Page 39 - Demo

Page 39.Alvis Three Litre Shop Manual - T.A. 21 and T.C. 21The front suspension of the ALVIS THREE LITRE has been designed to provide over very long periods, with a minimum of attention, the light accurate steering and superlative roadholding qualities associated with ALVIS cars.The front wheels are independently sprung through the medium of lateral suspension links and coil springs which, together with the long semi-elliptical rear springs, ensure smooth riding over indifferent road surfaces. The geometry of the steering and suspension has been arranged to give minimum alteration of camber angle consistent with the maintenance of maximum adhesion over a wide range of front wheel movement.SStteeriingg UnititA 17%u201d diameter sprung steering wheel is fitted to the column of the Burman recirculating ball type steering unit, the inner column of which is supported at the bottom end by two ball bearings and at the top end by a fabric bush which requires no adjustment or lubrication.It is recommended that the hexagon headed filler plug should be removed every 10,000 miles (16,000 km.), the oil level checked, and if necessary topped up with the correct grade of oil.The only other attention the unit may require during the life of the car will be to adjust the amount of end float of the rocker shaft. In order to carry out this adjustment, the locknut of the square headed adjuster, which is adjacent to the filler plug, should be released, and with the wheels in the straight position the adjuster should be screwed down until it is just touching the end of the rocker shaft with no end float between them, and then locked in that position. It is essential that this adjustment should be carried out in the straight ahead position as the conical faces on the rocker shaft are so designed to give a slight amount of back-lash towards full lock.SStteeriingg RRodsThe layout of the steering rods is symmetrical, with an idler shaft corresponding to the rocker shaft of the steering box on the opposite side of the chassis. The two steering drop arms are connected by a tie rod, and from each drop arm a side rod runs to the steering arm on the adjacent stub axle.The track of the front wheels should be set so that it is (0%u201d to 1/16%u201d) toe out at the wheel rim, measured at hub level. It is advisable to check this occasionally as any excessive maladjustment is likely to cause uneven tyre wear and affect the steering of the car. It is important that only the centre tie rod should be adjusted to correct the track; on no account should the length of the side rods be altered.The idler shaft is supported in an aluminium alloy housing containing a reservoir of oil, which is the same as that in the steering box and should be topped up every 2,000 miles (3,200 km.). The steering rod joints STEERING AND SUSPENSION