AXLE DRIVES

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 3271, 13 November 1928, Page 2

AXLE DRIVES

THE TORQUE TUBE.

While few people know that their car has a torque arm or torque tube, ami while still fewer know its purpose, it is, nevertheless, an important member of the car, and one which is often the cause of hamincriiig and pounding noises. Now, as when the wheel revolves it must push the car, there is a natural resistance to its revolving. There is no such natural resistance to the revolving of the pinion housing (and the entire rear axle housing to jwhich it is fastened). For this reason, | unless some device is added which will hold the housing stationary, instead of the wheels revolving, when the clutch is let in, the entire rear axle and pinion housing would revolve backward. A few years ago many makers of cars had the torque arm, which was a tapering bar of pressed stqel, fastened at one end to the axle housing by means of a long bolt, and at the other to a cross member of the frame. Of late years the torque tube is used on most cars. In this ease a tube, through which the propeller shaft passes, is bolted to the axle or the pinion housing, the other end being, connected to the cross member of the frame.

In addition to taking care of holding the rear axle housing from revolving, the torque tube also transmits the drive or push of the rear wheels to the body of-the car, so that the springs are not required to do anything in addition to absorbing the road shocks. While the torque arm also transmits some of the drive of the wheels to the car, the springs, when they are used, are also required to take care of most of this drive.

A number of makes of ears are built without either a torque arm or torquo tube, having what is known as the Hotehkiss drive. When so- built the springs are made to prevent the rear

jaxfe housing from revolving and must •i transmit the drive or push of the

wheels.to frame of the car, in addition to taking care.of the road shocks. In order to have the springs accomplish the above, they are underslung; that is, they hang beneath the rear axle housing, instead of resting upon it, and are rigidly connected thereto, the housing not being permitted to revolve in the saddle of the spring.

As all three of the above models are used in both high and low-priced cars, it is a matter of engineering opinion as to which is the best. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, and all, when properly built, will give absolute satisfaction.