Evening star., 1927-09-25
Saving the Springs.

Smith was just about to jack up
the car, spread the spring leaves
apart and oil the front springs when
another car owner stepped up to him
and cautioned him against what
Smith confidently believed was an
essential feature of car care.
You had better not do that" the
self appointed counselor advised.
Some of the manufacturers strongly
advise against oiling the springs.
Jones, the dealer here, says it is all
right to oil the rear springs but to
lay off fooling with the front ones"
THAT sounds as though you've got
car with shimmy trouble" l in.
terrupted. $50 far as can see.
Smith has no reason to neglect his
front springs and sacrifice riding
qualities merely as safeguard
against too flexible front action and
front wheel shimmying. 1t makes a
difference, you know, what car you
drive, where y0u drive and how you
drive"
Neither of them seemed to gather
my full meaning, don't blame them,
+ because the matter OF taking care of
the springs on a car is a much dis
cussed question and one to which a
motorist has to give great deal
of thought Every angle has to be
considered carefully.
Several Reliable Rules.
There are, however, several rules
which can be relied upon. I'll give
them to you as l gave them to Smith
and his friend.
THE first thing to consider is the
sort of driving you are going to do
as general rule. If you plan 10
| drive fast over smooth roads there
hardly is any reason to timber up
the front springs. Keeping them
fairly stiff will be further assurance
against having the front wheels
shimmy some time when you are hit.
ting it up. Since the chances are
against this sort of use of your car,
| think you had better figure on get.
| ting all the comfort you can out of
it. Also don't forget that if you
are in the habit of driving fast over
| good roads you are likely to do the
| same when the roads are not so good
This means counting spring breakage.
Il am glad to see that you are
| paying attention to the front springs,
because they are more important than
| the rear ones in SO far as safety and
| riding comfort go. Because the
| frame kicks up at the back of the
| car thefe is less opportunity for the
| rear of the frame to come down and
| bump. on the aXles when you hit
bad place in the road. Frame and
axle, however, are close together in
the front. This means that you must
| be careful not to allow the front
! springs to bottom. Decentralization
may bring about such a condition.
OF course, when the springs get old
they will bottom, the only cure be-
ing to have them rearched or re-
placed with new ones''
How about spring covers?" Smith
asked.
Covering the Springs.
That's another big story" I re-
piled. almost any cover will keep
out water and grit. and it is obvious
that springs need such protection.
However, merely covering the springs
IS no assurance against further
| trouble. There are many covered
springs in service that are in worse
| condition than many uncovered ones.
Grease covers are being con
demned at the present time by many
who favor oil covers, but there still
IS something TO be said for the va.
riety that uses grease. If you have
such covers taken off each year and
the leaves spread apart and regreased
the situation probably will be devoid