WJB is offering RockAuto customers an exclusive 10% off instant rebate on Wheel Hubs and Wheel Bearing & Hub Kits from now until the end of March 2019!

What is a Wheel Bearing & Hub Kit, and how does it differ from a Wheel Bearing & Hub Assembly?
Some vehicles do not have standard wheel bearing & hub assemblies, but instead utilize a design that uses separate components. In order to eliminate the hassle of having to select each piece individually, WJB developed Wheel Bearing & Hub Kits that include all key components required for a full install: the axle nut, wheel hub, wheel bearing, wheel seal, and c-clip (where applicable). Each kit contains precision-matched components to deliver smooth and quiet operation.

To see the WJB Wheel Hubs and Wheel Bearing & Hub Kits we have for your vehicle, go to the RockAuto catalog and click on the "Brake & Wheel Hub" category. Simply put the WJB parts in your cart to immediately save 10% off RockAuto's already reliably low prices.

See WJB rebate details and learn about other current manufacturer rebates on RockAuto's Promotions & Rebates page. While shopping, watch for the yellow "Promotion/Rebate" star next to the part names to help you save even more.

Spring into better braking performance with a new Rotor & Brake Pad kit from Power Stop! From now until April 7, 2019, Power Stop is offering up to $30 in savings off RockAuto's already reliably low prices on select performance upgrade kits.

Power Stop’s performance upgrade kits include drilled & slotted rotors designed to provide superior braking performance and a great appearance. The cross-drilled holes increase the rotor’s ability to dissipate heat, preventing warping or vibration during extended or aggressive braking situations. The rounded slots help prevent dust and gas buildup from forming between the pad and rotor by wiping away any debris and/or gases. This combination of drilled holes and rounded slots improves pad bite and can reduce brake temperature up to 180 degrees F (82 C). Brake pads in the kits are matched with the rotors to ensure fast break-in and noise-free superior braking power. With a direct OE fit and vane count, there are no special modifications needed on your car, truck or SUV when upgrading to drilled and slotted rotors.

Upgrade your brakes to a Power Stop Drilled & Slotted brake kit today. To find the kit for your vehicle, visit the RockAuto catalog and click on the "Brake/Wheel Hub" category.

Subaru Outback.org is an owners and enthusiasts site dedicated to the Subaru Outback model line and all Subaru vehicles and knowledge in general. Topics covered include everything from basic how-to maintenance tips to more technically challenging modifications.

Registration is FREE, fast and simple!

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.

When I was a starving student, I had a Toyota Corona station wagon. It must have been about a 1972, but it was all I could afford. One freezing winter day, I discovered a pool of oil next to one of the rear tires, and it was clear that it was gear oil from a bad axle seal. I drained the differential and jacked up that wheel. It did not take long to remove the wheel and brake drum, clean the brakes, pull the axle, pull the defective seal, replace the seal and reassemble everything.

It was time to refill the differential with new gear oil. In a proper garage, they use a gear oil pump to do the job in a jiffy. I spent hours trying various methods to get frigid gear oil in the tiny plug hole in that differential. I tried funnels, squeeze bottles and heating the oil in the kitchen. It was so cold that the gear oil was “thicker than molasses.”

Finally, the job was done. I called my father to talk about my frustration and final success. He just laughed and said, “You had that axle out of there. Why didn’t you just pour the oil down the huge axle hole?” I felt stupid, but I was glad to be able to make him laugh.

Paul in Washington

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 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!

How does the door design on the original Ford Bronco reduce complexity and cost?

A. The ignition lock cylinder and door locks share the same key.

B. Left door and right door sheet metal is identical until holes are punched for the handle, lock and hinges.

C. The inner door handle is a vinyl/metal strap that simply pulls on the same mechanism used by the push button on the outer door handle.

D. All the Above

Answer below

Speaking from the position of someone who is hair-challenged, I say bet on the baldest driver winning the race whenever you see a Toyota Prius and Ford C-Max facing off at the track. Hybrid vehicles like these typically have a Battery Cooling Fan system. Hair, lint, carpet fuzz, dust bunnies and other airborne debris can gradually clog the system reducing efficiency of the hybrid's battery and eventually causing the battery cooling system to fail.

Fans on cars usually bring in outside air to cool extremely hot parts like the engine's radiator. A fan also provides fresh air to a heat and air conditioning system that adjusts the interior air temperature to stay in a range that people prefer. It turns out that the big batteries in hybrid vehicles prefer the same air temperature range that people do.

A battery cooling fan pulls this not-too-hot, not-too-cold air from the hybrid vehicle's interior, circulates it around the battery and then blows it outside and/or back into the interior. The battery cooling fan's motor will wear out over time just like the blower motor in the heat/AC system.

Hybrid battery cooling fans face an additional challenge because they typically pull in unfiltered air from the car's interior. If you ever changed a home furnace air filter, you know how surprisingly dirty interior air can be over a long time period.

As seen in the illustration below from the Chilton repair manual (found under "Literature" in the RockAuto.com catalog), the Prius' battery cooling system pulls in air through an opening next to the right rear passenger's shoulder. Think about all those Prius taxi fleets. That right-rear air intake is positioned to collect hair and lint from every taxi customer!

The good news is that worrisome battery efficiency or temperature related trouble codes on an aging hybrid vehicle might be fixed relatively easily with a new Battery Cooling Fan, a new Hybrid Battery Pack Cooling Fan Relay (often located near the fan) or maybe just by cleaning out accumulated debris. Find Battery Cooling Fans under "Electrical" and Hybrid Battery Pack Cooling Fan Relays under "Electrical-Switch & Relay" in the RockAuto.com catalog.

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

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

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 your vehicle's history, interesting details, your favorite images (tips for taking pictures of your car) and what parts from RockAuto you have used.

How does the door design on the original Ford Bronco reduce complexity and cost?

A. The ignition lock cylinder and door locks share the same key.

Answer: B. Left door and right door sheet metal is identical until holes are punched for the handle, lock and hinges.

C. The inner door handle is a vinyl/metal strap that simply pulls on the same mechanism used by the push button on the outer door handle.

D. All the Above

Back up to trivia question