But the average cost of a used car today turned out to be exactly at the level of a new car five years ago. As a result, a natural phenomenon is observed - the interest of car enthusiasts is shifting to used cars.
The used car market is a rather exotic environment where even the most fastidious car enthusiast can find something exclusively for themselves. Apart from a full check of documents, most buyers of used cars do not turn to third parties for qualified help. In some cases, buyers casually think about checking the technical condition of the car, but in reality they do not resort to the help of specialists. In the future, visits to the service center are inevitable.
It can be considered luck if the new owner of a used car gets off with one visit to the service station for the so-called extraordinary maintenance and diagnostics. Usually reality is much harsher (as are our roads): the greater the car's mileage, the more often it needs to be repaired.
The situation is even more aggravated with old cars that need major repairs. Buying such a car in most cases indicates that the new owner cannot afford a new car. Most likely, budget methods will also be used during repairs: what urgently needs to be replaced - we replace, and what can still serve a little - we leave.
And it is good if in such a case the new parts will last their planned service life, which is unlikely in our road conditions. The durability of certain suspension parts is influenced not only by the operating conditions of the car, but also by the condition of related elements. And all because the suspension - is not just a couple of levers and joints, but a complex kinematic system, the elements of which constantly interact with each other. Therefore, it is worth eliminating malfunctions comprehensively.
In the budget version of car repair, such an approach is inappropriate. Therefore, the suspension is repaired in stages: we replace one thing, after some time - the second, even later - the third, etc. In order not to replace the first parts again after a long repair, it is worth using more successful technical solutions. After all, when buying spare parts, we strive to eliminate the breakdown, and not to temporarily solve the problem.
MEYLE-HD parts from the German company Wulf Gaertner Autoparts AG are an excellent engineering solution for improving automotive spare parts. When developing reinforced and technically optimized MEYLE-HD parts, first of all, those samples of original parts that are most often subject to premature wear are analyzed. How improved and redesigned parts surpass ordinary ones in wear resistance and reliability, we will consider using the example of tie rod ends.
A popular tie rod end for VAG often fails due to various extreme loads even under normal operating conditions. Such a part is often subject to heavy contamination, which leads to its premature wear and breakage. There may be several reasons for this: various alternating radial and axial loads, penetration of dirt inside the joint, plastic deformation of the joint seat due to a decrease in load-bearing capacity per unit area.
The MEYLE-HD version uses the following design solutions:
· the size of the ball head of the bolt is increased, which reduces the specific point load;
· consequently, the diameter of the joint is also increased, which reduces contact pressure;
· the ball head of the bolt is polished to a shine, which reduces the friction coefficient;
· a high-strength insert made of aerospace material is installed, which completely covers the ball head;
· a lubricant is used that can work even in extreme conditions;
· a silicone dust boot resistant to environmental influences is mounted;
· special clamps and cuff holders are used;
· self-locking on the finger and self-fixing bottom nuts are installed;
· the housing is galvanized.
The result of such modification is a multiple improvement in the performance characteristics of the part, including service life.
In general, under the MEYLE-HD brand, a large range of tie rod ends with an increased ball joint diameter is produced for a wide model range of cars. The entire MEYLE assortment includes about 18,500 items, where improved parts rightfully occupy more and more space.
Thanks to a number of improvements, MEYLE-HD parts can last significantly longer even in cars with a worn suspension. It has been experimentally proven that improved MEYLE-HD joints withstand several times more working cycles. It remains only to imagine what a suspension made of such parts is capable of, which are also in an affordable price segment.
Prepared by the international marketing agency «AGV-Aftermarket».
