Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Following on from the author's Vehicle and Engine Technology, this covers recent advances and, by using detailed illustrations and an accessible style, seeks to be the most comprehensive text available for those studying automobile technology.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Preface to the second edition (p. vii)
• Preface to the first edition (p. ix)
• 1 Vehicle structure (p. 1)
• Integral body structure
• Engine, transmission and body structure mountings
• Fifth wheel coupling assembly
• Trailer and caravan drawbar couplings
• Semi-trailer landing gear
• Automatic chassis lubrication system
• 2 Friction clutch (p. 37)
• Clutch fundamentals
• Angular driven plate cushioning and torsional damping
• Clutch friction materials
• Clutch drive and driven member inspection
• Clutch misalignment
• Pull type diaphragm clutch
• Multiplate diaphragm type clutch
• Lipe rollway twin driven plate clutch
• Spicer twin driven plate angle spring pull type clutch
• Clutch (upshift) brake
• Multiplate hydraulically operated automatic transmission clutches
• Semicentrifugal clutch
• Fully automatic centrifugal clutch
• Clutch pedal actuating mechanisms
• Composite flywheel and integral single plate diaphragm clutch
• 3 Manual gearboxes and overdrives (p. 60)
• The necessity for a gearbox
• Five speed and reverse synchromesh gearboxes
• Gear synchronization and engagement
• Remote controlled gear selection and engagement mechanisms
• Splitter and range change gearboxes
• Transfer box power take-off (PTO)
• Overdrive considerations
• Setting gear ratios
• 4 Hydrokinetic fluid couplings and torque converters (p. 98)
• Hydrokinetic fluid couplings
• Hydrokinetic fluid coupling efficiency and torque capacity
• Fluid friction coupling
• Hydrokinetic three element torque converter
• Torque converter performance terminology
• Overrun clutches
• Three stage hydrokinetic torque converter
• Polyphase hydrokinetic torque converter
• Torque converter with lock-up and gear change friction clutches
• 5 Semi- and fully automatic transmission (p. 117)
• Automatic transmission considerations
• Four speed and reverse longitudinally mounted automatic transmission mechanical power flow
• The fundamentals of a hydraulic control system
• Basic principle of a hydraulically controlled gearshift
• Basic four speed hydraulic control system
• Three speed and reverse transaxle automatic transmission mechanical power flow
• Hydraulic gear selection control components
• Hydraulic gear selection control operation
• The continuously variable belt and pulley transmission
• Five speed automatic transmission with electronic-hydraulic control
• Semi-automatic (manual gear change two pedal control) transmission system
• 6 Transmission bearings and constant velocity joints (p. 193)
• Rolling contact bearings
• The need for constant velocity joints
• 7 Final drive transmission (p. 226)
• Crownwheel and pinion axle adjustments
• Differential locks
• Skid reducing differentials
• Double reduction axles
• Two speed axles
• The third (central) differential
• Four wheel drive arrangements
• Electro/hydraulic limited slip differential
• Tyre grip when braking and accelerating with good and poor road surfaces
• Traction control system
• 8 Tyres (p. 270)
• Tractive and braking properties of tyres
• Tyre materials
• Tyre tread design
• Cornering properties of tyres
• Vehicle steady state directional stability
• Tyre marking identification
• Wheel balancing
• 9 Steering (p. 311)
• Steering gearbox fundamental design
• The need for power assisted steering
• Steering linkage ball and socket joints
• Steering geometry and wheel alignment
• Variable-ratio rack and pinion
• Speed sensitive rack and pinion power assisted steering
• Rack and pinion electric power assisted steering
• 10 Suspension (p. 368)
• Suspension geometry
• Suspension roll centres
• Body roll stability analysis
• Anti-roll bars and roll stiffness
• Rubber spring bump or limiting stops
• Axle location
• Rear suspension arrangements
• Suspension design consideration
• Hydrogen suspension
• Hydropneumatic automatic height correction suspension
• Commercial vehicle axle beam location
• Variable rate leaf suspension springs
• Tandem and tri-axle bogies
• Rubber spring suspension
• Air suspensions for commercial vehicles
• Lift axle tandem or tri-axle suspension
• Active suspension
• Electronic controlled pneumatic (air) suspension for on and off road use
• 11 Brake system (p. 450)
• Braking fundamentals
• Brake shoe and pad fundamentals
• Brake shoe expanders and adjusters
• Disc brake pad support arrangements
• Dual- or split-line braking systems
• Apportioned braking
• Antilocking brake system
• Brake servos
• Pneumatic operated disc brakes (for trucks and trailers)
• 12 Air operated power brake equipment and vehicle retarders (p. 510)
• Introduction to air powered brakes
• Air operated power brake systems
• Air operated power brake equipment
• Vehicle retarders
• Electronic-pneumatic brakes
• 13 Vehicle refrigeration (p. 570)
• Refrigeration terms
• Principles of a vapour-compression cycle refrigeration system
• Refrigeration system components
• Vapour-compression cycle refrigeration system with reverse cycle defrosting
• 14 Vehicle body aerodynamics (p. 584)
• Viscous air flow fundamentals
• Aerodynamic drag
• Aerodynamic lift
• Car body drag reduction
• Aerodynamic lift control
• Afterbody drag
• Commercial vehicle aerodynamic fundamentals
• Commercial vehicle drag reducing devices
• Index (p. 635)