How to Choose Durable Automotive Hardware Components?

How to Choose Durable Automotive Hardware Components?

Choosing durable automotive hardware parts requires comprehensive consideration of material properties, manufacturing processes, use environment and maintenance strategies.

1. Material selection: balance between performance and cost.

1. Core material characteristics

Steel: High-strength steel (such as DP steel, martensitic steel) is suitable for load-bearing parts (such as chassis, suspension), and corrosion-resistant steel (such as galvanized steel) is used for humid environment parts (such as door hinges).

Aluminum alloy: lightweight and corrosion-resistant, suitable for engine brackets and body panels, but it should be noted that its hardness is low and easy to wear.

Titanium alloy: high strength-to-weight ratio, suitable for high-performance parts (such as exhaust systems), but the cost is high.

2. Environmental adaptability

Coastal/high salt fog areas: stainless steel or galvanized materials are preferred to avoid electrochemical corrosion.

Cold areas: use materials with good low-temperature toughness (such as low-temperature steel) to prevent cold brittle fracture.

2. Manufacturing process: precision and strengthening technology

1. Stamping process optimization

Hydraulic forming: reduce internal stress of materials and improve the uniformity of complex shape parts (such as fuel tanks and exhaust pipes).

Deep drawing technology: used to manufacture deep cavity parts without welds (such as gearbox housings) to avoid stress concentration.

2. Post-processing strengthening

Heat treatment: improve material hardness (such as gear parts) or toughness (such as suspension connecting rods) through quenching and tempering.

Surface coating: galvanized anti-rust (low cost), ceramic coating high temperature resistance (suitable for exhaust systems), DLC diamond-like coating wear resistance (for piston rings).

3. Test verification: ensure quality meets standards

1. Basic performance test

Tensile test: verify the tensile strength of materials (such as seat belt fixing points need to be ≥800MPa).

Fatigue test: simulate cyclic loads (such as door hinges need to pass 100,000 opening and closing tests).

2. Nondestructive testing technology

Industrial CT scanning: Detect internal pores and inclusions (such as key areas of the engine cylinder).

Blue light 3D scanning: Compare dimensional errors (tolerance must be controlled within ±0.1mm).

IV. Purchase tips: Identify high-quality parts

1. Appearance inspection

The surface is free of burrs and oxidation spots (such as the edge of the brake pad should be smooth).

The protective layer is complete (such as the anti-rust oil has not been lost and the packaging is not damaged).

2. Identification and certification

Genuine parts contain clear trademarks and batch numbers (such as laser marking of ThyssenKrupp steel).

Comply with industry standards (such as TS 16949 automotive quality management system certification).

V. Maintenance strategy: Extend service life

1. Regular maintenance

Corrosion-sensitive parts (such as chassis parts) are sprayed with rust inhibitors every 2 years.

High-friction parts (such as brake pads) are replaced according to mileage (40,000 kilometers for front wheels/80,000 kilometers for rear wheels).

2. Optimize the use environment

Avoid long-term exposure to the sun (causing rubber seals to age).

Avoid high-pressure water guns impacting electrical connectors during cleaning.

Summary

The selection of durable hardware components requires full control from material science, process technology, quality verification to post-maintenance. For example, vehicles in coastal areas give priority to galvanized steel plates + ceramic coating exhaust components, while cold areas focus on low-temperature toughness materials. At the same time, combined with regular testing (such as metallographic analysis) and standardized maintenance, the life of components can be maximized.