longer. Like any other component, they wear out over time, so use our guide to find out what an oil cooler is and how to maintain it properly. You might even consider upgrading your oil cooler!

WHAT IS AN OIL COOLER IN AN ENGINE?

The first question many people ask is, “Is an oil cooler a radiator?” Essentially, yes, it’s a small radiator that does the same job as a normal radiator for oil. The purpose of the oil cooler is to allow the engine’s cooling system to remove excess heat from the oil. They look like small cross-flow heat exchangers, and the location of the oil cooler may differ depending on the car you have, although they are all used to maximize cooling efficiency. Since oil flows mainly through the engine block, the steering system, and a turbocharger in turbocharged vehicles, the oil can gain heat very quickly, especially during intense driving.

In most cars, engine oil is routed to the oil coolers from an adapter located between the engine block and the engine oil filter. The oil then flows through the cooler tubes while engine coolant circulates around the tubes. The heat from the oil is transferred through the tube walls to the surrounding coolant, similar in many ways to how a residential indoor air conditioning unit works. The heat absorbed by the engine cooling system is then transferred to the air as it passes through the vehicle’s radiator, which is located in front of the engine behind the vehicle’s grille.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO KEEP ENGINE OIL COOL?

Oil circulates around the engine block to ensure that moving parts are lubricated and can move freely and also to remove the heat produced by friction. Before the oil enters the oil pan or oil reservoir after it has been around the system and is being returned, it must be cooled so that the oil does not reach an unusable viscosity. Viscosity is a measure of how easily a fluid flows, and as oils lose and gain heat, their viscosities increase and decrease respectively. So, thick, lumpy oil has high viscosity, and smooth, thin oil flows more easily and therefore has lower viscosity.

Automotive oils are specially designed to fall within certain viscosity ranges. Therefore, if too much heat is transferred to the oil, its viscosity decreases to a point where it would struggle to properly lubricate the required systems. So it becomes a balance; you want it sticky enough to cling to gears and moving parts, but free enough to circulate through the system and keep it cool. Since temperature is a major factor in oil viscosity change, cooling becomes an essential process.

HOW LONG DOES AN OIL COOLER LAST?

An oil cooler is designed to last the lifetime of a car. This doesn’t mean, however, that it will last that long in reality, as there are a few things that can go wrong. It’s important to keep an eye out for any of the symptoms listed below. In some situations, the cooler may need to be replaced, but it’s hard to say exactly when. The sooner you spot faults, the less damage will need to be repaired.

If you have your car serviced, they will also check the oil and filter. Make sure they check the oil cooler at the same time.

WHY ELSE ARE OIL COOLERS IMPORTANT?

Oil coolers are extremely important for cars equipped with turbochargers. One of the most common reasons for turbocharger failure is inadequate lubrication. If the turbocharger doesn’t receive oil, the high speed will cause a lot of damage in a very short time. The oil must remain precisely at the right viscosity, so it must be kept cool and at the right temperature.

Some turbochargers opt for a water-cooling system that enhances mechanical durability and extends the turbocharger’s lifespan. Many turbochargers are designed without water cooling ports and are sufficiently cooled by air and the lubricating oil that passes through them. Some even have both and are cooled by oil and water. Either way, it’s important to keep the turbo cool for it to function. The oil cooler temperature must remain as stable as possible.

WHAT ARE COMMON OIL COOLER PROBLEMS?

There are a variety of different problems you might encounter with an oil cooler, and most of them will require replacing some components or even the cooler itself.

One problem you might encounter is that the oil cooler adapter, which connects the cooling lines to the cooler itself, fails. The rubber gasket or O-ring in the adapter can become hard and inflexible over time, meaning it doesn’t act as an effective seal.

The lines themselves or the oil cooler can also fail and start to leak, which would result in a loss of engine fluid. This can happen as a result of general wear and tear.

It’s also possible for coolant to be forced out of the cooling system into the oil pan if the engine isn’t running and the cooling system is under pressure.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF OIL COOLER FAILURE?

Common symptoms of oil cooler failure are usually related to fluid leaks. If the oil cooler adapter fails as mentioned above, engine oil can be forced out of the engine. If it’s just a small oil cooler leak, it might be a puddle of engine oil on the ground under your vehicle, or if it’s larger, it could be a stream of oil on the ground behind your vehicle. If either of these is the case, you should have it checked at a garage as soon as possible. When oil leaks, the engine loses its ability to lubricate itself. This could lead to increased engine temperature and premature wear of parts due to increased friction from lack of proper lubrication.

