The brake rods become worn and set up a continuous clattering on rough roads and this noise is accentuated if the tires are kept inflated at too high a pressure. As a matter of fact the car owner has the choice between the greatest life for his tires and accompanying rattles and discomforts, and riding at a sufficiently low pressure to subdue these noises and make life in a car worth living; of course there will be an attendant higher wear of tires. Where the wear cannot be taken up by adjustments or using new bolts or pins, often the rattle may be ended by wiring a spiral spring to the frame and rattling part. This keeps it taut.
Worn spring-shackle bolts will not ordinarily cause knocking or rattling, but when going over bumps or holes the rebound of the body is sufficient to make the looseness audible. It can be overcome by having a new bolt put in, and prevented by keeping the bolts well lubricated.
Worn steering-knuckle pins and tie-rod bolts will sometimes be found responsible for knocks and rattles in the front end of the car. The remedy is obvious and the location of the noise is not so hard to find.
In addition to these we have rattles due to tools being thrown loosely into the tool box, and sometimes from the body bolts having become loosened. The lamps occasionally jolt loose and the license-plate bracket is sometimes so loose that it is audible as well as visible.
There are other knocks due to broken gear teeth and other broken parts, and sometimes these broken teeth, loose nuts, bolts, or pins in gear or differential case become wedged between the gear teeth and cause a knocking that is not hard to locate, albeit rather expensive to repair.
And then there are the knocks and rattles from the hundred or more accessories which are attached to the chassis of many cars and which sooner or later develop defects and noise.
The up-to-date, well-designed car in perfect shape is practically noiseless, and if a knock or rattle develops it indicates that something is worn or out of adjustment, and needs attention. The owner who takes care to have all parts properly lubricated and kept tight need fear none of these annoyances, and proper attention means lack of annoyance when out touring, while slovenly habits will advertise themselves to everyone along the road.
CHAPTER XLI
KEEPING DOWN THE AUTO UPKEEP
If the general run of auto owners and chauffeurs do not mend their ways city streets will be paved with a mixture of asphalt and auto parts and country roads will be lucrative fields for the junkman. Anyone who doubts this need but inspect the pavement at busy corners and see what a collection of junk is strewn along, particularly at the places where many cars make sudden stops.
To illustrate: The other day a car stopped and the driver pondered what was the matter that the engine had no power. Failing to get a solution, as he was near a garage, he called for a mechanic to look it over.