Know Your Go‑Fast Bits: Ultimate A‑Z Glossary of Sports‑Car Parts & Their Nicknames
You speak car? Learning the lexicon of sports car parts is no small feat. Here’s your cheat sheet. The glossary below is the Rosetta stone for deciphering garage slang, catalog terminology, and pit‑lane shorthand.
Engine & Intake / Exhaust
Air Intake (cold‑air intake, short‑ram intake)
Pipework and filter feeding outside air to the throttle body; upgrades target smoother flow and cooler temps.
Camshaft (cam)
Rotating shaft with lobes that open/close valves; swaps tweak lift, duration, overlap.
Catalytic Converter (cat)
Emissions reactor that turns CO, NOx, HC into less‑toxic gases via precious‑metal catalysts.
Connecting Rod (con‑rod)
Link between piston and crankshaft, transmitting combustion force.
Crankshaft (crank)
Main rotating shaft converting piston motion to usable torque.
Exhaust Manifold (headers, extractors)
Collects exhaust from cylinders and funnels to the downpipe; aftermarket versions improve scavenging.
Fuel Injector
Electromagnetic valve metering fuel into the intake port or cylinder.
Fuel Pump (in‑tank pump, high‑pressure pump)
Supplies fuel from tank to rail; higher‑flow units feed built engines.
Head Gasket
Seals block‑to‑head interface; failure leads to compression loss or coolant/oil mixing.
Intercooler (charge‑air cooler)
Heat exchanger that cools compressed intake air from a turbo/supercharger.
Muffler (silencer, back box)
Chambered or straight‑through can that tames exhaust noise; enthusiasts often swap for less restriction.
Oil Filter
Cartridge or spin‑on filter removing contaminants from engine oil.
Oil Pan (sump)
Reservoir at the engine’s base; baffled or extended pans prevent starvation in high‑G corners.
Piston (slug)
Cylindrical component that compresses the mix and captures combustion force.
Radiator (rad)
Front‑mounted heat exchanger that dumps coolant heat to ambient air.
Serpentine Belt (accessory belt, drive belt)
Single multi‑rib belt driving alternator, water pump, AC compressor, etc.
Spark Plug (plug)
Electrode firing an arc to ignite the air‑fuel charge.
Supercharger (blower)
Belt‑driven compressor forcing more air into the engine for instant boost.
Throttle Body (TB)
Butterfly‑valve housing metering intake air based on pedal position.
Timing Belt / Timing Chain (cam belt / cam chain)
Keeps crank and cam(s) synchronized; failure on interference engines is catastrophic.
Turbocharger (turbo, snail)
Exhaust‑driven compressor forcing extra air into the engine; spools on spent gases.
Valve Cover (rocker cover, cam cover)
Covers the cylinder‑head top and seals in oil; common leak spot.
Water Pump (coolant pump)
Circulates coolant through block, head, and radiator; may be mechanical or electric.
Transmission & Drivetrain
Clutch (clutch pack, pressure plate & disc)
Connects/disconnects engine power to the gearbox in manuals.
CV Joint (constant‑velocity joint)
Greased, boot‑covered joint on axle shafts that keeps power delivery smooth through steering/bump angles.
Differential (diff)
Gearset splitting torque left/right; limited slip differentials (LSDs), lockers, torsens alter slip behavior.
Driveshaft (prop shaft)
Tubular shaft carrying power from gearbox/transfer case to the diff.
Flywheel (flexplate — auto)
Heavy disc bolted to the crank; stores rotational energy and gives the clutch its friction face.
Torque Converter
Fluid coupling between engine and automatic gearbox that multiplies torque off the line.
Transfer Case (T‑case)
Secondary gearbox splitting power front/rear on 4×4 / AWD systems; may house low range.
Transmission (gearbox, trans)
Multispeed gearset (manual, automatic, DCT) that multiplies torque and manages engine rpm.
U‑Joint (universal joint, cardan joint)
Cross‑shaped joint on driveshafts allowing angle change; greaseable versions survive lifted rigs.
Suspension
Anti‑Roll Bar (sway bar, stabilizer bar, anti‑sway bar, roll bar)
Torsion bar linking left/right suspension arms to cut body roll.
Ball Joint (ball stud)
Spherical bearing letting control arm swing while the knuckle turns.
Coilover (coil‑over shock)
Integrated coil spring and adjustable damper assembly.
Leaf Spring (leaf pack)
Stacked steel plates supporting vehicle weight—common on solid‑axle rears/trucks.
MacPherson Strut (strut)
Combo damper, spring perch, and steering pivot replacing an upper control arm.
Panhard Rod (track bar)
Lateral link centering a live axle under the chassis.
Shock Absorber (damper, shock)
Hydraulic device controlling spring oscillations; adjustable units fine‑tune damping.
Springs, Coil (coil springs)
Helical steel or composite springs bearing vehicle weight; rate sets ride/handling balance.
Stabilizer Link (sway‑bar end link, drop link)
Short link coupling anti‑roll bar to control arm/strut.
Strut Tower Brace (strut bar)
Rigid bar linking left/right strut towers to stiffen the chassis.
Suspension Control Arm (A‑arm, wishbone, lateral arm)
Pivoting link positioning the wheel hub relative to the chassis.
Wheel Bearing (hub bearing, unit bearing)
Precision roller/ball bearing letting the hub spin smoothly.
Wheel Hub (hub, wheel hub assembly)
Mounting flange for the wheel/rotor; houses the wheel bearing in many cars.
Steering
Pitman Arm
Lever converting steering‑box rotation into lateral center‑link motion.
Rack‑and‑Pinion Steering Rack (steering rack)
Toothed rack gear driven by a pinion; lighter and sharper than a steering box.
Steering Knuckle (upright, spindle)
Forged/cast piece tying hub, brakes, and suspension links; pivot for steering.
Tie Rod (track rod)
Adjustable rod linking rack to knuckle; sets toe and sends steering input.
Braking
Brake Caliper
Hydraulic clamp squeezing pads onto the rotor.
Brake Pads (friction pads, linings)
Replaceable friction blocks that press on the rotor.
Brake Rotor (disc)
Steel/iron disc fixed to the hub; slotted or drilled versions shed heat faster.
Electrical / Electronic
Alternator (generator)
Belt‑driven device turning crank rotation into electricity to charge the battery and run accessories.
ECU (engine control unit, ECM, PCM)
Electronic brain managing fuel, spark, boost, VVT, and more; tuners reflash or swap for custom maps.
Ignition Coil (coil pack, coil‑on‑plug)
Transforms battery voltage into the high‑voltage pulse that fires the spark plug.
Body / Chassis
Subframe (crossmember, cradle)
Bolt‑in structural frame carrying suspension pick‑ups (and sometimes engine/trans); stiffer aftermarket units cut flex.
