New-York tribune., 1921-10-23
Sources of Car
Noises Should Be
Located at Once
Owner Who Takes Care 10
Have All Parts 7 Thoroughly
Lubricated and Tightened
Will Escape Annoyances

by n. S-hffCrd BrckaW,
Technical Director, Vest Side Y. If.
C. A. automobile Schools
Can the people in your neighborhood
tell when your car is passing their
places, even in the night, BY it's vari-
Gus and sundry rattles7 A distinguish
ing rattle of q car might be Of value in
locating the thief in case your machine
is stolen. But the clattering noises
that some autos give out certainly do
not add to the pleasure an owner ought
to get out of driving and they doubt
make for peace in the neighborhood.
There Is no end Of noises which may
develop from the chassis of car and
make it clank, clatter and click like a
moving machine as it goes over the
highway. Often they are extremely
difficult TO locate, being at times SO
obscure as to defy detection even by
an expert automotive mechanic.
Such was the trouble with a car
which developed sharp click when
ever it was started forward or back
ward. It ran quite long time before
it was possible to discover just what
and where it was. 1t was somewhere
in the back, but so hidden as to defy
detection. The rear axle was of the
floating type, the construction in which
the driving shaft is connected to the
sub Of the wheel by number Of fiut-
ings on the shaft, into which corre-
spending projections of the fange
fitted. These had become worn and
allowed sufficient play to cause noise.
Trouble Detected by Feeling
By walking alongside Of the rear
wheel while the care was being started
and stopped it was decided that the
sound came from the hub Of the wheel,
Ihe hub cap was removed, and by-plac-
ing the finger on the hub flange and end
OF shaft at the same time the play was
detected by the sense of feeling, though
1t was hardly visible to the eye. The
trouble was overcome by having the
shaft welded to the flange.
There have been cases where The
wheels was keyed on and where the
keys had acquired sufficient play to
cause continuous knocking, especially
wnen the machine was being driven at
low speed. This sort of knocking is
more likely to occur with the four
cylinder, slow-speed engine than with
rhe high-speed, many cylindered type.
A mysterious knock may sometimes
oe traced to the torque rod, when it
becomes loose at the forward end, or
TO worn torque tube bearings, and in
some cases the bolts fastening the
lorque rods to the rear axle become
loosened or worn, causing knock,
especially when going over bumps or
dropping into holes.
Gathering Brake Rods
The brake rods become worn and set
up q continuous Gathering on rough
roads. and this noise is accentuated
II the tires are kept inflated at too
high pressure. As a matter of fact
tho car owner has the choice between
the greatest life for his tires and &C.
companying rattles and discomforts
and riding at a sufficiently low press
ure to sudue these noises and make
life in a car worth living. OF course,
there will be an attendant higher wear
of tires. Where the wear cannot be
taken up by adjustments or using new
bolte or pins, often the rattle may be
ended by wiring spiral spring to the
frame and rattling part. This keeps it
taut.
Worn spring shackle belts 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 sometimes be found re-
sponsible for knocks and rattles in the
ront end of the car. The remedy is
obvious and the location of the noise
not so hard 20 find.
In addition to these we have rattles
due to tools being thrown loosely into
the tool box, and sometimes from the
body bolts having become loosened
The lamps occasionally jolt loose and
the license plate bracket is sometimes
SO loose that it is audible as we'll as
visible.
There Are Other Knocks
There are other knocks due tt
broken gear teeth and other broker
parts, and sometimes these broker
teeth, loose nuts, bolts or pins In gea,
or differential case become wedged be,
tween the gear teeth and cause &
knockingS Cnar ls not hard TO locate
albeit rather expensive to repair.
And then there are the knocks anc
ratties from the hundred or more
accessories which are attached to the
chassis of many cars and which, sooner
or later, develop defects and noise.
The up-to-date, well-designed car il
perfect shape is practically noiseless
and If knock or rattle develops il
indicates that something is worn o.
out Of adjustment, and needs at
tention. The owner who takes car,
to have all parts properly lubicatet
and kept tight need fear none ofNthes,
annoyances, and proper attentio,
means lack annoyance when on
touring, while slovenly habits will ad
yertise themselves to everyone alons
the road.
Fu~ther Cut ON Essex Cars