Amperage
The strength of a current of electricity carried by a conductor or generated by a machine, measured in amperes.

Certified Oil
Oil that passes echelon oil monitoring and analysis, as it applies to lubrication analysis and machine condition monitoring.

Chamfers
Angled or beveled edges on the leading or trailing ends of brake pads. Chamfers on the leading edge of brake pads reduce the pad’s tendency to dig in to the rotor. This reduces the stick/slip vibration which causes brake noise.

Core
An assembly or component (e.g., transmission, engine, pump) removed from a vehicle and then rebuilt/remanufactured. When purchasing as remanufactured component, customers often provide the supplier with the used core.

Dynamometer
An apparatus for measuring force or power developed by a motor, or that is required to operate machinery. It usually embodies a spring to be compressed or weight to be sustained by the force applied, combined with an index, or automatic recorder, to show the work performed.

EFI (electronic fuel injection)
The system that delivers fuel to the combustion chamber of an engine. A fuel injector is an electronically controlled valve. It is supplied with pressurized fuel by the fuel pump and is capable of opening and closing many times per second. When the injector is energized, an electromagnet moves a plunger that opens the valve, allowing the pressurized fuel to squirt out through a tiny nozzle. The nozzle is designed to atomize the fuel - to make as fine a mist as possible so that it can burn easily. The amount of fuel supplied to the engine is determined by the amount of time the fuel injector stays open.

Elastomeric
Any of various polymers having the elastic properties of natural rubber.

EPDM (ethylene-propylene diolefin monomer) Rubber
Synthetic rubber; a polymer of ethylene and propylene with a small amount of diolefin monomer added to permit vulcanization with sulfur. Possesses excellent resistance to ozone, sunlight and weathering, has good flexibility at low temperatures and good electrical insulation properties.

Hydrocracking
A refining process in which middle and heavy distillate fractions are cracked (broken into smaller molecules) in the presence of hydrogen at high pressure and moderate temperature to produce high-octane gasoline, turbo fuel components and middle distillates with good flow characteristics and cetane ratings.

Hypalon
A synthetic rubber consisting of chlorosulfonated polyethylene. Provides long life in harsh environments and used in a wide range of industrial and automotive applications that require high performance.

Lateral Run-Out
The angular difference between the hub mounting surface and braking surfaces of the rotor, or the "amount of wobble in a rotor." Excessive run-out causes the rotor to alternately contact the pads as they are lightly applied, or even when they are not applied, producing "thickness variation". This can cause chatter, vibration and pedal pulsation when braking.

Micron
A measurement; one millionth of a meter, which is about 1/25,000 of an inch. A grain of beach sand is about 200 microns.

Original Equipment (O.E.)
A part or component provided to the market by an O.E.M. (original equipment manufacturer). Motorcraft^® O.E. products meet or exceed the O.E. specifications and performance requirements as set by Ford Motor Company for Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicles.

Phenolic
Any of various synthetic thermosetting resins, obtained by the reaction of phenols with simple aldehydes and used to make molded products and as coatings and adhesives. Also called phenolic resin.

Quality System Certified (QS-9000/ISO-9000)
Meeting or exceeding a series of standards, developed and published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), that define, establish and maintain an effective quality system for manufacturing and service industries.

Shims
Thin pieces of steel with multiple layers of sound-damping materials between the stamped metal - also called insulators. Placing shims on the backside of the backing plate reduces the vibrations that cause brakes to squeal.

Slots
Grooves cut vertically, diagonally or horizontally in brake pads. Slots significantly reduce the tendency of the pad to bend when heated under normal braking conditions. This reduces the noise that results from pads that have become concave due to heat-induced bending. Slots also help reduce brake fade by providing a passage for gasses and dust to escape at high brake temperatures.

Thickness Variation
The variation in thickness between the two faces/braking surfaces of the rotor. Excessive thickness variation can cause brake pads and caliper pistons to oscillate. This oscillation can cause vibration or shudder in the vehicle’s steering wheel, seat and brake pedal.

Tungsten
A rare element of the chromium group found in certain minerals, such as wolfram and scheelite, and isolated as a heavy steel-gray metal which is very hard and infusible. It has both acid and basic properties. When alloyed in small quantities with steel, it greatly increases its hardness.

Venturi
A constricted throat in the air passage of a carburetor, causing a reduction in pressure that results in fuel vapor being drawn out of the carburetor bowl.