Archive for the ‘automotive news’ Category
Automotive industry demands high strength fasteners and precision components such as nuts, bolts, studs, screws, rivets, tie rods, shims etc. that are applied to various parts and components to hold and connect two or more surfaces or objects together in a structure.
Automotive industry uses fixing components coming in a huge variety of materials ranging from common steel to aluminum, brass, copper, titanium and plastic to other exotic materials. Choosing the material to manufacture these fixing components is essential due to difference between each material’s strength, corrosion resistance, brittleness, galvanic corrosion properties, and of course cost. Materials are basically selected on considerations of environment, corrosive or thermal extremes, magnetic properties, weight, re usability, stresses, and expected life time. Depending on these specifications materials are classified into grades & quality standards to produce specific quality alloy mixtures that are then used to produce the fixing components. In addition to this, materials are further processed through a variety of coating, plating and hardening processes to form different specified grades of the alloy mixtures.
The various stages to enhance the metal corrosion resistance and appearance increase the cost of production that leads to expensive parts and fixing components. To keep costs within control, it is always advisable to use standardized materials. As specifying the material with specific chemical analysis adds time & cost to the whole process of manufacturing of fixing components. In a common practice, using standard materials only needs heat treating, cold working and coating to manufacture ready to use fixing components.
Quality is the primary concern for every manufacturing process and hence in order to manufacture high quality fixing tools and apply best industry practices that ensure timely deliverables, companies apply quality control methods such as computerized statistical process control archival documentation and various other approaches. Inspection process involves utilizing tri-roll gages, hardness testers and optical comparators to ensure optimum performance. Automated sorting technologies are applied for assurance of contaminant free product for use in automated feeding equipment. Other than this, third party inspection, verification and certifications testify quality process on the go.
Used in a variety of application areas, replacing fasteners is quite tedious. It is generally best to match them while replacing. Replacing a bolt or screw with a stronger one is always now a good practice as harder bolts tends to be more brittle and may not work for specific applications. In some environments, applying galvanic corrosion methodology may result better.
Erase from your memory the F-150 Lightning, SVT’s tire-smoking sports car/pickup. For 2010, SVT went the extreme opposite direction with the F-150 SVT Raptor: A mogul-jumping, off-road desert runner. Raising the number of F-150 models to nine is the Harley-Davidson F-150 edition, which features 22-inch-diameter polished, forged aluminum wheels, chrome exhaust tips and Harley-Davidson graphics and logos on just about every available space.
Existing models get several new features, too. A chrome billet grille is available on the XLT Chrome package, a chrome mesh grille insert comes on the Lariat Chrome package and black tubular running boards are available on the XL Regular Cab and SuperCab.
The first F-150 SVT Raptors will come with the 320-hp, 390 lb.-ft. torque, 5.4-liter V8 offered in other F-150s. Available later will be a 6.2-liter V8 with approximately 400 hp that’ll launch the SVT Raptor into low-earth-orbit if you can find the right jump. Just make sure to nail the landing after re-entry. In addition to the Raptor’s 6.2L V8 (which will come with a six-speed automatic), the 2010 F-150 is available with three engines, all V-8s: a 320-horsepower, 5.4-liter; a three-valve-per-cylinder 292-horsepower, 4.6-liter; and a two-valve-per-cylinder 248-horsepower 4.6-liter.
The first two come with a six-speed automatic, while the two-valve 4.6L is mated to a four-speed automatic. A two-wheel-drive F-150 with the 4.6-liter, three-valve engine is EPA estimated at 21 miles per gallon on the government’s highway driving cycle. A 2WD 5.4-liter will achieve 20 mpg on the highway.
Some keys to successful desert race trucks are long suspension travel to soak up bumps and keep the drive wheels on the ground, robust shock absorbers with extra fluid reservoirs to prevent overheating, and reinforced suspension components to stand up to the constant pounding. The Raptor has over 12 inches of travel in the rear suspension and over 11 up front. While long for a stock vehicle, it’s far less than half of pure race trucks, so don’t challenge Robbie Gordon to a desert duel.
The Raptor is equipped with specially designed Fox Racing Shox shock absorbers, designed to maintain their performance over miles of washboard surfaces. To take the pounding of a sprint through the desert, Ford added a beefier rear axle housing and a completely new front suspension with strong upper and lower control arms and stronger tire rods, among other enhancements. In addition the Raptor has a seven-inch wider track – the distance between tires on the same axle – to improve stability while bouncing between the sagebrush and yucca plants.
For situations where deep sand or mud slow progress, the Raptor has a locking rear differential. In addition, selecting the off-road mode disables the electronic driver aids (electronic stability control and traction control) and switches the logarithm of the anti-lock brakes to a more off-road- appropriate setting. The Raptor is fitted with giant 315/70R17 BFGoodrich All-Terrain TA/KO tires. These 35-inch diameter tires add ground clearance to help avoid contact with rocks. Just in case that’s not enough clearance, the Raptor comes standard with heavy-duty skid plates to protect the oil pan, transmission and other key bits under the vehicle.
Visually, the Raptor has a unique grille, front bumper and fenders. Inside, there’s a revised console. The steering wheel features an orange stripe at the top, similar to those found on NASCAR racecars, to help the driver know how far the wheel is turned in case he loses track in the excitement. The Raptor is available only as a four-wheel-drive SuperCab with a 5.5-foot bed.
Studies have shown that many Harley riders like to tow their motorcycles to events, rather than eat June bugs all the way there and back. And the Ford F-150 is one of their most popular choices for that tow work, with Ford’s Trailer Sway Control. Whether they know it or not, the 2010 Ford F-150′s biggest advantage for Harley pullers is how Ford has reprogrammed the pickup’s electronic stability control system computer to recognize when the trailer begins to sway then react to quell trailer motion by applying individual brakes or reducing acceleration. Also, an optional in-dash trailer brake controller prevents the bruised knees and scraped shins common with aftermarket controllers. And let’s not forget…there are Harley-Davidson logos on the sides, front fenders, tailgate, ignition key, door trim panels, the windshield and a few other places.
The F-150 continues its reign as the “favorite” among pickups. The SVT Raptor and Harley-Davidson F-150 editions will only add to that lead.
When Jeremy Clarkson and James May decided to venture to the North Pole, they were looking for a vehicle that was indestructible (in other words a vehicle they could abuse), so the Toyota Hilux was the obvious choice. This mighty machine driven by the Top Gear presenters is due to go on display at the 2010 Outdoor Show. Great-Cars.co.uk reported that the “4×4 which conquered the ice and snowfields” will hopefully triumph at the show offering visitors the chance to get behind the wheel of a similarly awesome Hilux and test their own driving skills in a range of adventure off-roading tours which are being promoted at the show.
The Top Gear North Pole Expedition shows have been described by Concept-Cars.org as “one of their best shows, they really pushed their limits on this one”. 4×4 enthusiasts may want to head to the NEC arena between March 26th and 28th to take a look at the Arctic truck, which transported Clarkson and May to the North Pole.
A spokesperson for Toyota said that the Hilux that conquered the caps was “equipped with a few additional features to meet the demands of tackling the countries glaciers, including a set of giant 38-inch tyres that allow the vehicle to traverse deep into snow and thin ice”.
Toyota have a challenge on their hands if they want to attract the same number of viewers at the show that Clarkson and May did when they voyaged across the North Pole – with millions of viewers tuning in to see the Hilux become the first car to be driven to the Magnetic North Pole.