Beginners Guide Tips and Tutorials Archive

An engine block houses the cylinders and their components, the water cooling system and the crankcase. Haynes explains everything

A thermostat is a device that reacts to temperature to open a valve, or turn on a switch. A car’s engine thermostat is the component in its cooling system that opens and allows coolant to circulate once the motor is warmed up. This gives two main benefits: 1) It allows the engine to heat up to its...

Pistons are found in both floating and fixed brake calipers. There’s usually one or two large diameter pistons in a floating caliper, on the inboard side of the brake rotor. When activated, the piston(s) draw both pads toward the brake disc. ...

A brake caliper forms a significant part of a car’s disc brake system. There is usually one per wheel (supercars can have two per wheel) and it houses caliper mounting bolts, bushings, pistons, seals, dust boots, retainers, noise shims, the brake pads and anti-rattle clips. ...