CARBURETOR--The device in a gasoline engine
BRAKE SHOES--The curved metal part, faced with
fuel system that mixes fuel and air and delivers the
brake lining, that is forced against the brake drum
combustible mixture to the intake manifold.
to produce the braking or retarding action.
CASTER--The amount in degrees that the steering
BRAKE SYSTEM--The system on a vehicle that
knuckle pivots on an automotive vehicle are tilted
slows or stops it as a pedal or lever is operated.
forward or backward from a true vertical.
BREAKER POINTS--An adjustable cam-operated
CASTING--Pouring metal into a mold to form an
switch inside the distributor used to trigger the
object.
ignition coil.
CATALYTIC CONVERTER--A device used on
BRONZE--An alloy consisting essentially of copper
some exhaust systems to reduce harmful emissions.
and tin.
CAVITATION--A localized gaseous condition within
BRUSHES--The carbon or carbon and metal parts in a
a liquid stream that occurs where the pressure is
motor or generator that contact the rotating
reduced to the vapor pressure.
armature commutator or rings.
CELL --A c o m b i n a t i o n o f e l e c t r o d e s a n d a n
BTDC--Before top dead center.
electrolyte that converts chemical energy into
BUSHING--A sleeve placed in a bore to serve as a
electrical energy; two or more cells connected
bearing surface.
together form a battery.
BYPASS--A separate passage that permits a liquid,
CELSIUS--The temperature scale using the freezing
gas, or electric current to take a path other than that
point of water as zero and the boiling point as 100,
normally used.
with 100 equal divisions between, called degrees.
CAB--A separate driver's compartment provided on
This scale was formerly known as the centigrade
some self-propelled equipment.
scale.
CALIPER--A disk brake component used to house
CENTER STEERING LINKAGE--A steering sys-
the actuating piston(s) and brake pads.
tem configuration using two tie rods connected to
the steering arms and to a central idler arm; the
CAM-GROUND--A process by which a piston is
idler arm pivots on the frame on one end and is
ground slightly egg-shaped and, when heated,
connected to the drag link on the other.
becomes round.
CENTIGRADE--(See CELSIUS.)
CAMBER--The amount in inches or degrees that the
front wheels of an automotive vehicle are tilted
CENTRIFUGAL ADVANCE--The mechanism in an
from a true vertical at the top.
ignition distributor by which the spark is advanced
or retarded as the engine speed varies.
CAMSHAFT--A shaft with cam lobes used to operate
valves.
CENTRIFUGAL FORCE--A force exerted on a
rotating object in a direction outward from the
CAM--An irregular shaped moving part that is
center of rotation.
designed to move or alter the motion of another
part.
CFM--Cubic feet per minute.
CAPACITANCE--That property of a circuit that
CHARGE INDICATOR--The device on a vehicle
opposes a change in voltage and tends to increase
that indicates, by a needle, whether or not the
the amount of current flowing in a circuit for a
battery is receiving a charge from the generator or
given voltage.
CAPACITOR (CONDENSER)--A device for insert-
CHARGING RATE--The rate of flow, in amperes, of
ing the property of capacitance into a circuit; two or
electric current flowing through a battery while it is
more conductors separated by a dielectric.
being charged.
CARBON MONOXIDE--A colorless, odorless,
CHARLES'S LAW--If the pressure is constant, the
tasteless, deadly gas found in engine exhaust. This
volume of dry gas varies directly with the absolute
ga s i s f o r m e d b y i n c o m p l e t e bu r n i n g o f
temperature.
hydrocarbons.
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