The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-09-15
PLACING THE LOAD.
Matter That Has Much to Do
With the Prevention OF DAN
gerous Skidding.
SUBJECT FOR CAR DESIGNERS
Weight Distribution Has in the Past
Been Given Too Little Attention
Many Disadvantages in
Having the Load Placed
at the Rear.

Weight distribution in motor cars
and its effect upon skidding Is the in
teresting theme of an article in re-
most desirable distribution of weight
is an interesting problem, says the
writer, who continues: Although it
looks simple at first the problem in
volved cannot be disposed of lightly.
The advantages connected with proper
weight distribution are great, because
here is concerned not merely the run
ming of the car on the road, but the
ability of the car to keep to given di-
rection. Car designers are blamed for
giving weight distribution too little at
tention.
There is less chance of skidding
on leaving level road for hill with
A light car without passengers easily
develops the tendency to jump and
slide at the rear, on a more or less
uneven road, at high speed, but the
well-loaded front permits controlling
the direction without difficulty. With
loaded rear, however, the same cal
is steadier but much more difficult
to right if it leaves the desired direc-
ton. Having the load at the rear has
other disadvantages than with steer
ing. Once started in skidding the
heavy rear quite overpowers the steer
ing end. With the weight nearer the
center of the car, however, it will ex-
ert less effort, as it will have short
er leverage.
The tendency of the vehicle to ad-
here to the wrong direction is in
creased by braking, which could be
offset by simultaneously increasing
the load on the steering wheels, there
by forcing them to regain their grip
on the surface. Acceleration, however,
gives a more undesirable effect by re-
ducing the load carried by the front
wheels.
In a rear skid, acceleration and
braking produce bad effects which are
increased by the weight near that end.
To be sure with both wheels off the
surface acceleration is quite impossi-
zle but the swifter rotation of the
wheels reduces the already small CO.
efficient of friction. Thus chances to
stop slipping are reduced. The ap-
plication of brakes as. soon as one
wheel begins to slip is apt to cause a
worse skid than if the car were left
entirely free, with the motor out The
application of brakes during COM
plete rear skid is very dangerous.
The passing Of car on curve
gives another instance when the ques-
ton Of weight concentration could Of
fer much material for discussion. With
the load concentrated in the rear it
exerts a centrifugal force acting side
wise upon the car and applied on a
greater leverage to the pivoting point
at the front axle than would be the
case were the load placed nearer the
front. It would make a more stable
car for passing on curves to have the
load amidship or slightly ahead of it.
The concentration of weight in front
would be more dangerous for front
skid and the concentration at the rear
end would be more likely to cause a
rear skid, which occurs more often.
When passing curve with side in
clination, with the outer wheels higher
than the inner ones, acceleration just
before striking the incline increases
the stability and braking tends to pull
the car inward.