B-Pillar
The roof support between a vehicle's front door window and rear side window, if there is one.

Balance Shaft
A shaft designed so that, as it turns, it counter rotates the rotational direction of the engine crankshaft in a manner that reduces or cancels out some of the vibration produced by the engine.

Ball Joint
A flexible joint consisting of a ball within a socket. Ball joints act as pivots which allow turning of the front wheels and compensate for changes in the wheel and steering geometries that occur while driving.

Base-Coat/Clear Coat
A paint system that adds a final clear-coat paint layer over primer and color coats to provide a deep, "wet-look" shine that resists fading.

Belted Radial Tires
A reinforcing bank, normally textile, fiberglass or steel, running around the circumference of a tire and strengthening the tread area.

Bias-Ply Tires
A type of tire in which the plies or layers of cord in the tire casing are laid diagonally, criss-crossing one another at an angle of 30 to 40 degrees.

Body-On-Frame Construction
A type of automobile construction in which the body structure is attached to a separate frame.

Body shop
service outlet specializing in vehicle body repair work.

Bore
The diameter of an engine cylinder or bearing.

Brake Fade
A condition brought about by repeated brake applications, resulting in build-up of heat that causes a temporary reduction or fading of braking effectiveness.

Brake Horsepower (BHP)
The actual horsepower of an engine, measured by a brake attached to the driving shaft and recorded by a dynamometer.

Brake Linings
The replaceable friction material which contacts the brake drum in a drum brake system to slow or stop the car.

Brake Master Cylinder
A cylinder containing a movable piston activated by pressure on the brake pedal. The piston produces hydraulic pressure that pushes fluid through the lines and wheel cylinders. This forces the brake lining or pad against the drum or disc to slow or stop the car.

Brake Pads
In a disc system, they are the replaceable flat segments consisting of a rigid backing plate plus frictional lining that takes the place of the shoe and lining in a drum brake. Brake pads are sometimes referred to as brake pucks.

Brake Shoe
The arc-shaped carrier to which the brake linings are mounted in a drum brake. They also force the lining against the rotating drum during braking.

Brakes, Disc
A type of braking system in which brake shoes, in a vise-like caliper, grip a revolving disk ounted on a wheel to slow or stop disc and wheel rotation for braking.

Brakes, Drum
A type of braking system that utilizes a metal drum mounted on a wheel to form the outer shell of a brake. The brake shoes press against the drum to slow or stop drum and wheel rotation for braking.

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