MOTORISTS’ TROUBLES.

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6572, 5 February 1925, Page 3

MOTORISTS’ TROUBLES.

STEERING WOBBLE The disconcerting defect known as steering or front wheel wobbles is usually the cause, and not the effect of backlash in the connections. The prime source of the trouble is either some inherent defect in the lay out of the pivotal movement of the wheels and stub axles, or defects between the front and back pair of wheels and axles. A common form of front wheel and stub axle layout aims at easing the pivotal motion by striking a common centre line through the wheel and pilot head, so that the axis of both coincides at the treadbase. An alternative to this setting is to mount the stub axle head within tjpe hub. This type, however, is seldom used. The normal front wheel arrangement is to place front wheel and axle head vertical and parallel to each other. This involves two pivotal points, one for the wheel about its tread base and the other for the stub axle about its head. Front wheel wobble may be caused by both front wheels being “off” parallel with the two rear ones. This produces a side dray on both wheels, and its effect is apparent in excessive tyre wear. To test for this trouble place the vehicle on a level floor, and stretch a cord first along one side, taking the centres of the respective front and rear hubs as the testing point. Then while the cord is held taut, measure the clearance between the cord and the respective faces of the wheel. Do the same on the other side and compare results.

If the four wheels are parallel to each other there should be the same clearance, or gap, between each front wheel face.