Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-20

| engineers as to which type of rear
axle is the best for motor cars. The
semi floating type is the most popu-
lar. Judged from the standpoint OF
the number of makes OF cars en-
ploying it. However. prominent car
makers adhere to the floating type,
| which may be three quarters. seven
eighths or full. Some types re-
ferred to as full floating are nothing
Of the sort. being merely something
hat approximates it.
The principle OF the floating type
is this The bearing is mounted
around the end Of the axle housing
and inside the wheel. The axle, then.
revoIves inside the housifig and CON
meets with the wheel outside the end
Of the axle housing. The axle does
not support the weight OF the car,
merely acting as a, power conveyer
IF it breaks. the wheel will continue
20 revolve and the car can be towed.
In the semi-hoating type the bear
ing is located around the axle and in
side the axle housing. the wheel being
supported by the end Of the axle.
The argument against this type is
that If the axle breaks the wheel is
thrown out OF commission. too. But
there is a reason for using this type
of axle. In fact there are several
reasons. but one is easily appre-
ciated; the bearing is not so directly
affected by the shock of the wheel
hitting road bumps.
Let those who wish to boast OF
their ability to take brand-new car
of the freight train and drive it Is
miles an hour. Let them believe
that it is not necessary to baby"
new engine for the first thousand
miles. They are entirely at liberty,
Of course. to hold their own opinions.
Recently group of veteraOmotor-
lists were discussing fast driving OF
brand-new engines. One remarked
that there wak no possibility of
damage provided the engine did not
freeze up, and added that any good
driver could tell in advance when
the engine might be disposed to
bind
In the next breath. however the
group tool: up various incidents re-
garding the wreckine Of engines
through excessively fast driving
when new. One owner told OF hav-
ing witnessed connecting rod come
clear through the side of the crank
case and nearly through the hood.
Another related how. at something
around 20, he had cracked piston.
Perhaps the most interesting con-
fession of all was the fact that one
speaker mentioned the matter of
repairs being made to his new auto
mobile that very evening. There was
bad knock in it. and the service
doctors were attempting to get rid
of it. This car was driven faster
than 90 miles an hour before it had
added that much in mileage to the
odometer
Each member of the group sec
onded the idea that il always is best
to allow the car to gain its speed
gradually rather than to force it to
top speed in short stretch OF the
road
And there was the important hint
for the car owner. High records IN
car service can be attained best by
allowing "speedabiiity" to materialize
gradually.
Driving moderately for the first
thousand miles still seems to be the
best rule. though it is permits sible,
and advisable for the new car
owner to indulge in an occasional
squirt.
Much acceleration is lost in
traffic driving, and considerable
injury done to the car, by reason
Of the tendency to slip the clutch.
1t is true that in slipping the clutch
the engine can be raced and the
power transmitted to the wheels
at a progressively rapid rate, pro-
vided the job is done properly. The
trouble, however, lies in the fact
that most persons who attempt to
slip the clutch for the purpose of
gaining acceleration overdo it to
such an extent that they actually
waste power at the clutch and do
not make the anticipated gain. The
practice is a harmful one and not
10 be cultivated.