El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-12-01

innHl1unnii
employed in them to transmit the
power.
IN the live axIes OF today the c7m-
ponents are a hollow spheroid in the
center, from which project two tubes,
In the central portion is the differen-
tial unit. consisting OF a number OF
gears. Extending from the differen-
tai are two shafts, one through each
OF the tubes To the ends Of these
shafts the wheels are attached.
The names floating, semi flOatinS
and three-quarter floating are de-
rived from the shafts The floating
Z shaft does in a manner do Just that.
the weight Of the load. but simply
. drives the wheels and takes a little
| torsional stress. In the floating axle
/ the wheel bearings are outside OF the
axle tube, so that the wheels really
rest on the tubes In this way the
I shafts may be removed without dis
: turbing other parts.
/ In the semi-flOatinE type the outer
: tube bearings are inside the tube and
the shafts must bear some OF the dc-
I tual load, as wei as absorb certain
] torsionaI stresses. Obviously In this
design II Is not so easy 10 remove the
shafts. In the three-quarter floating
/ type OF construction, the outer tube
bearings are on the outside OF the
tubes and there is a rigid connection
between the shaft and the wheel This
axle too must support some Of the
load, in addition to transmitting
power.
The gear types used in rear axles Of
today include straight and spiral
bevel. worm. internal gear. two speed
beyel and single and double chain OF
these types but three, straight. spiral
and two speed beyel, are used on
present day passenger cars. The spiral
beyel within the past few years has
come to the front and Is now in the
lead In popularity, due TO its quiet
running and general efficiency. The
two speed type IS used by only one
maker.
No car owner who has experienced
rear axle trouble needs to be warned
to take all possible precautions 10
develop in this unit, If Il Is not treated
with due respect Axle shafts some
times break, or again they may be
twisted out Of all reasonable shape.
Bearings occasionally are crushed.
The gears in the differential unit are
peculiarly liable to chipping, a trou-
bic that may result IN running the
whole mechanism
The most important item in the care
Of the rear axle is proper fabrication. l
At intervals at least twice per season. I
the rear axle housing should be 4
flushed out with kerosene and then I;
new oil should be installed Note that ]
IL be oil and not grease which is IN 4
suited TO this part, especially so IN !
cold weather
But Iubrication IS not all The
function OF the rear axle, as we have &
noted, involves the taking Of torque /
or twist. which puts heavy strain on !
the parts. II they are not strong {
enough. trouble is bound to result /
When part OF the rear axle assem-
bly, breaks, Il should first be ascer-
tanned what caused the break Often 1
the parts get out Of alignment and in
-
for the unit must be Strengthened up
OF the same thing will occur again.
the rear axle IS a Job for the
service station, unless the owner is
unusually expert as a mechanic.
When an intermittent hum. a noise
with stresses or inflexions, comes
from the axle, II may be accepted that
the gears are running out OF align
ment or that they have suffered in
jury and are themselves warped out
OF shape Chipping Of the teeth is
common and in this case, the pieces OF
metal get down in the mechanism
and do further injury
In placing lubricant IN the rear
axle. It must be remembered that too
much is almost as bad as too little
The excess oil works its way along
TO axle tube and gets into the brake
drums interfering with their func-
-ioning.5 This trouble may be cured
BY installing felt washers in the ends
lxles this condition is provided for
BY allowing the oil to run out through
! small hole In the end OF the tubes
and some owners OF older cars have
this practice by drilling holes
n the tubes II Is better. however.
70 try the felt washers to begin with
md II these do not serve, then drill 9
loIe.
IN rear axles OF the type having
lscillatng spring supports, these lat
er must be fabricated. at the point
where they turn on the axle tubes.
Finally II may be stated that when
.ver the rear axle begins emitting a /
peculiar noise OF any kind, Il IS time
o get the car into the experts at the
ervice station. Most rear axle ad-
ustments and repairs are beyond {
he ordinary car owner.
A differential adjustment (vhen
his Is possible though Il IS not in all
ars) Is made by lOoseniuE two col.
ars one on either side Of the differ I
initial unit. and shifting the unit s