Cars - http://maxpages.com/carsinhistory/B

braking: The action of operating the devices for slowing the motion of a vehicle

braking distance: A measurement of the distance that a vehicle will travel from the time the brakes are first applied to the actual moment it stops. Also see stopping distance

braking effort: The amount of strength needed by the operator to bring a vehicle to a stop or the amount of resistance in the brake system

braking force: The amount of strength needed by the operator to bring a vehicle to a stop or the amount of resistance in the brake system

braking ratio: The distribution of braking effort between the front and rear wheels

braking system: All the components that contribute to stopping the vehicle.

brand number: A series of identifying numbers and letters which some companies burn into the sidewall rubber of a truck tire to show their initials, mounting date, etc.

brass punch: A drift or punch made of brass which is used to remove bushings and bearing races because brass does not score or mark steel.

brass hammer: A hammer with a brass head which is used to pound steel pins etc. into place without damaging them.

braze: To join two pieces of metal together by heating the edges to be joined and then melting drops of brass or bronze on the area. Unlike welding, this operation is similar to soldering, except a higher melting point material is used.

braze on: See braze-ons.

braze-on: See braze-ons.

braze-ons: Parts for mounting shift levers, derailleurs, water bottle cages, and racks, which are fastened to a bicycle frame through a type of soldering process known as brazing.

break: [1] The action of an item when it no longer holds integrity -- usually resulting in unusable pieces. [2] To dismantle a vehicle for parts. [3] To separate as when a switch breaks contact when it is shut off

break away: See breakaway

breakaway: The action of a wheel when it turns very rapidly and loses traction so that there is no contact with the ground. Bias-belted tires and radial tires resist the breakaway action better than a bias ply tire.

break down: [1] To cease to operate as in our car broke down on the highway. [2] To lose its insulating effectiveness

breakdown: [1] A failure of a mechanism or vehicle as in we had a breakdown on the highway. [2] A loss of insulating effectiveness

breakdown recovery: Rescue of a vehicle that has suffered a breakdown by towing it to a service station, etc.

breakdown service: A service provided by a tow-truck in providing repairs at the place where the breakdown occurred

breakdown truck: A tow-truck

breaker: [1] A person who dismantles a vehicle for parts. Also called a dismantler. [2] A cushioning layer between the belt layers and the tread in radial tires. [3] A device for removing contact. See bead breaker and circuit breaker.

breaker arm: The movable part of a pair of contact points in a distributor or magneto.

breaker cam: The lobed cam rotating in the ignition system which interrupts the primary circuit to induce a high tension spark for ignition.

breaker plate: The movable plate inside the distributor to which the points and the condenser are attached.

breaker point: breaker points.

breaker points: A mechanical switch in the distributor with two metal contact points (usually made of silver, platinum, or tungsten) that open and close. When the points are closed, energy is stored in the primary windings of the coil. When the breaker points open, this energy is transferred to the secondary windings of the coil and stepped up, resulting in a high voltage to fire the plugs. The air gap between the breaker-point surfaces is critical. If the gap is too small, the timing is retarded, if too wide advanced. Also called "points," "contact points," and "ignition points." Also see dual breaker points.

breakerless: A distributor or ignition system where the mechanical switching device (such as points or contacts) are replaced by an electronic switching device through the use of transistors. They are also called "contactless" or "all-electronic ignitions."

breaker's yard: A British term for a salvage yard

break in: See break-in.

break-in: Period of operation between the installation of new or rebuilt parts and the time in which the parts are worn to the correct fit, driving at a reduced and varying speed for a specified mileage to permit parts to wear to the correct fit. British term is "run-in."

break-in oil: Special formulated oil used in a new engine for a specified amount of time so that all bearing surfaces, etc. are properly seated.

breakover: The area of a dent in a panel where the sheet metal is actually buckled into the opposite direction of its normal shape

break time: The length of time the contact breaker points remain open. Opposite to dwell

break up: British term for dismantling a vehicle and selling the parts. Similar to part out

breathalyze: To administer a breathalyzer test

breathalyzer: A device into which a driver blows to determine the amount of alcohol in his breath (and thus in his blood)

breathalyzer test: A test given by the police to determine if a driver has exceeded the allowable alcohol content in his system.