Another fluid that the cooling system can lose is engine coolant. Similar to an oil loss, engine coolant can leak from an oil cooler if the cooler body is damaged. Whether the coolant leak is large or small, the engine will overheat after a while if not repaired promptly. If the leak is small, you might notice puddles of coolant on the ground under your vehicle. If the leak is large, you’ll likely notice steam coming from under your vehicle’s hood. If enough coolant leaks from the radiator or oil cooler, it can lead to engine overheating issues and mechanical component failure, so have it checked as soon as possible!

Mixing of fluids can also be a sign of a problem with the oil cooler. If the oil cooler adapter fails internally (rather than externally, as mentioned above), you might notice engine oil in your cooling system. This happens because when the engine is running, oil pressure is higher than cooling system pressure. Oil is forced into the cooling system. This will eventually lead to a lack of lubrication and can seriously damage your engine. This can also happen in reverse, and coolant can get into your oil supply. For both, the cooling system and the engine both need to have all fluids flushed. If your oil cooler adapter is faulty, it will need to be replaced. The oil cooler itself will, of course, need to be replaced if it’s leaking.

If you need to repair your oil cooler or are not satisfied with its performance, you might consider an oil cooler upgrade. There are a variety of aftermarket kits available.

OIL COOLER UPGRADES

Most cars won’t need an oil cooler upgrade. For daily use, cars will never need more than the natural cooling effects of the oil being in the sump or passing through other lower-temperature areas to stay within the required viscosity limits.

If you plan to take your car to a track day, set it up for proper racing, or do a lot of off-roading, you might want to think about changing your oil cooler for something better. Most normal road cars aren’t designed to be beaten on a track lap after lap. Engine modifications can also bring the need for an oil cooler to the forefront of the shopping list. As an engine produces more power, it naturally creates more thermal energy, which will then be transferred to the oil. If this level of heat transfer is greater than what the original engineering was meant to handle, measures will need to be taken to remove this extra heat from the oil system.

You have a few different options here, but a front-mounted oil cooler is probably the simplest addition to your car. Sitting in or next to the radiator, a small heat exchanger should be able to cool the oil in an average sports car without taking too much away from the water cooling system.

Since their very first iterations in the early 20th century, cars have evolved significantly. From changes in engine operation to better braking systems, everything has developed to improve the driving experience for drivers. One of the most significant changes we have seen in recent years has been the development of vehicle transmissions and how power is distributed to the wheels. While these early cars were mostly rear-wheel drive, many modern drivetrains are either four-wheel drive (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). Thanks to the evolution of clutches and couplings, some vehicles are equipped with systems that allow power to be transferred between the front and rear wheels, or to engage all wheels if necessary, to maximize a vehicle’s potential and make driving easier.

Thanks to these systems that allow users to choose (or dictate situations) whether power should be transferred to four wheels or only two, car owners benefit from better safety and improved fuel economy. They can, for example, benefit from the economy of a front-wheel drive vehicle in everyday driving conditions and the performance and handling advantages that come from a four-wheel drive car when things get tricky. One of the most well-known coupling systems is Haldex. While there are many all-wheel drive systems (all-wheel drive), for example Audi’s quattro or Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel drive, the name Haldex appears more than any individual system.

You may have heard of Haldex AWD before and you will certainly have heard of some of the cars equipped with it, for example the Audi S3, the Volkswagen Golf R, or the Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG. Although each of these companies has its own name for its drivetrain systems, they are all related to Haldex. So, what is this AWD system, how does it work, and what are its advantages and disadvantages?

WHAT IS HALDEX AND HOW DOES THIS SYSTEM WORK?

<

Haldex Traction is a product of the Swedish company HaldexAB, which has specialized for many years in converting front-wheel drive systems into all-wheel drive systems. Haldex 4WD typically takes a front-wheel drive configuration, like that found in the VW Golf or Audi A3, and converts it into an all-wheel drive system, normally using electronic sensors and differentials to redirect power to the rear wheels when needed.

A “Haldex” system is present on the majority of small and medium-sized four-wheel drive vehicles. Basically, it uses an oil pressure-activated clutch coupling system on the rear differential to allow the car to instantly switch from FWD to 4WD as the ECU deems necessary, without driver intervention.

Haldex AWD is not actually a “proper” all-wheel drive, because in all-wheel drive vehicles, the standard drivetrain configuration drives all the vehicle’s wheels. Haldex is technically a four-wheel drive system because the default configuration for Haldex AWD only drives the front wheels, so it should really be called Haldex four-wheel drive. It is only when wheel slip is detected that the Haldex computer systems redirect torque to the rear wheels to compensate for the loss of traction at the front, driving all four wheels. Under normal driving circumstances, vehicles equipped with Haldex will operate only in front-wheel drive. Because this change happens without the driver doing anything, the system detects it itself, the system is often described as an automatic all-wheel drive system. Essentially,

The Haldex 4WD coupling is mounted on the rear axle differential and is driven by the driveshaft. Engine torque is transmitted to the driveshaft via the gearbox, the front axle differential, and the front axle drive. The driveshaft is connected to the input shaft of the Haldex coupling. Torque can only be transmitted to the rear axle differential when the Haldex clutch discs are engaged.

