Automotive Technical Terms: Tachometer to Twin Choke
Throughout this site we use many technical terms, and given the breadth of readership our site enjoys, sometimes we are remiss and incorrectly assume everyone knows what we are referring to. For those that do not, here are some explanations of the technical terms use.
A tube that fully encloses a propeller or drive shaft that helps relieve the rear springs of driving and braking forces. A superior but older design, most commonly found on the Peugeot 404.
A type of spring commonly used in automotive suspension that consists of a high tensile steel bar that is fixed solidly at one end while the other end is attached to the suspension arm or wishbone. The springing effect is created by twisting the bar around its own axis.
A type of indepoendent suspension found on the rear of many front wheel drive vehicles. Consists of a single arm per wheel that moves parallel to the longitudinal axis of the car.
A mechanical component that consists of the gearbox, clutch, differential and final drive gears combined in one unit. Originally found in the VW Beetle and rear-wheel-drive Renault's, then in the Porsche 924 and Alfa Romeo Alfetta's.
An ignition system that utilises magnetic induction or other electronic means to make and break the low-tension ignition circuit, it has today replaced the use of control breaker points.
A type of carburettor that has two chokes or throats instead of the usual single throat. Several types are found including those whose throats open simultaneously and progressive types where the second throat opens after the first throat is approximately two-thirds open.
