The Washington times., 1922-05-28

ue HdlIeI VI pay sIlN pehSh'oh
developing in steering gear mech
anlsm is due almost entirely to
neglect of lubriCation, for in the
present day designing and manu-
featuring these parts are carefully
tempered and fitted for the work
they have TO do. and under normal
conditions the wear is very slight,
However. when the oiling iS
neglected at any one of the sew
eral points needing frequent lubri-
cation. the joints tighten up,
doubling the strains on the gear
mechanism and naturally a lot OF
wear follows, along with hard
steering.
The most important points to
watch, in order to insure long life
and easy steering are the parts
that are subjected to a lot OF road
splash. such as the king pins or
steering knuCkle pins. tie rod bolts
and ball and socket joints. These
parts being fully exposed to
weather and splash. should be oiled
just as frequently as the spring
bolts. That is. following the wash
ing of the car, twice week during
sloppy weather in the city and
daily when touring over wet roads
During long periods OF dry weather
fabrication once every 500 miles Is
sufficient
II your car was not designed for
high pressure grease gun system,
do not change the steering knuCkle
oilers for grease connections, un-
less you take them apart and re-
arrange the oil grooves and holes
for grease. The writer prefers oil
lubricant at this point-although
grease works satisfactorily when
applied under high pressure-and
would not substitute grease II the
system was being changed. even
for convenient fabrication Of other
points on chassis.
Tho steering gear case or housing
usually located above the splash
pans and protected from water
requires less frequent attention.
From one to two thousand miles is
a safe distance for fabrication, de-
pending upon the kind OF lubricant
and the ability OF the housing to
hold grease. Since there is ALWAYS
a slight variation in the desigh.
ing of oil grooves. and holes for
grease and oil. it is we'll 10 con.
suit the instruction book and use
only what is recommended by the
manufacturer. Ordin7rilv 800 w.
oil will work satisfactorily and per
NIT very free steering even in
housings that are designed for
grease However. grease viii, not
work as readily In one that las
been designed for oil.
Steering gear ratIea, front
wheels wobbling or shimmying or
wavey streets and roads, usually
results from negleCtinE luhrtCa-
tions OF too loose parts. In this
connection. 1t would he we'll 70
check all members Of the steering
mechanism TO see that they are
properly adjusted and fastened Sc
Curelv in place as follows:
FIRST-CheCk the steering sear
bracket whore II is fastened 10
frame TO see that all riVets and
bolts are tight. In the event that
rivcts have become loose, these
can be replaced with holts-neNt
size lsrger-using lock washers as
means Of insuring permanent tight
ness at this point. The steering
gear housing must he absolutely
tight TO the frame to prevent
cramping OF wheels and hard steer
ing.
SECOND-Test the steering arm.
which makes the connection from
the steering gear to fore and aft
rod or drag link for looseness.
These should be locked securely in
place. In some cases the upper
end Of this arm Is a split clamp, In
others II may be splined or tapered.
However, in any case the clamp
bolt or hold-on nut shouldNbe pull.
ed up carefully, and locked In place
by cotter pin or lock washer or
both This Is very important, as a
slight looseness will cause lot Of
hack lash and excessive wear and
Of course. II it is not properly lock.
ed, there is danger of the arm
dropping off which would result in
serious accident.
THIRD-See that tie rod bolts
the connecting rod between the
two knuckles-and the ball and
socket joints on the fore and aft
rod-or drag link as It sometimes
called-the rod connecting steering
arm Of the gear to steering arm on
knuCkle-are free from play and
properly secured in place. The for.