The Washington herald., 1917-09-30
STEERING PROBLEM OF AUTOMOBILES
SOLVED BY CAREFUL Study OF MACHINE
Many Factors Contribute to Help or Hinder
that Amateur Must Learn Before
Properly Motoring.

The average motor car owner will
probably be surprised to be told that
he doesn't know what really good
steering means. The reason is that
so many factors contribute to helping
or hindering the easy guidance OF
the modern car that many of them
are entirely overlooked by most own
ers and the result Is that they con-
slider satisfactory steering what Is in
reality very far from perfect.
All modern automobiles use essen
TALLY the same steering system, COM
prising the wheel. fastened to a post
and connected by linkage to a mov-
able knuckle, attached to the side of
the front axle. the two knuckIes being
connected by a further linkage. BY
turning the steering wheel the post
moves the linkage to one front wheel
and because of the connection to the
other this also moves in unison.
The steering gears. properly speak
ing. Is the mechanism at the lower
end of the steering post and the diff
ferent types take their name from the
forms Of gears used In them. There
Is the worm and wheel type. the worm
and sector. screw and nut, beveI gear.
and rack and pinion. All these gear
complishing the same end. They are
nothing more than a reduction gear
ing for reducing the motion of the
steering wheel The worm and wheel
and the screw and nut types are those
commonly in use today
To begin with IL Is important that
the front wheels shall be properly
aligned, IL the car is to steer with
maximum ease. Now all wheels are
cambered and toed-in to a certain ex-
tent. The amount OF this varies with
different cars. but the owner should
take pains at least twice a season
to see that his wheels are properly
aligned. There are certain methods
OF making this test, which Is simple
enough II the operator knows how.
but If he is not familiar with the
proper procedure, he should take the
car to his service station and have
the test made. the cost being nominal.
incidentally, IL the owner makes the
test himself. he should ascertain from
the service station what is the proper
amount Of Gambler and toe-in for the
wheels Of his vehicle. Any time that
the car Is Involved in a collision of
any kind. even II it Is with the curb,
the wheel alignment should be checked
~ -AAPAORCE results not
only in hindering the steering OF the
car, but in excessive wear.
Alignment of Wheels.
II the alignment OF the wheels Is
found to be incorrect, IL NAV be al
tered by manipulating the tie rod. This
latter is the rod which runs from one
steering knuckle to the other and
which has a movable portion at either
end. Hard steering is often caused by
misahgnment of the front wheels
through an error in the toe-in-or gath
er, and correction OF this fault will
bring a marked improvement In the
guidance Of the vehicle.
In addition to the toe-in and tilt
given to the wheels, many manufac-
turers OF motor vehicles tilt the front
axle or the ends Of the axle, known as
the knuckles. This not only makes
for easier steering. but also puts
the greatest part of the load on the
strongest part Of the axle. It is fire.
quently possible in a car the steering
system of which is deficient in that
respect. to improve the steering to
marked degree by fitting the knuckles
backward. This may be accomplished
in a rough and ready fashion by set
llUE lle lIOnL spIlh6S opCNhdAAy
made wooden or metal tapered seats
instead of the seats that are made in
tegrally with the front axle This tilt
ing backward of the knuckles not only
makes it easier steering, but it will be
noticeable that after a turn has been
made, the wheels will return to the
straight position almost of its own ac-
cord.
Though the ordinary owner does not
realize it, practically every part OF
the steering system is in motion when
ever the car is running. Even roads
that appear to be as smooth as Dill
lard table, in reality are full in more
or less accentuated inequalities, which
impart a jounce to the car. Every
such Jolt causes movement and con-
seduent wear in the flexible parts OF
the steering system For this reason
all steering systems are provided with
some method of taking up slack that
inevitably develops through use Or
course. this wear means abrasions,
which is aggravated unless the various
Joints are kept properly fabricated.
In most steering systems the slack
which develops may be taken up in
two or three different places. The
car owner should find out to begin