RockAuto now offers Platinum Driveline premium automotive clutch kits, flywheels and hydraulics, with extensive coverage for older models plus hard-to-find parts for newer vehicles. Using components from the most respected manufacturers, assemblies and kits are built at Platinum Driveline's facility in St. Louis.

Founded in 2012, Platinum Driveline's team of industry professionals includes the former President of Carquest Auto Parts and the former General Manager of another well-regarded clutch company. All Platinum Driveline products are tested to make certain they meet or exceed OEM standards for fit and performance, ensuring the repair is done right the first time.

Shift into Platinum! From a Clutch Slave Cylinder for a 2010 Ford F-250, to a Clutch Kit for a 2005 Toyota Corolla, to a Dual Mass Flywheel for a 2002 Mini Cooper, to a Flywheel for a 1974 Jeep J10, find the Platinum Driveline parts you need for your specific car or truck in the “Transmission-Manual” category of the RockAuto catalog.

Take advantage of current promotions and manufacturer rebates at RockAuto!

Fall Rebates on Shocks/Struts and Complete Strut Assemblies
Purchase combinations of two or four qualifying Monroe or Rancho ride control products (through September 30, 2018) and get up to an $80 Visa Prepaid Card.

Purchase two or four qualifying KYB ride control products and get up to a $100 Visa Prepaid Card (through September 30, 2018). Shocks, struts and complete strut assemblies are found in the “Suspension” category of the RockAuto catalog.

Power Stop Rebate
Save up to $50 on select “Rotor & Brake Pad” and “Caliper, Rotor & Brake Pad” kits from Power Stop during the month of September! Power Stop takes the guesswork out of replacing your brakes by offering pre-assembled kits that contain components pre-matched to optimize performance, durability and appearance. Go to the RockAuto catalog and click on the "Brake/Wheel Hub" category.

More Rebates
Go to the Promotions and Rebates page to see details for the Power Stop, KYB, Monroe and Rancho rebates and additional rebates for Drivetrain parts, Nerf Step Bars, Spark Plugs, Spark Plug Wire Sets, Tonneau Covers and more being offered by ACDelco, Autolite, Lund, Omix-Ada, USA Standard Gear, Westin and Zumbrota Drivetrain.

While shopping, watch for the Promotion or Rebate Star in the catalog next to the part names to help you save even more on RockAuto’s reliably low prices!

Club Lexus is a website for owners and enthusiasts of all Lexus vehicles. Club Lexus' large, well organized forum has information on every vehicle with the Lexus badge on the grille. From the game changing 1990 LS, to Prototypes and Next-Gen Technology, all models are well represented in the comprehensive forum.

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.

We all learn from our mistakes, no matter what age, and sometimes we learn young. Back in the '70s, we had a well used 1959 DeSoto that developed a leak. My hard working father (a railroad machinist) made a solid plan to fix the leaky transmission oil pan. It was in the heart of a cold Pennsylvania winter when he headed out to our unheated garage with his "helper", nine year old me. Needless to say, he was not real happy about getting this done on his day off. I was not having much fun either and my, “Why don’t we hire a mechanic” was not well received. I was handed a tin can, for what I did not know, before Dad jacked up the car and squirmed under the Desoto. I diligently stood by as he would hand me bolts one by one. Being bored and cold, I decided to liven things up by lobbing the bolts into a big snow bank across the street. "So what’s the can for?" I thought.

With the new transmission pan gasket installed, the moment of reckoning arrived. “Hand me those bolts from the can." Suddenly, it got a lot colder. After what seemed like an endless pause, Dad crawled out from under the car. “I don’t have them.” “You did what?”

After sorting through some bins of hardware in the basement and getting his hands unfrozen, Dad crawled back under the car and completed the job. No words were spoken for a while. At least I learned a lesson about automotive repair. New parts do not always come with replacement bolts. The following summer, our neighbor across the street complained to Dad about some paint chips on his Ford’s front fender because, "Some punk put a handful of bolts in the yard, and I hit them with the mower!" Dad spared me and never told the neighbor.

Albert in Hawaii

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!

What is a Dual Mass Flywheel (DMF)?

