RockAuto now carries the full Bilstein line: struts, shock absorbers, heavy duty and performance suspension kits, steering racks, steering dampers, air springs, coil springs and more! For more than 60 years, Bilstein has been the development partner of choice for the suspension systems of renowned auto makers. Bilstein is known for design, quality, handling, driving comfort and safety.

Increase the off-road capability of your 1990 Ford Bronco, restore the original ride of your 2000 Toyota Tacoma, enhance the road hugging characteristics of your 2016 BMW 328i or replace the damaged rack and pinion steering unit in your Mercedes SLK280. Find Bilstein parts for your specific car or truck in the "Suspension" and "Steering" categories of the RockAuto catalog.

Autoline, a family owned parts remanufacturer based in Winnipeg, is offering RockAuto customers an exclusive, instant 10% savings on their Diesel "Fuel & Air" Parts (Injectors, Injector Driver Modules and more) through September 30th, 2017. That is 10% off RockAuto's reliably low prices!

Along with the savings Autoline has also doubled the warranty on their Diesel Fuel Parts to 24 months. Extra savings, increased warranty and the same excellent Autoline quality make this a deal you should not pass up!

Find Autoline Diesel Fuel Parts with instant 10% savings, listed under the "Fuel & Air" category for your specific vehicle in the RockAuto catalog. Parts included in the instant rebate (and other promotions/rebates) are marked with a .

GrandMarq.Net - Panther Headquarters is a forum dedicated to the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury Panther Chassis. Here you will find relevant topics on all of the Panther platform cars like the Mercury Grand Marquis, Ford Crown Victoria, Lincoln Continental and Town Car, Marauder and even the Colony Park and Country Squire wagons.

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 megant@rockauto.com

"Keyed" Distributor Shaft

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!

The "Knee Action" chapter in a 1930s era service manual covers what subject?

A. Independent Front Suspensions
B. Clutch Releasing and Engaging Mechanisms
C. Hand Crank Starting Procedures

Answer below

A pinch weld seam jutting out of the rocker panel makes it challenging to jack up the vehicle without crushing/scratching metal. Some jacks and jack stands come with U shaped fittings to wrap around pinch welds, but there is not one fitting that works well on every vehicle. The height and width of pinch welds vary. Many newer vehicles have plastic rocker panel covers that leave small openings only at the jacking points.

I personally solved the problem of jacking with pinch welds about a decade ago when I had a new composite (Trex brand) deck built on the back of my house. The carpenters left numerous small scraps of 4X4 inch composite plastic post scattered about. The scraps are thick enough to cover pinch welds and protect painted surfaces without being so tall that they become wobbly.

The composite material is easy to cut and shape. I set the blade on my table saw so it cuts slightly deeper than the height of the pinch weld. To help avoid crushing or splitting the composite block, I make sure the weight of the vehicle is resting on the block's flat surfaces rather than on the sharp edge of a pinch weld.

Two or three passes over the table saw blade makes the slot wide enough to slide over the pinch weld. One or two more saw blade widths might be necessary if the pinch weld arrived slightly bent up. Angling the table saw blade lets me cut the edges off composite blocks so they fit the small openings in specific plastic rocker panel covers.

I regularly misplace, find and make new composite weld seam blocks. Over the years, none of my blocks have worn out. Of course, when I jack up a vehicle, I always put multiple jack stands under it to ensure I remain safe if one of my homemade weld seam blocks, a jack stand, a hydraulic jack, etc. ever fails.

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

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

My car is a 1948 Studebaker Land Cruiser Commander Regal Deluxe. In its day, it was considered a limousine because of the suicide doors; it was easier for people to enter the back seat that way. The seat is like sitting on a couch. There is a foot rest behind the front seat, and there is a Robe/Cloak/Coat rack attached to the back of the front seat. This car is just like the very first car I had when I got my license, and it is fun to drive. It only has a flathead six but still moves along nicely with the "three on the tree" shifter. It has 30,000 original and verified miles on it, and I am the second owner. I bought all of the under-hood rubber parts (belts, hoses, etc.) recently from RockAuto along with parts for my wife's car, a 2005 Mazda 3.

I named her Elsie because it is a Landcruiser Commander, the first initials are L&C, hence the name.

Edward in Massachusetts

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 or RockAuto social media. 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.

The "Knee Action" chapter in a 1930s era service manual covers what subject?

Answer: A. Independent Front Suspensions
B. Clutch Releasing and Engaging Mechanisms
C. Hand Crank Starting Procedures

Back up to trivia question