FRONT AXLE SUSPENSIONMost passenger car front wheels are individuallysupported with independent suspension systems. Theones you are likely to see are the coil spring and thetorsion bar suspension systems used with independentfront axles and shock absorbers.REAR AXLE SUSPENSIONDriving wheels are mounted on a live-driving axlesuspended by springs attached to the axle housing. Leafsprings generally suspend live axles using the Hotchkissdrive, as shown in figure 3-10. Coil springs are used on anumber of passenger cars with independent suspension.TIRESBecause tires are expensive, they require propercare and maintenance. While natural wear and tearaffects tire life, premature tire failure can be caused byabuse and neglect. Proper maintenance of tires resultsin better performance and longer service and prevents ahazardous tire failure that can cause loss of life andequipment.TIRE INSPECTIONTires are cut by sharp objects, bruised by bad roadsand stones, and injured by road shocks in general. Todrive with a seriously damaged tire is dangerous,because it may blow out and cause the driver to losecontrol of the vehicle.Carefully inspect your vehicle tires during prestartand post operations. Remove glass, nails, stones, andother foreign materials embedded in tires. Tires givelonger mileage and safer driving when damages arerepaired immediately.InflationCorrect air pressure is the basis for reliable tireperformance. Tires are designed to operate at specifiedair pressures for given loads and inflated to theprescribed air pressure for your driving condition. WhenFigure 3-10.—Hotchkiss drive.checking air pressure, use an accurate gauge and checkthe valve cores for leaks.NOTE: Reduce the tire pressure when driving insoft sand and over dunes. This increases the amount oftire surface in contact with the sand to provide betterflotation (support). However, never reduce the tirepressure so much that the tire slips on the rim. On someequipment, the air pressure for normal conditions andoff-road conditions is listed on a data plate on thedashboard or in the operator’s manual. When operatingwith reduced tire pressure, drive at low speed. Inflatethe tires to normal pressure as soon as the situationpermits.PROPERLY INFLATED.— A properly inflatedtire, as shown in figure 3-11, view A, shows propercontact with the road.Figure 3-11.—Proper and improper tire inflation.3-7
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