breather: A vent in the crankcase for relieving internal pressure or admitting air. Also see oil breather.

breather pipe: A pipe opening into the interior of the engine. It is used to assist ventilation the pipe usually extends downward to a point just below the engine so that the passing air stream will form a partial vacuum thus assisting in venting the engine.

breathing: The action of taking in air for combining with fuel for burning as energy and then exhausting it. See breathing capacity.

breathing capacity: The volume of air that enters the cylinder during each intake stroke. Volumetric efficiency is determined by comparing the actual volume of air with the maximum possible amount. Also called "air capacity."

breath test: See breathalyzer test

Brewster: The 1925-1948 models with required application are classic cars.

BRG: Acronym for British Racing Green

bridge: A metal support which is installed in the valve slot of a wheel rim and prevents the flap and tube from bulging through the slot under high pressure and high heat conditions. Also called "lemna."

bridged: See diode.

bridge igniter: A device for detonating the air bag

bridge washer: A protective thin metal washer installed at the valve stem between the flap and rim base to prevent the tube and flap from protruding through the valve slot as a result of high pressure and high temperature.

bright: A lustrous, shiny finish. Opposite to matt

Brinell hardness: A test of a metal's hardness by hydraulically pressing a hard ball into the metal

Bristol: See Arnolt Bristol.

British Association: (BA) A term used to describe a series of fine, small diameter threads for electrical and precision equipment

British Leyland: (BL) A former manufacturer of British automobiles, now called the Rover Group

British Motor Corporation: (BMC) A former manufacturer of British automobiles which changed its name to BritishLeyland and then to the Rover Group

British Racing Green: (BRC) A dark green color which used to be the official racing color for British cars

British Standard Fine: (BSF) The fine screw thread used on most British vehicles before metrication. The coarse thread was British Standard Whitworth

British Standards Institution: (BSI) An organization which prepares and issues British standard specifications

British Standard Whitworth: A coarse screw thread used on British vehicles before metrication

British thermal unit: (BTU) A measurement of the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water, one degree Fahrenheit.

brittle point: A low extreme temperature at which a substance (like rubber) fractures on sudden impact.

broach: Bringing a metal surface to the desired shape by forcing a multiple-edged cutting tool across the surface.

broken-in: A condition in which a new engine has overcome any wear-in problems.

broker: an intermediary with legal authority to operate on behalf of the manufacturer.

bronze: An alloy of copper and tin. See sintered bronze.

Brough: The 1925-1948 Superior with required application are classic cars.

Brougham: See Cadillac Eldorado Brougham.

bruise: Any tire injury which weakens, breaks, or separates the carcass cords without damaging the visible rubber surface.

brush: [1] A paintbrush [2] The pieces of carbon, or copper, that rub against the commutator on the generator or starter motor or against the slip rings on an alternator. As they wear down, they need to be replaced. Also see third brush.

brushes: See brush.

brush holder: A device which keeps the carbon brushes in an electric motor in contact with the commutator or slip ring

brush spring: A spring which pushes against the back end of a carbon brush in an electric motor to force it against the commutator or slip ring

BSF: Acronym for British Standard Fine

BSI: Acronym for British Standards Institution

BSW: Acronym for British Standard Whitworth

BTDC: before top dead center. Spark occurs on the compression stroke, before the piston reaches top dead center.

B thread: See internal thread

BTU: Acronym for "British thermal unit."

bubble: A small blister in the finish of paint

bubble car: A type of small car which was popular in the 1950s. It had a bulbous-shaped glass front to provide maximum interior room in spite of its small size. The door opened to the front of the driver. Examples are the BMW Isetta and Heinkel Trojan

Bucciali: The 1925-1948 models with required application are classic cars.

bucket seat: An individual seat which is found in pairs in the front of a vehicle. Named because the curvature of the backrest and cushion resembles a cut-out bucket.

bucket tappet: valve lifters that are hollow, cylindrical, and closed at one end and used with some overhead camshafts. The flat, closed end of the tappet (bottom of the bucket) rests against the camshaft lobe with part of the valve spring and valve stem enclosed by the cylinder. Called "bucket tappets" because they are shaped like upside-down buckets.

