Show 4 1 11 roain 1 s STORY no feature of the new ford car has been the ot of more enthusiastic approval than its riding qualities to persons accustomed to ride in a car in the ed called light or medium class the degree to which the model A absorbs road shocks find and r it isi io 11 ways little short or of till be livani liv abi 1 it is to explain tho new car flici erfie wa rui in chife respect to in a arillo norl way ay the transverse scull elliptic springs ot of hi rodn A arr heavier lir hp avier stronger 1 mor inor flexible than those use i 11 lly pr atou ford car one ol of th hi niini 4 in riding comfort it ii high proportion of sprung li keight and nd a low apropo proportion artion oaf un spiting wight sprung weight la Is all the weight suspended by the flexible ends of the hie springs weight is the dead weight below those flexible ends it follows that the higher the proportion of 0 weight the more powerful and violent will be the road sh shocks dc delivered livered against the frame body and motor ot of oie me car and the more difficult to absorb some semi elliptic springs rest on their middle or heaviest and thickest 4 portions below the line of sprung J weight thus the weightiest weight iest sections of the springs themselves form part of the weight adding to the size of tho hammer arid and the power of the blows dealt by the high way against the body frame and motor of the car in ford design the transverse springs rest on their flexible ends with their heavy mid portion uppermost 1 I itz in which position they form part of the sprung or cushioned weight eight aside from the question of 0 N weight eight the file transverse spring contributes agam again to the comfortable riding qualities of the model A J the ordinary car is pushed forward by way of the rear axle and the rear springs the rear springs actually serve as driving members the front halves of these springs must therefore be made stiff enough to serve this purpose and their flexibility ibi fbi lity which eri enables ables them to perform their cushioning function la Is reduced in a corresponding degree moreover in order to be efficient driving members their fron tends 4 must be fastened firmly to the frame of the car this means that the len of the spring as shocks are encountered must be entirely toward 0 the rear tor for only the rear end of the spring can have a shackled and hinged mounting As the spring flexes alexes ibe therefore the rear wheels are giov moved ed backward arid and forward an and neither a constant nor a uniform wheelbase can call bo be maintained in the model A the rear springs serve a cushi cushioning onnig function only j the car is pushed forward through the hie torque tube arid and radius rods which ft carry the thrust to a point well forward en the chassis both ends ot of the springs therefore are shackled and hinged arid and all leaves are as flexible as their efficiency I 1 and cu members require the flexing of the springs has no effect on the length of the wheelbase whatever in addition to the special spring design the model A ford has as standard equipment a very fine type ot of hydraulic kloak ab which ad materially LO 10 the smooth riding qualities of V lla car |