Any car buyer knows how intimidating it can be to have your car repaired. Unless you have a real understanding of auto parts and how they work, the parts your mechanic tells you need to be replaced may sound like a foreign language. We’ll go over some of the weirdest names in auto parts so you know the next time your mechanic tells you that your caliper needs to be replaced!

Some names of auto parts

Without further ado, here are some names for auto parts that might make you think twice if you heard them from your mechanic. Take some time to review them, so that if your mechanic mentions them during your next maintenance visit, you won’t be completely confused or worse, think you’re making auto part names on the spot!

Flange: A flange is basically a piece that is used to hold two things, like two pipes, together. Car flanges are generally circular with a large hole in the middle and several smaller bolt holes around the rim. As you can imagine, there are a lot of zip ties on a car! This is definitely one of the strangest names for auto parts, but it is an important part of your vehicle. If two essential pipes in your car don’t connect, your car may not work!

Calibrate: A clamp is part of your breaks. Put pressure on the brake pads when you need to slow down and stop the car. You can have a floating clamp or a fixed clamp, but they both work for the same purpose.

Steering wheel: Next on our list is the steering wheel. A steering wheel helps your car run smoothly despite the jerky movement of the engine pistons.

Spindle: There are some auto parts names you’ve probably heard of before, but in a different context! A spindle is a perfect example. You may have heard of spindles in terms of spinning thread, but your car has them too! In your car, the axles reside in the suspension system and help keep the wheels in place.

Strut: A strut is a common component of front-wheel drive vehicles and works similar to a shock absorber. You may hear this from your mechanic on a list of names of auto parts you need to replace if your vehicle doesn’t drive smoothly (bouncing, rocking, etc.).

Crankshaft: A crankshaft is a very important part of your engine. The crankshaft turns due to the power created by the moving pistons in your engine, which then make your wheels turn. If your crankshaft isn’t working properly, you’re probably having a hard time driving – if you can!

As you can see, there are a lot of auto part names that end up being something a bit unexpected. There are many more that are not included in this list, so be sure to visit an experienced mechanic at a car dealership in Richmond or somewhere near you for more information. It’s always good to stay informed, especially when it comes to your car, so take the time to do a little research and learn more auto part names!