- K -

Kickdown Pressure

The pressure developed to downshift the transmission from a high gear to a lower gear.

Kickdown Valve

A valve located in the valve body that develops kickdown pressure.

Kickpad

The area along the inside bottom of a car door.

Kickup

A section of a chassis frame that is raised to clear the axles or suspension.

Kill Switch

A switch used to disconnect the electrical system in an emergency.

Killed

1. To bring to a stop, such as to kill an engine. 2. To overcome completely or with irresistible effect.

Kilo

The prefix representing the number 1,000.

Kilo Pascal (kPa)

A metric unit of measure equal to 6.895 psi.

Kilogram (kg)

A metric unit of measure for weight, as in English pounds.

Kilometer (km)

A metric measure for distance, as in English miles one kilometer equals 1,000 meters or 1.609 miles.

Kinetic Energy

The energy of motion, such as that of a flywheel.

Kinetic Friction

Friction between two moving objects or between one moving object and one stationary surface such as a clutch or a brake.

King-Kong

A hemi-engined Dodge or Plymouth stock car racer during the 1960's and 1970's.

Kingpin

1. A pin or shaft on which the steering spindle assembly rotates 2. The pin, mounted through the center of the trailer upper-bolster plate, that mates with the fifth wheel and locks to secure the trailer to the fifth wheel.

Kingpin Angle

A term used for kingpin inclination.

Kingpin Axis

The inward tilt of the steering axis from the vertical.

Kingpin Inclination

A major factor in a vehicle's directional control and stability; the angle of a line through the center of the kingpin in relation to the true vertical centerline of the tire viewed from the front of the vehicle.

Kirchhoff Gustav Robert

A German physicist (1824 - 1887).

Kirchhoff's Current Law

The algebraic sum of all the currents flowing to a given point in a circuit is equil to the algerbric sum of all the current flowing away from that point.

Kirchhoff's Voltage Law

The algebraic sum of all the voltage rise and voltage drops around any closed loop is equal to zero.