RockAuto now has an expanded selection of integrated Wheel Bearing / Hub / Knuckle Assemblies. All the parts arrive pre-assembled and ready to install, saving time/money and simplifying the repair.

Special tools that some DIYers might not even own, such as a ball joint press, are no longer required. There is no need to disassemble old hub assemblies and attempt to separate salvageable parts from bad parts; simply bolt on the new assembly. Installation time can easily be reduced by 50%. The vehicle is out of the garage and back on the road much faster.

Many of the Wheel Bearing / Hub / Knuckle Assemblies even include the small but important parts necessary for a thorough repair, like the axle nut, snap ring, mounting bolts and caliper bracket (where noted). Ready to install assemblies help prevent oops-I-need-that-part-too surprises and give you an all-in-one-box repair solution.

Wheel Bearing / Hub / Knuckle Assemblies can be found in the "Brake & Wheel Hub" section of the RockAuto Catalog for specific vehicles, everything from a '99 VW Beetle, to a '07 Ford Fusion, to a '11 Hyundai Accent, to a '16 Toyota Avalon...

Introducing RockAuto’s new animated TV commercial:

Our new commercial emphasizes how RockAuto's reliably low prices help people buy more parts and/or keep money for other necessities.

Supra Forums.com is a large online Toyota Supra MKI, MKII, MKIII, MKIV and MKV owners club community; discuss DIY, modifications and upgrades.

Registration for this comprehensive but easy to navigate forum is free, fast and simple. Join today!

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.

In 1973, I moved to Arizona to go to college. I had a green 1966 MGB. It developed a very odd problem that my friends used to love talking about. If I made a sharp left turn, the car would stall. If I then made a sharp right turn, the car would start again and continue running normally after that.

I could not figure it out...so I eventually took the car to a local mechanic. But since the car always ran fine when I took it in, he was not able to pinpoint the cause. This went on for more than six months. Then one day, I made a left turn at a major intersection, began upshifting and the car stalled and would not start again. I put it in neutral and pushed...the shop I went to was less than a half-mile ahead. The mechanic stood there and shook his head as I pushed the car into the station.

When I went back later, the mechanic was smiling. He had found the problem! On that MGB, the electric fuel pump is on the right side of the gas tank. On the right side of the fuel pump is an electrical terminal with a thumbscrew for the power wire. That thumbscrew had come loose! With a left turn, the wire would pull away from the terminal, and the fuel pump would quit working. With a right turn, the wire went back against the terminal and everything operated normally again.

Tim 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!

The most common API Service rating printed on motor oil containers is currently SN, but some oil bottles are labelled "SN Plus." What does "SN Plus" mean?

A. SN Plus and "Dexos Gen 2" labelled oils are formulated to help prevent low-speed pre-ignition (LSPI); a new type of engine knock that can occur in direct-injection turbocharged engines.

B. SN Plus oil includes additives designed to resist acid formation in hybrid vehicle engines that may not heat up adequately because they often run for only short intervals.

C. SN Plus oil contains at least 20% re-refined motor oil. Re-refined oil is used oil that goes through a refining process similar to that for crude oil to remove all contaminants.

Answer below

Car enthusiasts recognize fanciful part names like muffler bearing, headlight oil and grille shutter from those ancient jokes about gullible car owners and disreputable mechanics. Hold on, one of those part names is actually real! Even the savviest car people may now just be discovering that vehicles built in the last seven or eight years often have one or more "grille shutters" under the hood.

A grille shutter (AKA radiator shutter) looks like a heavy-duty version of the venetian blinds covering the windows in our homes. It is usually mounted directly behind the external/cosmetic grille. A computer-controlled electric motor opens and shuts the grille shutter louvers to make the vehicle more aerodynamic/fuel efficient while also helping maintain the optimum engine temperature.

Typical Grille Shutters

The grille shutter louvers are closed to warm up a cold engine faster and to retain warmth in extremely cold climates. (Blocking the grille with pieces of cardboard will no longer be necessary when visiting my wife's home town in northern Minnesota during the winter.) Grille shutter louvers close or partially close at highway speeds when there is plenty of airflow under the hood; making the vehicle more aerodynamic and fuel efficient. Closed louvers also incidentally help keep road debris and bugs from clogging or damaging the AC condenser, radiator and other downstream parts.

When grille shutters are damaged or begin to wear out, the computer will typically turn on the dashboard check engine light after detecting the grille shutter's electric motor is not spinning at all or is spinning erratically as it starts to fail or struggles to open/close worn louver mechanisms. If some or all of grille shutter louvers are not opening when they should, then the engine will start to overheat.

Grille shutters typically have one electrical connector and handful of bolts holding them in place. How easy or time consuming replacing a shutter is on specific models usually depends on how long it takes to remove the external grille to gain access to the grille shutter assembly. Some vehicles such as the Ford F-150 have separate upper and lower grille shutters.

Ford began installing grille shutters on most of their vehicles beginning around 2012. Everything from the Ford Focus to the Ford Police Interceptor has grille shutters. Altimas, Cherokees, Darts, Impalas, Outbacks, Regals, Silverados and too many other models to list have all gotten grille shutters over the past half-dozen years. Look under "Body" in the RockAuto.com catalog to see the "Grille Shutter" for your specific vehicle.

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

To read more of Toms articles, click this link and choose from story titles on the Newsletter Archives page.

This is my 2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. I picked it up in late December 2017 with just over 100k miles. It was in "OK" shape but a lot of the basic maintenance had been neglected.

So naturally, I turned to RockAuto as I have done with other vehicles, both personal and for family/friends. It took me a while to get started...it was winter so I had some time to figure out what I needed.

I started with the spark plugs, wires and ignition coil, followed by all the filters (the air filter looked original, yuck) then moved on to the suspension; including the shocks, rear shackles (2” lift), bushings and end links. Recently, I was unhappy with the feel of the front suspension, so I went to RockAuto for upper and lower control arms w/ball joints and inner and outer tie rod ends. And let's not forget the alignment bolts. My truck rides and runs like it should thanks to RockAuto!

Anthony in Massachusetts (RockAuto customer for over two 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! Please email flamur@RockAuto.com with the vehicle history, interesting details, your favorite images (tips for taking pictures of your car) and what parts from RockAuto you have used.

The most common API Service rating printed on motor oil containers is currently SN, but some oil bottles are labelled "SN Plus." What does "SN Plus" mean?

Answer: A. SN Plus and "Dexos Gen 2" labelled oils are formulated to help prevent low-speed pre-ignition (LSPI); a new type of engine knock that can occur in direct-injection turbocharged engines.

Motorcraft 5W-20 with SN Plus label & Valvoline 5W-20 with Dexos Gen 2 label

B. SN Plus oil includes additives designed to resist acid formation in hybrid vehicle engines that may not heat up adequately because they often run for only short intervals.

C. SN Plus oil contains at least 20% re-refined motor oil. Re-refined oil is used oil that goes through a refining process similar to that for crude oil to remove all contaminants.

Back up to trivia question