More New Catalog Features

Extras Tab

Need a Molding Clip? Need a Cam Gear Sprocket Tool? Need a Metric Thread Grease Fitting? Need a Triple Gauge Kit?

RockAuto added an "Extras" category to our catalog for tools and universal parts that do not fit into a specific category for a specific vehicle. Here is where you will find all of those "Extras" that you have been looking for. Clips, bolts, tools, gauges, connectors, clamps, interior parts, hoses,...even belts for ATVs and snowmobiles.

New Car Search

Want another quick way to find your vehicle in the RockAuto catalog? Try the new Car Search feature. Our already easy to use catalog is now even easier!

More New Parts

Sunpro offers a variety of mechanical and electrical gauges in several different gauge styles. These styles include white or black dial face with chrome or black panels and bezels. The gauges include oil pressure, oil/water temperature, voltmeter, ammeter, vacuum/boost, vacuum, fuel level, and air fuel ratio.

You will find Sunpro gauges and more in the "Body Interior" category under the "Extras" tab in the RockAuto catalog.

DNX high performance headers, pipes, mufflers, and direct fit Cat Back exhaust systems for your Acura or Honda are now available at RockAuto.

These parts are perfect to build up your car for show purposes, or perfect to simply add “attitude” that expresses your unique personality.

RSS Feeds

RockAuto has added RSS feeds to our website. The two RSS feeds now available will notify you when the monthly newsletter is released, and when new promotions and rebates are available.

Click here to subscribe and for more information.

Maintenance Tip

Vehicles with rack and pinion steering, front wheel drive, or rear wheel drive with independent rear suspension all have sets of flexible "boots" or "bellows" underneath that should be inspected and replaced if they show signs of cracking, tears, or leaking.

The boots keep dirt and water out of sensitive, expensive steering gear joints (where the steering rack meets the tie rod end) and expensive drivetrain joints (CV joints). The boots also hold in protective grease. The boots look like small rubber accordions. They can be inspected by either removing the wheels or raising the vehicle. There will be at least one boot on both the right and left sides and some vehicles may have two boots (an inner and an outer boot) on each side. New boots/bellows are relatively inexpensive.

Installation of rack and pinion bellows (steering) is not difficult on most vehicles. Installation of new CV boots (drivetrain) can be a lot of work. To slip the new boots onto the end of the driveshafts will probably require removing wheel hubs, suspension mounting bolts, etc. However, it is still worth replacing the boots to prevent doing even more work later on. For easier installation there are Speedi-Boot type CV boots available. The Speedi-Boot style opens up like a clam and slips over the driveshaft from the side. It is not necessary to remove parts to expose the end of the driveshaft; just cut off the old boot and close the Speedi-Boot clam over the driveshaft The two halves of the clam are sealed with bolts and/or adhesive depending on the brand of the boot and the vehicle. Careful installation is very important with Speedi-Boots to ensure the boot is sealing properly.

You will find these parts and more in the "Drivetrain" and "Steering" categories of the RockAuto catalog.

Before Mark knew it, he was following the farmer out to his farm. Mark was wearing his funeral suit and there was several feet of snow on the ground, but curiosity about those barns overcame childhood warnings never to follow strangers into the woods.

The farmer had 28 buildings filled with old tractors, furniture, and best of all, old cars! In one barn Mark found a 1980 Camaro Z-28; black with red interior, t-tops, 350 cid, 4-speed, and cowl induction. When Mark was in high school this was the bad ass Camaro on the front of the Chevy sales brochure!

The tires were flat and a thick layer of dust covered everything. There were 87000 miles on the odometer and the Z28 had not left the barn since 1987. But the farmer had never driven it in the snow and under all the grime it was rust and rodent free. He had all the maintenance records up to the point when he inexplicably stopped driving it twenty years ago. The farmer pulled a battery out of a tractor and put some gas in the tank. The 350 started right up and Mark bought the car.

Mark kept shopping and next bought what every man needs; a couple of vending machines from the late ‘50s. The farmer had gotten out of the vending business abruptly. The coke machine still held 10 oz. bottles of nearly 50 year old Coke and the cigarette machine was full of ancient, dried out smokes! After buying the farmer’s Indian motorcycle, Mark remembered his wife was still sitting in the Cadillac out in the snow and decided it was time to go.

A few days later Mark went back with his dad to pick up the Z28. The only surprises on the way home were when the cowl induction opened on the Z28 and when a car pulled out of a driveway and knocked the rear bumper cover off Mark’s Cadillac. Mark’s dad and the Z28 were ok and the Cadillac could be fixed so Mark was still happy.

The Z28 cleaned up great. Mark had the driver’s seat reupholstered with original GM fabric. Otherwise he just had to do a lot of maintenance and scrubbing.

Mark will not tell me exactly where the farm is. He selfishly says he has not been through all the barns yet. There cannot be that many Kwik-Trip mini-marts in Wisconsin so maybe I still have a chance of finding that farmer and his barns myself!

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

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