DIFFERENT GENERATIONS OF HALDEX

Haldex itself has evolved significantly since its inception and there have been 5 different generations to date.

Haldex gen 1 is the model for all other Haldex generations. The main components of the system are a mechanical-hydraulic pump activated when the wheels slip, a wet multi-plate clutch, working pistons, and a controllable throttle valve.

The unit is essentially a hydraulic pump with two connected shafts, one leading to the front axle and the other to the rear (input and output shafts). These two shafts are connected via the wet multi-plate clutch pack and this clutch is normally “unloaded,” meaning no torque is transferred between the two. When both shafts rotate at the same speed, the pump is inactive.

When a speed difference between the wheels on each axle is detected, between the input and output shafts, the input shaft pumps a piston and creates oil pressure in the pump. As the oil pressure is diverted via an oil channel to the working piston, this forces the working piston to compress the clutch disc pack. The input shaft and the output shaft of the clutch are now interconnected, and thus the front and rear axles are connected. We now have all-wheel drive!

Under normal driving conditions (driving at constant speed without slipping), the torque distribution is 90/10 front to rear. When the clutch is locked, torque is evenly distributed between the axles (50/50).

Haldex gen 2 still uses the mechanical hydraulic pump and works exactly the same way as generation 1, with some minor improvements. This system is still reactive.

The biggest change for Haldex gen 3 and Haldex gen 4 is that they are proactive systems rather than reactive. This means the ECU electronics can “pre-tension” the clutch and activate all-wheel drive before wheel slip occurs, making it much more effective and also increasing driver safety. Generation 4 does not use a mechanical pump, but instead uses a feed pump.

In 5th generation Haldex couplings, a new electro-hydraulic clutch actuator uses a centrifugal overflow valve to help accurately distribute power between the front and rear axles. Makes the system smoother and eliminates the need for some components, streamlining the process. To assist, there is also an integrated electronic control unit.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HALDEX?

Haldex offers several advantages, especially for manufacturers without an unlimited budget. Rather than researching and developing their own all-wheel drive systems, they can simply use Haldex systems. They can be fitted to almost any front-wheel drive vehicle and, as such, are popular with many manufacturers because FWD is the standard drivetrain system. This allows companies to easily produce a more sporty all-wheel drive model of a car that was previously only front-wheel drive.

One of the main advantages for drivers is that Haldex offers greater energy efficiency because it only drives 2 wheels for a large portion of the vehicle’s use, resorting to 4-wheel drive only when circumstances require extra traction.

The system of course makes driving much safer. With the same kind of operating principle as ABS systems, recognizing when a wheel is slipping can mean a car has better traction on slippery surfaces and eliminates some of the risks when driving on difficult terrain. This is true for all 4WD or AWD systems, but many of them must be activated by the driver. Since Haldex is automatic, as the Haldex controller decides when the system should be activated, it makes it stress-free and better at coping with unexpected changes in road surface.

WHAT ARE THE NEGATIVES OF HALDEX?

Because the Haldex system is rather complicated in its nature – using a specific oil, relying on high tolerances, and generating a buildup of friction particles over time – it must be maintained in the best condition and requires special oil and maintenance. Haldex repairs are difficult to do yourself (and not recommended!), so regular maintenance can be expensive.

No old oil can be used in the system; you should ideally only use the original VAG Haldex oil designed for your specific vehicle and this can be costly. Haldex oil is a non-lubricating oil to promote friction of the clutch discs and using any other oil can result in a total loss of drive to the rear, effectively converting your car to front-wheel drive. This means Haldex oil changes are extremely important for the proper functioning of the system.

There are also performance issues for cars equipped with Haldex systems. Since Haldex is primarily front-wheel drive, under heavy loads, vehicles equipped with Haldex tend to understeer massively, as the computers are often too slow to distribute torque to the rear axle, and because the default torque distribution remains biased towards the front wheel. This was a common problem with vehicles such as the Audi RS3, known for its chronic understeer.

Because the oil is specifically designed to promote friction between the clutch discs, this friction causes the slow buildup of more material particles in the oil and means it can quickly become ineffective, potentially requiring more frequent, costly changes.

WHEN SHOULD I HAVE MY HALDEX SERVICED?

On vehicles equipped with a Haldex filter, i.e., first and second generations, it is wise to change the oil and filter every 20,000 miles. For vehicles that do not have a filter, changing the oil every 10,000 miles is a good idea, as the pump strainer can become blocked, eventually leading to pump failure. A garage will be able to run a more comprehensive and accurate Haldex diagnostic test for you.

 

6 Easy Steps