We have an even larger selection of tools and equipment for your shop, all at RockAuto.com's reliably low prices! Go to the “Garage Equipment” category under the “Tools & Universal Parts” tab for core shop equipment such as Jack Stands, Lift Drains and Creepers, to hand tools, to lubricants, cleaners and oils. Plus, under each category in "Tools & Universal Parts" you will find specialized tools, everything from A/C Orifice Tube Removers to Ignition Module Wrenches to OBD II Scan Tools. With tools and supplies by manufacturers Performance Tool, Lisle, Liquid Wrench, B’Laster and more, RockAuto can help ensure you have the right equipment for any repair challenge that comes your way.

Click the "Tools & Universal Parts" tab on the RockAuto.com home page today and enjoy the convenience of having your new equipment delivered right to your door!

The Garage Gazette is a forum of people like you interested in tools, machines, shops and vehicles. Hand tools both new and used are discussed on the site. Your shop or garage and what you are doing with, to and in that space are common topics. If you prefer discussing motorcycles, tractors, or really anything else of a mechanical type interest, all are fair game for discussion.

If you are the administrator or member of a forum and you would like to see your website featured in an upcoming newsletter and receive a discount code to share with your members, contact marketing@rockauto.com.

I guess it is finally time for me to reveal this story. When I was twenty years old, I noticed a 1953 MG TD on the side of the road covered in snow. After weeks of negotiations, the owner parted with it. I towed it home, put floorboards in it, covered the non-existent seats, installed new plugs, etc., and got it running pretty well.

Then one night, the MG just stopped (shortly before it also had sparks coming out of the exhaust and the manifold was glowing red hot). The engine would turn over, but no amount of coaxing could make it start. I called a buddy for help, and we spent the entire next day tearing apart the carburetors, fuel pump, spark plugs, coils and distributor. But, by the end of the day, we still could not get the MG running. I decided to have the car towed to a mechanic to rebuild the engine.

While sorting through parts getting ready to put the car back together, I was cleaning the fuse block when I noticed a blown fuse. I looked at the wiring diagram and discovered it was part of the ignition circuit. I had installed an air horn on the firewall earlier, which apparently had come loose, hit the hot side of the battery and blown the fuse. That experience taught me to check the simple things first. On the up side, I had a newly painted and rewired MG with a rebuilt engine that I drove for another 43 years.

John in California

Tell us about your most infamous auto repair blunder or unconventional fix. Use your woe to help others avoid similar mistakes or share off-the-wall solutions that worked (at least for a while!). Please email your story to flamur@rockauto.com. Include your mailing address and if you would like a RockAuto T-Shirt (please let us know your shirt size) or Hat if we publish your story. See the T-Shirts and Hats under Tools & Universal Parts in the catalog. The story will be credited using only your first name and your vague geographic location (state, province, country, continent, etc.) so you can remain semi-anonymous!

Which of these famous part manufacturers' names was derived from a company founder's last name?

A. Cardone
B. Timken
C. WIX
D. All the above

Answer below

I was at the Car Craft garage last week when new brakes were installed on their Chrysler 300C SRT8 "Week to Wicked" project car. They had ordered a brake kit from RockAuto. The kit included awesome rotors, pads and calipers as well as all the fussy little clips, pins, lube, etc. that help ensure a brake job is a complete success, without noise, binding or other problems.

As I was marveling at the beauty of the Chrysler's new rear brake rotors, I decided it would be a good idea to remind newsletter readers that something most rear brake kits do not include is parking brake shoes. Wear and tear on parking brake shoes varies widely.

RockAuto sells a lot of parking brake shoes, but most vehicles do not need them replaced every time the brake pads are changed. The Week to Wicked Chrysler 300C has over 100,000 miles on it, but its parking brake shoes still had plenty of friction material left. It is a southern car so there was less destructive road salt corrosion. The previous owner had never worn down the shoes by inadvertently driving around with the parking brake partially applied or by using the parking brake to perform exciting bootlegger spins. Drivers should check the condition of their vehicles' own parking brake shoes when planning a brake job.

One of the other "supervisors" standing around the Chrysler 300C commented that he never uses his parking brake. That would prevent the friction material from wearing down, but it is still a bad idea to never use a parking brake. Use the parking brake at least occasionally to help keep dirt and corrosion from freezing up the shoes, pins, springs, cables and other parts that make up the system.

Go to RockAuto's Promotions & Rebates page to enter to win the supercharged Chrysler 300C! Anything is possible. A RockAuto customer won the hot rod Chevelle that part manufacturer CARDONE gave away earlier this month!

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

To read more of Tom's articles, click this link and choose from story titles on the Newsletter Archives page.

This is my 1983 AMC Jeep Scrambler. About 15 years ago, it was rescued by a good friend of mine from a farm field in West Virginia where it had most recently been used as a tractor. He did the body and paint work, ran into some trouble with the transmission, had kids, and all of a sudden a decade went by. I took over the project last year, and with the help of parts from RockAuto, now have it back on (and off) the road. As expected for a vehicle this age that sat for many years, virtually every belt, hose, bearing and seal needed replacement.

Parts from RockAuto that made the project possible and affordable include: harmonic balancer sleeve and oil seal, water pump, thermostat, fuel pump, steering gear, coupler, tie rod ends, brake booster and master cylinder, rear main oil seal, clutch kit, flywheel ring gear, brake cylinders, fuel hoses and cap.

Sourcing parts from RockAuto was generally the least expensive and easiest way to track down items for this project. Thanks for having all of the parts that made this possible.

Brian in Colorado

Share Your Hard Work
Do you purchase parts from RockAuto? If so, RockAuto would like to give you the opportunity to have your car or truck possibly featured in one (or occasionally more) of our publications such as the monthly newsletter, collector magnets, RockAuto social media or other commercial use. New, old, import, domestic, daily driver, trailer queen, classic, antique, we want to see them all! Please email flamur@RockAuto.com with your vehicle's history, interesting details, your favorite images (tips for taking pictures of your car) and what parts from RockAuto you have used.

Which of these famous part manufacturers' names was derived from a company founder's last name?

A. Cardone
B. Timken
C. WIX
Answer: D. All the above (Michael Cardone, Henry Timken, Jack Wicks)

Back up to trivia question