Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-02-09
keep YOUR STEERING
GEAR IN GOOD SHAPE
Continued From Page One,

the lnkage as the driver moves the
steering wheel: There are two types
In general use today, viz, worm and
wheel and screw and nut. Each of
these is simply a different wav oy
accomplishing the same result In eff
rect tney are reduction gearing for re-
ducing the necessary motion of the
steering wheel.
now, the average owner does not
realize that practically every part of
the steering system is in motion all the
Time that the car is moving. Even on
the smoothest road there are enough
Inequalities to cause a weaving of the
hnkage and gears, which inevitably
produces wear. If the various Joints
are not kept properly fabricated, this
wear Is greatly Increased. Therefore.
the first thing to be done with respect
to the steering system is to give it
systematic fabrication. This applies to
the gears. to the various joints and to
the pins on which the steering knuck-
les turn.
In all steering systems provision is
made for taking up slack due to wear
The continual friction occurring in this
system, as has been explained, causes
gradual wear. and this must be COM
pensated for by taking up the slack
resulting. The slack may be taken up
in two or three places. 1t is best first
to find out where the wear has been
greatest in the gears at the bottom
of the post, II the ball joints or else
where. Grip the tie rod with the hand
and try to move it back and forth to
see ii play exists. Do the same with
the drag link or rod that connects the
steering aud with the front axle. A
nut hehInd Il spring is provided to
adjust the bali Joints. All that is nee
cssary Is to remove cotter pin, turn
down the nut, insert the pin again
and all is well. II play has developed
in the gears an adjustment is usually
provided just above the case in which
the gears are housed. Generally this
takes the form of serrated nut, held
in place by pin. The pin is removed
with a screw driver, the nut is turned
slightly and the pin is put back Each
time the nut is turned the steering
should be tested.
LUBRIcATioN IS MOST VITAL.
Steering knuckles are held in place
by a pin on which the knuckle turns,
as We noted before. All these have
bearings and most of them bearing
bushings. fabrication is vitality nee
essary here, or early failure of the
part will result AS a matter of fact,
the steering knuckles should be lubri-
Gated every day to insure proper ac-
ton.
So much for the steering system
itself, but there are other considera-
lions IL good steering is to be insured
The front wheels must be accurately
linked up or steering is hard, while
the wear Is excessive. Almost every
car owner knows that the front wheels
are not perfectly straight. AS a mat
ter of fact, the tops of the wheels are
further arart than the bottoms. In adj
dition. the wheels are slightly toed in,
or gathered. The amounts of tilt and
gather used vary with different cars.
Usually the tilt and gather are equal
and are about three eighths of an inch.
When 1t is desired to check up
wheel ,1lIynments, the following Is the
proper method of procedure: Turn
the steering wheel so that the front
wheels are the same distance away
from the frame. Measure the distance
between the fronts of the two front
wheels on a line even with the hub
caps. Then measure the distance be-
tween the rears of the two wheels at
the same elevation. The rear measure