A. A heavier flywheel that helps reduce crankshaft run-out on high mileage engines.

B. It consists of two flywheels with springs in the middle to act as an engine vibration dampener.

C. Weights are added to the rim of the flywheel, typically at the 12:00 and 6:00 positions, to increase engine speed/reduce fuel consumption during the engine's exhaust and/or intake strokes.

Answer below

We would tell a friend if one of his shoes was untied. Then why do we not also help friends preserve their dignity and safety by telling them when one of their vehicle's daytime running lights (DRL) is not working? Even the most meticulously maintained car or truck looks low-rent if one DRL is glowing faintly while the other is dark. The transmission often has to be in gear before the DRLs turn on. A driver may never know a light is out until he happens to see his vehicle's reflection in another car's glossy paint while sitting in traffic.

The United States does not require or tightly regulate DRLs. Vehicle manufacturers try to lower costs by reducing design variation. Cars and trucks designed to satisfy the DRL regulations of Canada, the European Union or other countries are sold in the US as well.

Changes in other regions' regulations and new designs over the years mean a US specification vehicle might not have DRLs, it might have dedicated DRLs or it might co-opt the turn signals, headlights, fog lights or other bulbs for use as DRLs. On those vehicles, a software change is often all that is needed to create DRLs by turning on existing bulbs at lower intensity whenever the transmission is in gear and there is daylight (headlights are off). Some vehicles let the driver choose when the DRLs are on by adding a "DRL" setting to the headlight switch.

Bulb, socket & light assembly for a '05 Chevy Silverado

A turn signal or other bulb filament that does double duty as a DRL will likely have a shorter life span. A vehicle owner might rarely use their high beam headlights at night, but the filaments still burn out relatively quickly because the high beam filaments are burning throughout the day as lower intensity DRLs.

The long hours DRLs are on during the day also can shorten the life of bulb sockets. GMC and Chevy trucks and SUVs built from '99 to '06 are especially likely to need new DRL bulb sockets. The DRL bulbs generate excessive heat that eventually dries out the sockets. Switching to LED bulbs is an especially good idea on these vehicles because LED bulbs last longer and run cooler.

Tell that friend with the broken DRL to look in the RockAuto.com catalog under "Electrical-Bulb & Socket" for his/her specific vehicle to find replacement bulbs, including LEDs, and new sockets. Look under "Body" to find new Parking/Turn Signal Lamp Assemblies, Fog/Driving Lamp Assemblies or other lights that perform as DRLs. Some "Performance" quality lamp assemblies conveniently come with LED bulbs already installed.

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

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

I have been a "car guy" since before I could talk. I guess it was unavoidable being raised by two generations of mechanics.

I was eight years old when I saw my first '60s Pontiac. I could not tell you the exact model, but one thing stuck with me, the styling. Since then, I have always wanted a Pontiac from that era. I grew up your typical GTO fan, collecting models and posters and what not. But in April of this year, I saw a 1964 Grand Prix for the first time. It had the iconic styling I had loved for so many years, but it also had something over the GTO that I would not have ever considered had I not seen it in person, a dash that was painted to match the exterior color, complete with chrome trim. That combined with the rest of the interior changed my mind about my dream car in an instant.

After extensive searching, I finally found the Pontiac I was destined to own, in Boston. Within a week, she arrived at her new home, and I have spent the last few months cleaning and reconditioning the all-original interior and refreshing the factory 389 engine.

From RockAuto I have purchased new brake shoes and wheel cylinders for all four corners. I just received valve cover gaskets and spark plugs and plan on making many more purchases for the Grand Prix as the restoration continues.

RockAuto has helped keep every vehicle I currently own (2011 Infiniti G37s, 1992 Mercedes 190e and 1996 Ford F250) and have owned on the road and for a great price. As someone who is very passionate about cars, that means a lot.

Thanks!
Matthew in Louisiana

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.

What is a Dual Mass Flywheel (DMF)?

A. A heavier flywheel that helps reduce crankshaft run-out on high mileage engines.

Answer: B. It consists of two flywheels with springs in the middle to act as an engine vibration dampener. (DMF example)

C. Weights are added to the rim of the flywheel, typically at the 12:00 and 6:00 positions, to increase engine speed/reduce fuel consumption during the engine's exhaust and/or intake strokes.

Back up to trivia question