Evening star., 1935-05-19
HELPFUL AUTO TIPS
GIVEN FOR WOMEN
Excessive Strain on Emer-
gency Brake May Cause
Drums to Warp.
BY FREDERICK C. RUSSELL.

Even the doughnut tire may run
true to type by having hole in it.
1t is all very well to caution motor
lists against indulging in accidents.
but not much progress toward safety
can be expected until more drivers
understand how and why accidents
start. Much that passes for careless
ness can be traced back to lack of
sufficient familiarity with cars. How
many drivers, for example. realize that
many accidents have their actual orr
gin while the car is parked?
Service men, for instance, point out
that if the hand brake is drawn up
and the car is parked for any length
of time, following strenuous use Of
the service brake, the drums are apt
to warp. Such warpage is certain to
cause grabbing brakes, with all the
varieties of danger that go with them.
The habit of slipping the clutch, or
of accelerating beyond any reasonable
need. may wear the clutch plates until
this vital unit falls short of the neces-
sary grip when the driver has deS-
perate need for getaway. Every time
the car is carelessly parked at the
curb so that one of the front wheels
is strained, the driver takes one step
nearer an accident from shimmy. 1t
is customary to group accidents under
the heading ''skidding," but how
do these skids start? Is it not impor-
tant for every driver to remember that
when she stops carelessly or goes along
sliding one or two wheels the way is
being paved for a possible smash-up?
Unevenly worn treads always mean
upequaliZed traction. That's Just as
dangerous as unqualified brakes.
Trying to realign a bent axle by
heating it is one of the fallacies of
service which should be carefully
avoided The blacksmith shop was all
right as Dobbins service station, but
times have changed. Axles and i'm
portant parts of the steering assembly
should be Strengthened cold Tests
have shown that after heat treating
the ability of parts to Withstand strain
is reduced from 80 to 43 per cent. For
instance, steering arm and knuckle
unit which would have an initial
strength of 100000 pounds was shown
to drop to 10000 pounds after bends
were taken out by the heat process.
Regardless of ones attitude toward
the use of automobile radio, the fact
remains that this development has
played an important role in improving
cars. Note the cars with automatic
devices to increase the generator
charging rate when the cars radio is
switched on. This convenience func-
tions for other electrical devices on
the car, as well, thus saving the bat
terry the strain of an overload. Air
cooling for the generator is another
improvement traced directly to auto
radio.
I like the policy of a woman owner
who realizes that her car is one that
will give better results if not treated
so roughly. 1t is like the difference
between wearing fine watch and one
that is better suited to the usual daily
routine. There are some motors that
will not stand UP if pushed too hard
when cold. In view of other advan-
tages, this may not be a handicap,
unless the owner fails to realize the
situation and operates her car ac-
cordingly.
A few years ago the divided front
seat was looked upon as a mark of
distinction in interior detail. 1t per-
mitted the driver to adjust the seat
without bothering the front-seat pas
senger. The trend today is toward
single front-seat cushion, but this
is not necessarily the result of a de-
sire to cut costs. Because so many
of the latest models accommodate
three passengers on the front seat, it
is sometimes a disadvantage to have
division in the cushion.
In considering the cost of repair
ing damage to fender these days,
always take into account the matter
of color. So many cars have tenders
of the same hue as the body that some
thing extra has to be figured in for re-
painting. The ordinary black touch
up will not suffice, in many cases.
1t is important to remember, how
ever, that If the brake shoes are not
right it is possible to have unequal
action with hydraulic brakes, the same
as with mechanical brakes. Brake
lining also Is important. Let some
back-alley mechanic force grease into
the front brakes through overlubricat-
ing the front-wheel bearings and there
will be trouble. The faithfulness of
hydraulic brakes is often their failing.