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Stretchout

A luxury sedan that has been lengthened and made into a limousine.

Stringer Bead

A type of weld bead made without appreciable weaving motion.

Striping

Thin paint or decal stripes added to the paint work.

Stripped

A vehicle, sometimes stolen, from which parts have been removed for resale.

Stripper

1. A lowest price vehicle in the line. 2. A chemical used to remove paint.

Strobe

Short term for stroboscope.

Stroboscope

An instrument used in the study of the rapid revolutions or vibrations of a body by rendering it visible at frequent internals with a flash of light.

Stroboscopic

A very bright pulsing light triggered from the firing of one spark plug. Used to check and adjust ignition timing.

Stroke

1. The distance traveled by the piston from top dead center (TDC) to bottom dead center (BDC). 2. To increase the stroke in an engine. 3. To drive carefully or treat gently.

Stroker

1. An engine that has been stroked. 2. A camshaft that used to stroke and engine.

Stroker Kit

A special crankshaft and connecting rod kit used to increase the displacement of an engine by lengthening the stroke of the pistons.

Stroking Seal

A seal, similar to a lip seal that is installed at the rear of a caliper piston and moves with it.

Strut

1.Components connected from the top of the steering knuckle to the upper strut mount that maintain the knuckle position and act as shock absorbers to control spring action in a vehicle's suspension system. This is used on most front wheel drive cars and some rear wheel drive cars. 2. A device that transfers servo apply force to the transmission band. A strut may be located either between the servo or lever and the band, or between the anchor and the band.

Strut Actuator

An electronically controlled actuator that controls strut firmness in a computer-controlled suspension system.

Strut Adjusting Knob

In an adjustable strut, an eight-position adjusting knob which can vary the strut orifice opening, generally accessible without having to raise the vehicle.

Strut Cartridge

A self-contained unit with a pressure tube and a piston rod assembly, factory sealed and calibrated.

Strut Rod

A heavy steel rod in the suspension system located ahead or behind a lower control arm. A strut attached between car framework and lower control arm outer end on many vehicles to determine fore-and-aft position of the outer arm.

Strut Suspension, MacPherson

See MacPherson strut.

STS

Standard duty synthetic.

Stub Axle

The short shaft upon which the wheel hub and bearings ride.