The Washington times., 1922-09-10
HOW TO QUIET
SQUEAKY NOISE
IN AUTO BODIES
Small Sounds Succumb Speed
lily to Scientific Suppress
sion, Says Expert.

fWhile yet one may work upon the
car In the open sunshine, 1t is we'll
: to seek out the small squeaks and
creaks that a summers pounding
have produced in the closed car, for
there Is no place like the open drive
way on a sunny day in which TO
ferret out the causes Of obscure
sounds and to remedy them.
The shuddering hubbub OF the
doors when crossing car tracks,
their mouse-like squeaking when
rounding curves or undulating over
choppy pavements-these things be-
speak attention to the rubber out'
fers on the door posts and the tight
ening of the hinges. There Is no per-
fectly rigid frame or body and con.
tinued weaving of the two 10 bound
to loosen the hinges and wear uown
the rubber buffers. Every time he
door is slammed, both hinges ana
buffers lose little OF their en-
thusiasm.
The little rubber blocks are set In
the door post with screws. BY the
end OF the season they are apt TO be
brittle and either hard or mushy'
They are cheaply and easily replaced,
the new block reaching out to meet
the door and holding 1t snusly
against the latch. Loosened hings
NAV only need a half turn or 80 on
their screws to cause them to fore
swear their hstlessness and hoid the
door firmly and snugly In It's proper
place. Sometimes, though the
screws are neglected so long that
they begin working in the WOOD
thus soon wearing the threads In the
hole until so little bite" is left that
further Tightening is impracticaoie
In this case, the screws ana hinge
should be removed and the mole
bored out cleanly, suggests mechan,
ical expert In Motor. A small wooo
rod, such as used for cheap rags
lollypops and these new-fangieo
structural toys Is then dipps1 tn
glue and forced into the hole. When
this rod is cut off and trimmed flush
with a jack-knife, a small gimlet can
be used to start a new screwhoie III
the center of the dowei or wooden
plug. It will be found that the
screw will hold better in the dowel
than in the original piece. or course
a larger screw can be used, II the
hinge, will take 1t and there is
enough wood in the door post 10
accommodate 1t.
Nothing is quite so potent in rob
bing a closed car of it's snugness as
rafting widnow panes. In most closed
bodies. the glass itself slides In the
frame of the window or door, little
metal channels being provided Tor
the purpose. These are usually pad
ded with felt to silence and protect
the glass while permitting 1t to slide
freely. The felt mats wear down In
time, however, and the pane develops
q rattle. It Is easily replaced. how
80 "A oil
The first preliminary after the cid
felt has been torn out Is to clean out
the channel, alcohol being the
best for the purpose. When dry
shellac should be applied to the inside
with q small brush and the felt in
serted before 1t has dried. A screw
driver is used to insert the felt,
starting at the top and working
downward. The felt is pushed in
firmly, like carlking in a boat. the
screwdriver being pressed firmly
against all three sides Of the channel
to insure a glove fit and good bond
with the shellac.
The door locks sometimes are
responsible for a Gathering. This
Is usually due to lost motion in the
inside lever. A small felt pad al
the end Of the slot nearest which
the lever normally stands will pre-
vent this. II the latch rattles, the
trouble is with the buffers, which
do not hold the latch snugly
against the striker plate.
Creaking Of the body joints
usually accompanied by rumbline
of the body sills on the frame rails
usually result from loose body
clips or bolts. by which the body
is attached to the frame. Wher
Tightening these does not suffice
a felt pad should be inserted be
tween the body and the frame. Ar
annoying squeak Is sometimes
caused by friction between the
engine hood and the dash flange
Lacing is usually employed fol
this, sometimes of fabric and some
times Of leather. Rawhide bel,
lacing is the best thing to use in
renewing. II the old lacing. ID
worn in spots, It should be dis
carded altogether and new raw
hide laced in. The hood latches
Ahould also receive attention. be
ing the unsuspected cause of much
noise on most cars.