Buckland: See AC Buckland Open Tourer.

buckle: [1] A locking clasp usually found on seat belts and tie-down straps. [2] To crumple up, especially when metal bends in a vehicle accident

buckle up: To put your seat belt on. British term is "belt up"

BUDC: before upper dead center. Same as BTDC.

budd mounting: See double cap nut.

buff: As a verb it means to polish. As a noun it indicates an expert in a field or a person greatly interested in the field as in Jim is a car buff. Also see nut.

buff contour: The specked shape of a buffed retread tire.

buffer: A machine used to rasp the old tread from the tire.

buffered radius: A dimension that ensures the proper contour of the buffed surface according to tire size and type and matrix dimensions.

buffeting: Severe, pulsating force of wind. When you drive in a convertible with the top down, you will often experience this buffeting action of the wind. It is also noticeable when a vehicle is driven quickly with the windows down.

buffing: [1] Smoothing and polishing a surface by using a buffing wheel and polishing paste or liquid. [2] Grinding or rasping off remaining tread rubber to give the casing proper texture to accept new retread stock and proper dimensions to fit the matrix.

buffing template: A machined device of a specific shape used to obtain the required buffed contour.

buffing wheel: A disc which is covered in soft cloth or lambswool. It is powered by a tool like a drill which spins the disc to give a high gloss shine to the surface of a vehicle.

buff line: The dividing line in the cross section of a tire between the buffed surface of the original tire and the new retread rubber.

bug and tar remover: A solution which will dissolve bugs and tar residue. After application, it needs to be washed off or it will also remove the paint.

bug deflector: A length of clear plastic which is attached to the front of the hood to prevent bugs from hitting the windshield.

Bugatti: The 1925-1948 models are classic cars. The 1951 Type 101 model is a milestone car.

Buick: The Riviera for 1949 and 1963-70 are milestone cars. The 1931-32 series 90 with required application are classic cars. The 1953-54 Skylark are milestone cars.

builder: In retreading a tire, a machine used to apply tread rubber to a casing.

build quality: The quality of workmanship and material composition in the construction of a vehicle.

build up: [1] To increase the surface level of metal by welding more material on it (and later grinding it to shape) or by adding filler to it. [2] To assemble or put something together.

built-up crankshaft: A crankshaft which is not cast or forged as one piece, but made of several different parts.

bulb: An electronic device which gives off light by the heating of an element contained with a glass enclosure. The metal base which conducts the electricity may be a barrel with locating pins, or it may have small filament wires protruding from the base. In some cases it is a tube with contacts at either end. When replacing bulbs, especially high intensity bulbs like halogen, be sure to avoid touching the glass. The oil from your fingers will cause the bulb to overheat and burn out quickly. If you do touch the glass, you need to clean it with alcohol and air dry it.

bulkhead: A structural partition that separates compartments. This is generally a metal wall that extends from one side of a vehicle to the other. In the engine compartment, you would find a radiator bulkhead near the front and a firewall near the back. Another bulkhead separates the passengers from the trunk. The dashpanel is also a bulkhead.

bull bar: The upward extension of a bumper to protect lights and the grille. Also see nerf bar

bull horn: A warning horn that sounds like the bellow of a bull or the moo of a cow

bull low: The lowest gear in a transmission. Some older transmissions listed their gears as bull low (used for getting out of a stuck condition or climbing a very steep hill), low or first (used for starting out from a stop or for climbing a moderate hill), second (used for town driving or slight hills), third (used for highway cruising).

bump: Refers to the upward movement of the wheels and suspension. Also called "jounce."

bump and rebound: The two stages of suspension movement requiring damping. See bump and rebound

bumper: Originally a bumper was a separate metal bar or blade at each end of a vehicle to prevent damaging the main part of the vehicle from damage occured by a slight bump into an obstruction or another vehicle. See bumper system.

