Pontiac Grand Am Side View Mirrors Without the use of a side view mirror (or mirrors) the simple act of changing lanes becomes a high risk driving maneuver. Statistically, if your side view mirror is missing, broken, cracked, or the glass is distorted the odds of being involved in an automobile accident are much greater. What, exactly is a side view mirror? The side view mirror is attached to the outside of the front passenger compartment door/s. Most late model vehicles are equipped with left and right side view mirrors but many older vehicles had only a driver‘s mirror. The mirrors are mounted inside a housing of either plastic or metal. The housing may have a chrome, black, or vehicle color finish on the outside. The mirror itself is attached to the housing in such a way as to be adjustable. The housing is typically bolted to the door, using studs and nuts accessible with the door open. In some applications the door panel will need to be removed, some will have an access cover over the attaching hardware. The driver (when seated comfortably in the driver’s seat) should be able to adjust the mirror/s in order to observe vehicles parked (or approaching) from the rear and along the left rear and right rear sides. What do I need to know about before ordering a used side view mirror? Let’s start with the vehicle make and model (and don’t forget left or right side). We are dealing with a Pontiac Grand Am, so we need to know what year the vehicle is, whether it is equipped with two or four doors, and what model it is (GT, SE, etc.) The model should determine the mirror […]
Front Upper Control Arms
Front Upper Control Arms The front upper control arm on your car is just one part of the front suspension. The upper control arm is the piece that prevents the wheel from moving in a sideways direction. When the arm fails, your tire can tilt at an angle. When you need suspension parts, we can help you find everything you need at cheap prices. You do not need to waste your time searching all over the Internet. Enter the name of the part into our locator bar and get search results from our national auto parts database. The tire and brake housing is connected to a bearing that is attached to a spindle or knuckle. The spindle allows the wheel to turn and move up and down. The base of the upper control arm assembly attaches to the frame of your vehicle. This attachment pivots on a bushing. The end attached to the knuckle pivots with a ball joint. If the control arm on your vehicle is in good condition, you may only need to replace the bushings. Not all vehicles use the upper arm. Many vehicles with front-wheel drive use struts and only have a lower control arm. When you replace parts on the front end of your vehicle, you will often need to have a front-end alignment done. If you are the least bit unsure, have the alignment checked. Even a slight problem can cause poor handling and increase the wear on your tires. Remember to use caution when you are working on suspension systems. In a coil spring assembly, the spring is compressed about halfway. The jack must be place properly, under the lower control arm, to prevent the spring from releasing […]
Mercedes Benz Headlights
Mercedes Benz Headlights Whether you are darting in and out of traffic in your economical A-series or cruising in style in your S500, the pop eye look is definitely not in style. Scratched and dented sheet metal is annoying enough but damaged headlights and headlight malfunctions can lead to safety issues and possibly traffic citations. So, if you are braving the night with only one headlight, here is some good news: Pro Auto USA can help you find used Mercedes Benz headlights using their extensive, nation wide network of reputable Mercedes Benz salvage professionals. Headlight Bulbs That ain’t your granddaddy’s old headlight. Mercedes automobiles are equipped with very technologically advanced headlight assemblies. Headlight capsule (or lens) assemblies are visible from outside the vehicle but the actual headlight bulb (or bulbs) is plugged into the headlight capsule from the rear. The headlight bulb is serviceable independent of the headlight assembly and will fail at regular intervals and under normal operating conditions. Bulb replacement is manageable (note: fingerprints on the surface of these bulbs have been known to cause failure so use caution when installing not to touch the glass surface of the replacement bulb) and relatively inexpensive compared to headlight lens assembly replacement (but not cheap by any means). Bulb configurations vary depending on make and model and range from Halogen capsule varieties to HID or Xenon type bulbs. Bulbs will burn out over time and bulb replacement is recommended in pairs. The lens, or capsule assembly is, however, another story. Headlight Lens/Capsule Assembly There are several reasons to replace your vehicle’s headlight lens assembly. The most common of these reasons is collision related damage. Cracked and broken lenses allow moisture to reach high temp headlight […]
