Arizona republican., 1921-06-19
STEERING PROBLEMS
 Dy PJup Sparks


 The average motor car owner win pronabiy be surprised to be told that he doesn't know what really xooi II steering means. The reason Is Chat II so many factors contribute to helping II or hindering the easy guidance Of the ll modern car that many of them are l entirely overlooked hy most owners. \ and the result is that they consider satisfactory steering what Is In real | ity very far from perfect
 All modern automobiles use essen tally the same steering system. com prising the wheel. fastened fl a post and connected by hnkare to a nov able knuckle. attached to the side of the front axle. the two knuckles be- ing connected by a further unkage. | By turning the steering wheel the 4 post moves the linlage to one front wheel and because of the connection l to the other this also moves in unison. 1
 The steering gears. prop ss.y speak 1 ing. is tHe mechanism at the lower end of the steering post. and the dif- ferent types take thetr name from the forms of gears usei n them. Thero is the worm and wheel type. the worm and sector. screw and nut. bevei gear. and rack and pIn.on. All these gearings are merely different ways of accomplishing tne same end.
  1! ton gearing for reducing the motion 1 of the steering wheel The worm and { wheel and the screw and nut types are those commonly in use today. | To begin with. it is important that l the front wheels shall be properly ! aligned 1T the car is to steer with | maximum ease. Now. all wheels are cambercd and toed in to certain ex- ' tent The amount of this varies with hIf< n Eh
 take pains at least twice a season 70
 see that his wheels are properly aligned. There arc certain methods N of making this test. which is simple enough if the operator knows how. but if he Is not familiar with the proper procedure he should take the car 10 his service staron and have the test made. the cost beinE nominal. Incidentally. If the owner makes the test himself, he should ascertain from lthe service station what is the prop CT amount of cambcr and toe In for the wheels of hts vehicle. Any time | that the car Is involved in a collision of any kind. even ir it Is with tho curb. the wheel alignment should b' checked up. Improper alignment re suits not only in hindering the steer | ing of the car but lin excessive tir' wear.
 MI " ANc hnHHlAtHt t@ At-t "tt,"'~ !. found to be incorrect. it may be al tered by manipulating the tic rod II This latter Is the rod which runs Iron | one steering knuckic to the other. am II which has a movable portion at eithe
 end. Hard steering Is often cause by misaiignment of the front wheel II through an error in the toe-in Q II gather. and a correction of this faul will bring a marked improvement I Al ~F Ix
 v In addition to the toe-in and ti
 given to the wheels many manufac | turers of motor vehicles tilt the fror
 axle or the ends of the axle known .
 the knuckles. This not only make
 far easier steering. but also puts th greatest part of the load on ti strongest part of the axle. IL Is frs quently possible i'm q car the stcerin system of which Is deficicnt in thu respect. to improve the steering to | marked degree by tiiting the knucki' backward. This may be accomplishs u in A rough and ready fashion by sc | ting the front springs on special | made wooden or metal tapered sea instead of the seats that are mas v inteeraiiy with the front axle Tn lvl tiltInr backward of the knuckl@s n only makes far easier steering. but HI will be noticeable that after a tu has been made. the wheels will F turn to the straight position almost III its own accord
 lI Though the ordinary owner do