| Lacquer |
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| A fast-drying pyroxylin paint often used to finish automobile bodies. |
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| Laminated Windshield |
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| A windshield consisting of a thin layer of rubbery plastic sandwiched between two sheets of glass. When struck by the head in an accident, it bows out without puncturing, and the plastic holds the glass to prevent it from splintering. |
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| Lateral Link |
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| A suspension link that is aligned to resist sideways motions in a wheel.
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| Leading Link |
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| A suspension link that is aligned to resist longitudinal motions in a wheel; it is mounted to the chassis behind the wheel.
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| Leaf Spring |
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| A number of slightly curved, flexible steel plates of varying lengths, mounted one atop the other. The plates are attached at the ends to the underbody. The curved shape of the plates allows them to flex and absorb bumps. Made of spring steel or various composite materials that deflects by bending when forces act upon it . Leaf springs are used primarily in suspensions. The ends are attached to the chassis, and the middle is fixed to the axle. Also called semi-elliptic springs. |
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| Lease |
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| Form of contract transferring the use of a vehicle in consideration of payment |
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| Lift |
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| A vertical force directed upward, produced by the airflow around a moving object: such as a car body.
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| Lift-Throttle Oversteer |
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| A handling characteristic that causes the rear tires to lose some of their cornering grip when the throttle is released during hard cornering. |
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| Light Truck |
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| Vehicle weighing less than 14,000 lbs. |
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| Lights, Halogen |
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| Lights that provide brighter, longer lasting illumination than standard incandescent lights. Halogen bulbs are filled with a gas such as iodine. This gas reduces the gradual evaporation of the tungsten filament and increases its life. |
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| Lights, Projector Beam |
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| A special type of headlight that uses a spherical reflector to tightly control the light beam. Projector beams are relatively expensive compared to standard headlights.
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| Limited Slip Differential (LSD) |
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| A differential that reduces speed differences between wheels. An LSD improves traction by preventing a slipping wheel from receiving all the engine power. The differential uses cone or disc clutches to lock the two separate axle shafts. This forces both driving wheels to transmit the same drive torque regardless of the traction available. It still allows differential action under normal driving conditions but improves traction in mud and snow. Limited slip ensures that some torque is always distributed to both wheels, even when one is on very slippery pavement.
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