El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-10-22


THE average motor car owner viii
L 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 owners
and the result is that they consider
satisfactory steering what is in re-
ality very far from perfect
All mocern automobiles use essen
TALLY the came steering system. COM
prising the wheel, fastened to a post
and connected by linkage to a nova
BILE knuckle, attached to the side OF
the front axle. the two knuckles be-
ing connected by a further inkage-
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 al the lower end
/ Of the steering post and the different
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. bevel gear, and
rack and pinion. All these gearings
are merely different ways Of accom-
plishing the same end They are
nothing more than a reduction gearing
for reducing the motion Of the steer
ing wheel. The worm and wheel and
the screw and nut types are those
commonly in use today.
To begin with II is Important that
the front wheels shall be properly
aligned. II the car is to steer with
maximum ease. Now all wheels are
cambered and toed in TO 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 the wheels are properly
aligned. There are certain methods
enough il the operator knows how,
but II 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 In
cidentally, 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 If II is with the curb, the
wheel alignment should be checked
up. Improper alignment results not
only in hindering the steering Of the
car but in excessive tire wear.
II the alignment Of the wheels is
found to be incorrect, II may 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 misalignment OF the front wheels
through an error in the toe-in or
gather and a 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
as the knuclles- This not only makes
far easier steering. but also puts the
greatest part OF the load on the
strongest part OF the axle. II is fire.
quently possible in a car the steering
system Of which is deficient in that
respect. to improve the steering to a
marked degree by fitting the knuck-
les backward. This may be accom-
plished in a rough and ready fashion
by setting the front springs on spe-
cially made wooden or metal tapered
seats instead OF the seats that are
made integrally with the front axle.
This fitting backward Of the knuckles
not only makes far 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 accord
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 a bill
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
consequent wear in the flexible parts
of the steering system. For this rea-
son all steering systems are provided
with some method OF taking up slack
that inevitably develops through use
OF course, this wear means abrasion.
which is aggravated unless the vari-
Gus joints are kept properly lubri-
Gated
In most steering systems the slack
which develops may be taken Up in