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Cam-ground Lining

A brake shoe lining that has been arced or formed so that it is thinner at the ends than at the center, and the lining surface is not a portion of a circle with a constant radius.

Cam-ground Piston

A piston ground slightly oval or elliptical in shape as a means to compensate for expansion caused by heat.

Cam-lobe Face And Nose Taper

The slant, about 0.002 inch (o.051mm), designed across the cam-face contacting surface, from the cam front to rear edge, to promote lifter rotation.

Cam-shaped Pocket

The recess in an overrunning clutch race, large at one end, tapering to small at the other end.

Camber

The inward or outward tilt of the wheel and tire assembly as viewed from the rear of the vehicle.

Camber Angle

The amount, measured in degrees from the vertical, that the tip of a tire is tilted outward (positive) or inward (negative).

Camber Compensator

A device that is used to maintain the proper camber of the rear wheels of a vehicle equipped with swing axles.

Camel Hump Heads

High performance heads by Chevrolet, identified by two humps on the outside end of the casting.

Camelback

A strip of new rubber used to recap a tire.

Cammer

An engine with an overhead camshaft.

Camper Shell

See truck cap.

CAMS

Computerized automotive maintenance system

Camshaft

A tubular metal shaft that rotates in an engine and features cam lobes that control the intake and exhaust valves. The camshaft is located within the engine block in overhead valve engines, and is located just above the cylinder head in overhead cam engines. Most engines have one camshaft, but a V-shaped (e.g., V6 or V8) single overhead cam engine will have two. An inline (e.g., a non-V-shaped 6-cylinder) dual overhead cam engine also will have two camshafts, while a V-shaped dohc engine will have four cams.

Camshaft Duration

The amount of time, measured in degrees of crankshaft rotation, an intake or exhaust valve is held open.

Camshaft Lift

How far a valve is pushed open, as determined by the height of the cam lobe and the geometry of the rocker arms on a push rod engine, or the cam followers on an overhead cam engine.

Camshaft Plug

A plug found in the rear of the engine block, at the camshaft, to retain and direct oil to the rear camshaft bearings.

Can

A term often used for nitro or nitro methane, a highly combustible liquid used as the main ingredient in drag-racing fuel.

CAN (OBD-II)

An acronym for Controller Area Network, The new (High Speed 500 kb/s) scan tool communication protocol for OBD-II Diagnosis beginning in 2004 on domestic vehicles and used for some time on European vehicles. Developed by Bosch and Mercedes-Benz.

CAN A (OBD-II)

An acronym for Controller Area Network type A , a slow speed version of CAN operating at or about 100 kb/s.

CAN B (OBD-II)

An acronym for Controller Area Network type B, a Medium speed version of CAN operating at or about 250 kb/s.