New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-08
Chattering in
a Car Should
Be Discouraged
Sure Sign Something Needs
Attention When Your
Auto Is Noisy
By II. c. BROkAW

Does YOUR car chatter? Does it talk
to YOU and protest against running
over holes and bumps in the road? II
it does, it is a sign that you should pay
attention to, hint that you should do
away with the knocks and clicks and
chattering which annoy you and every
body else within hearing as you run
along. That is, if you find them, for
there are some noises so obscure as 10
defy detection even by the expert.
Such was the car which developed a
sharp click when it was started forward
or backward. 1t ran quite long time
before it was possible to discover just
what and where il was. II was some
where in the back end, but so hidden as
10 defy detection. The rear axle was
of the floating type, the construction
in which the driving shaft is connected
to the hub of the wheel by number OF
Fittings on the shaft, into which cor
responding projections of the fange
fitted. These had become worn and al
lowed sufficient play to cause a noise.
By walking alongside of tho rear
wheel while the car was being started
and stopped it was decided that the
sound came from the hub OF the wheel.
The hub cap was removed and by plac-
ing the finger on the hub fange and
end of shaft at the same time the play
was detected by the sense of feeling,
though it was hardly visible to the
eye. The trouble was overcome by hay-
ing the shaft welded to the fange.
A few days later the owner hap
pened to be at the agency and told
what he had found.
$50 glad you came" was the re-
Spouse, "for we have been looking for
the same kind of click long time
ourselves and the service station me-
chanics have not been able to locate
it. They thought it was in the brake,
but upon examination could see no
reason for a click"
| have seen cases where the wheel
was keyed on, and where the keys had
acquired sufficient play to cause con-
tinuous knocking, especially when the
machine was being driven at low speed.
This sort of knocking is more likely
to occur with the four-cylnder. slow
speed engine than with the high speed,
many cylindered type.
A mysterious knock sometimes may
be traced to the torque rod, which is
loose at the forward end, or to worn
IOTQue luUe DtdIlHBSs anu III oNiiN
cases the bolts fastening the torque
rods to the rear axle become loosened
or worn, causing a knock, especially
when going over bumps or dropping
into holes.
The brake rods become worNand set
up a continuous Gathering on rough
roads, and this noise is accentuated If
the tires are kept inflated at too high
pressure. As matter of fact. the car
owner has the choice between the
greatest life for his tires with accom-
panying rattles and discomfort and
riding at sufficiently low pressure
to subdue these noises and make life
in a car worth living; of course, there
will be an attendant higher wear of
tires.
Worn spring shackle bolts will not
ordinarily cause knocking or rafting,
but when going over bumps or holes
the rebound Of the body is sufficient
TO make the looseness audible. 1t can
be overcome by having a new bolt put
in, and prevented by keeping the bolts
well fabricated.
Worn steering knuckle pins and tie
rod bolts will be found responsible
sometimes for knocks and rattles in
the front end of the car. The remedy
is Obvious, and the location of the
noise is not hard to find.
In addition TO these, we have rattles
due to tools being thrown loosely into
the tool box, and sometimes the body
bolts become loosened. The lamps oc
casionally jolt loose, and the license
plate bracket is sometimes so loose
that it is audible as we'll as visible.
There are other knocks due to broken
gear teeth and other broken parts, and
sometimes these broken teeth, loose
nuts, bolts or pins, in gear or diferen-
tial case, become wedged between the
gear teeth and cause knocking that
is not hard to locate. albeit rather ex-
pensive tc repair. And then there are
the knocks and rattles from the hun
dred or more accessories which are
attached to the chassis of many cars
and which soon or later develop noise.
The up-to-date, well designed car in
perfect shape is practically noiseless,
and if knock or rattle develops it
indicates that something is worn or
out of adjustment and needs attention.
The owner who takes care to have all
parts properly fabricated and kept
! tight need fear none of these annoy
ances. Proper attention means lack of
annoyance when out touring. Slovenly
habits will advertise themselves to
every one along the road