The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-07
STEERING GEAR IS
SELDOM TO BLAME
Driver Is Generally Mt Fault
i'm Accidents, but PASSES
Buck
BY III. CLIFFORD nRoKAw.

in YOUR little notebook that the writer
of the article may have been honest. but
the man who gave him the information
was not. 1t was the steerer who went
wrong. and. like most folks. he tried TO
pass the buck on TO the steering gear.
which could not talk back.
Steering gears do not go wrong in
the sense meant in the average news
paper use. The steering gear is one of
tn most dependable parts of the car.
1t will go right 80 times out of 100 I'M
less the driver prevents or course,
neglect and wear will make II work in
efficiently, but even this is not enough
TO cause accidents without the human
element
No part of the car has had more at
tention from the automobile engineers
than the steering gear. In the early
automobiles il was very simple. There
was a handlebar attached to an upright
shaft, on the lower end of which was
crank. ard there was rod from the
end Of the crank TO the steering
lznuckle. Automobiles ran slowly in
those days and this worked. after
fashion, although on rough roads it took
quite an athlete to keep the car straight,
since every rut or bump sent shock to
the handlebar.
The first step of Importance was the
Introduction of a bevelled gear wheel
and quadrant, which absorbed large
part OF this shock, but was not refined
enough for the increasing speed of the
cars. It was possible still for the shocks
to be impaired TO the steering wheel and
1t required a pretty firm grip with poth
hands. except on very smooth pave
ments: even then ii was unsafe to take
much risk.
with the present worm and gear,
worm and sector or worm and nut OF
block arrangements practically all OF
the road shock is eliminated. In fact
IL Is perfectly possible on smooth
straightaway road to let the car run
itself IL the speed is not high. AGAIN
the front wheels are slightly toed m
giving a pressure on either side whsch
tends to keep the wheels going sti'A'A at
the principle being exactly Vac BOAT
where the water pressure IS equal on
each side OF tn. r1Ncw.
While n is very easy for the worm TO
turn the gear, the gear cannot turn the
worm It may impart more or less OF
the shocks incident TO running IL there
is too much play through wear or pao
adjustment But IL is not subJect 10
troubles which would make II deiber-
stsIv steer the car into danger. and II
given reasonable care the only breaks
likely 10 occur are those met In the
accident and not before.
The steering gear usually consists OF
n hand wheel mounted upon smart run
ming within n tube. This Is cohhecteo
to the dash and to the frame Oh the
car. On the lower end OF the smart IS
a worm gear with retaining ana ADJUST
ing nuts. the latter sometimes being on
top and sometimes underneath. Whether
a he a gear or sector or the nut, the
,hgta ~ oil the same. Iurn-
ing the worm moves the gear or nut
and thereby an arm. This arm or lever Is
attached to rod. known az the drag INK
by ball and socket bearing The other
end OF the drag link Is attached by
similar bearing to an arm projecting
from the steering knuckle. Moving the
hand wheel moves the gear. the lever
moves the drag link and the drag INK
moves the steering knuckle. 1t Is quite
as simple as IL sounds. The front wheels
are connected by tie-rod attached TO
each steering knuckle, making them
work in unison
AS before stated, about the only
trouble to which the steering gear is
subject is wear and loosencss due TO
poor adjustment Thus the steering
wheel NAV possibly become loose where
Il is fastened to the shaft at the top.
This usually means simply Tightening
up the retaining nut. but IL may mean
that the keyway has worn. or there Is
some other wear which must be taken
I'D. The adjusting nut for the steering
column may need to be frightened
slightly. 1t should be remembered that
in making the adjustments these
parts need TO move freely. but without
undue play.
with the gear and sector arrangement.
In time there will be considerable wear,
which comes all In one spot Usually
the gear is set on an eccentric SHAFT, and
by loosening the set screw IL may %
moved around TO take up play. IL II Is
very bad IL may be necessary TO loosen
the shaft from the lever and turn II
around a quarter or half turn, SO that
the wear on the worm comes in another
place. But IL these parts are kept prop
erly fabricated the wear viii be mini
mized.
The ball and socket bearings on each
end of the drag link also need to be
fabricated as directed in the Instruction
book, and to be kept clean.
II there seems to be too much play In
the steering gear. that ls II you have TO
turn the hand wheel a considerable dis
lance before II takes hold. begin at the
front wheel to check UP the slack or lost
motion. Jack UP the front wheels and,
moving them by hand, see X there Is
undue play in the knuckle pins II So II
may mean that a bushing must lie put
in to stop the wheels from webbing.
Then inspect the bearing whore he drag
link is attached to the knucSe: moving
IL by hand Will usually determine
whether there is an excess play. Some
OF these bearings have an adjustment
for taking up lost motion.
Do not make the mistake OF adjusting
too tight If there IL no adjustment II
is usually cheaper to buy new ball and
socket bearing. The similar bearing at
the rear end OF the drag link should also
be inspected. n the lost motion Is not
discovered BY this time examine the gear
or sector TO sec II the wear is there.
Have some one turn the steering wheel
slightly and observe whether the gear
starts 10 work at once. and adjust until
there Is almost no play between the
worm and gear teeth. When making
adjustments be sure 10 replace all lock
nuts and cotter pins and inspect the en-
tire gear regularly TO SEQ that they are
In place.
The owner who is unfamiliar with the
steering gear after such an inspection
will have n very wholesome respect FOR
this important bit OF mechanism and will
not be very likely 20 complain after an
accident that the steering gear went
wrong" or course II is human nature
20 pass our own faillngs on to sono one
or something else. but common honesty
I'm most cases will compel the admission
that II was not tho steering gear but the
driver himself who had been at fault. so
well II this understood b. the knowing