bumper bar: A tubular bar or series of bars which are designed to protect the front of a vehicle

bumper blade: A flat bar which is designed to protect the front or rear of a vehicle.

bumper bracket: A device to which the bumper is attached to the frame, body, or chassis

bumper filler: A small panel usually made of plastic which fits between the bumper and the body of the vehicle.

bumper horn: A short bumper extension which is mounted vertically (i.e., perpendicular to the main bumper), usually one on each side of the bumper. The British term is "overrider."

bumper insert: A rubber or plastic strip fitted to the width of a bumper to prevent scoring of the bumper.

bumper iron: A bumper bracket

bumper jack: A device for lifting one corner of a vehicle to change a tire. Older cars used a long bar which fitted into a base. A device on the long bar had a hook which was placed in a strategic place on the vehicle. A lug wrench was inserted into the other end of the device and used to move the device up the long bar thus lifting the vehicle.

bumper system: An energy-absorbing system with some type of deformable material including hydraulic cylinders which enable the bumpers to protect the vehicle from damage in low-speed impacts.

bumper to bumper: [1] A traffic condition in which a line of vehicles are stopped one after the other or are moving very slowly. [2] A way of expressing the entire vehicle from one bumper to the other.

bumping blade: An autobody tool used for slapping out slight dents (sometimes without a supporting dolly). It has slight serrations whcih hold the metal to avoid stretching. Also called a "bumping file."

bumping file: An autobody tool used for slapping out slight dents (sometimes without a supporting dolly). It has slight serrations whcih hold the metal to avoid stretching. Also called a "bumping blade."

bumping hammer: An autobody hammer used with a dolly for restoring a panel's shape

bumping out: An autobody term in which a damaged panel is hit with a hammer until it is nearly the correct shape.

bumping spoon: See spring beating spoon

bump start: [1] A method of starting a manual transmission (not for automatics) vehicle by pushing it (especially down a hill) and letting in the clutch while in second gear and the ignition set to the "on" position. [2] To start a car using a bump start

bump steer: When an uneven road surface causes a vehicle to steer or lose directional stability, this is called "bump steer." At the front, bump steer is associated with the tie-rod and linkage-arm relationship. It is caused by the method of locating the rear suspension, the type of rear suspension, and the geometry of the various linkages. In race cars, bump steer is designed out of the suspension so that the handling is as precise as possible. In most cars it is present to some degree. In fact, it can be useful to allow engineers to design a small amount of understeer or oversteer into the chassis.

bump stop: A cushioning device, usually rubber, that limits the upward movement of the wheels and suspension to prevent metal-to-metal contact that could lead to suspension damage or failure. Also called "jounce bumpers."

bungee cord: A rubber tie down strap of various lengths (usually 10 mm diameter) with a metal hook on each end. Most are covered with fabric. The hooks are often plastic coated to minimize scratching. Some have an extra hook attached in the middle. Others are linked with a second cord to produce an X-shape. They are used to secure objects to a luggage rack. See bungee net.

bungee net: A specialized bungee cord shaped in the pattern of 25 squares with plastic covered hooks on two opposite sides of the net. It is used to secure objects to a luggage rack. See bungee cord and cargo net.

Bureau of land management: (BLM) The United States government agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior which has divided trails into four classes: Type I is at least 7 feet wide (enough for a family vehicle), paved, easy to traverse. Type II is also at least 7 feet wide, not paved, but is usually improved. However it may be rough or rutted and contain washboards. It is best travelled by high-clearance 4WD vehicles. Type III is a narrow unimproved dirt road, often with rocks, steep hills, and mud over which only 4WD should use. Type IV trails are for mountain bikes, dirt bikes, and ATVs. 2WD or 4WD vehicles are not allowed.

burned valves: Valves that have become pitted so that they do not close properly

burner: A device which tends to consume a lot of material. See oil burner.

burning: [1] The action of consuming something to produce heat, i.e., combustion. Also see lead burning. [2] The action of erosion or eating away. Electrical contacts are burning when they wear away; exhaust valves are burning when they pit and don't close properly.

burnish: To bring a surface to a high shine by rubbing with a hard, smooth object.

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