Death wobble

[zippi]

Finding all kinda problems now are we!! It's just the rubber ball on the end of the wishbone. There should be almost no movement, but it may be a little hard to tell, it's a lot of mass to move around. That ball mount is one area that leads to the wobble as is tire balance and bent rims. Might not cure it all, but should help.

Yes I am . I like wrenching on anything I can do myself and I'm enjoying the learning experience. Just gives me a good feeling driving my 37 down the road knowing I did some of the work. Wish I could have kept in the life of Hot Rods when I started back around 1970. Air Force, family, and college kinda took over. Well...at least I'm back in it now

 

[hardtimes]

Jacked my 37 up and crawled under to check the wishbone ball. One bolt was loose and the other one wasn't all that tight. Is this just a pocket where the two meet and rest inside the ball? If I unscrew both bolts and drop the ball down is it replaceable? How can I tell if it even needs to be replaced.

As I advised previously (44), if this ball is loose, there WILL be problems/trouble, i.e.-steering, wobble , incorrect front setting.
That ball should be round metal. A worn out metal ball can be dealt with by welding and reshaping to original spec; using a rubber ball to help take up the wear space and there is an old trick of putting a bent washer under the ball to take up wear. I use a rubber ball, even though my metal ball is good..why?
If the metal ball clamp becomes loosened (yours) , it will make noise(metal/metal) as it moves. I don't like that noise and a rubber ball prevents the noise. I clamp down hard on the rubber ball. If using original good attachment equipment...follow Fords adjustment instructions.
So, if you do not lube that 'ball joint' it will wear out. If not sufficiently tight, it will wear out. By wear out, I mean both ball and its attaching hardware will both wear. So, check that whole area for wear. Suppliers sell the attachment parts that capture the ball. They sell a cheaper replacement and an original quality replacement...your choice.

 

[zippi]

As I advised previously (44), if this ball is loose, there WILL be problems/trouble, i.e.-steering, wobble , incorrect front setting.
That ball should be round metal. A worn out metal ball can be dealt with by welding and reshaping to original spec; using a rubber ball to help take up the wear space and there is an old trick of putting a bent washer under the ball to take up wear. I use a rubber ball, even though my metal ball is good..why?
If the metal ball clamp becomes loosened (yours) , it will make noise(metal/metal) as it moves. I don't like that noise and a rubber ball prevents the noise. I clamp down hard on the rubber ball. If using original good attachment equipment...follow Fords adjustment instructions.
So, if you do not lube that 'ball joint' it will wear out. If not sufficiently tight, it will wear out. By wear out, I mean both ball and its attaching hardware will both wear. So, check that whole area for wear. Suppliers sell the attachment parts that capture the ball. They sell a cheaper replacement and an original quality replacement...your choice.

Great information. So....if I unbolt the ball will it slide off both wishbone halfs where I could get it on the work bench for inspection. If the ball is to be lubed, what should I use?

 

[weemark]

on the end of the wishbone is a steel ball, there is a rubber cover which goes over the steel ball, once the rubber cover is on the steel ball it should be bolted into the chassis and it should be tight. if the steel ball is worn or the clam shell is worn you can get steel spacers from the likes of MACS or drake etc. the parts can be found at http://www.macsautoparts.com/ford_mercury_early/catalogsearch/result/?q=radius+rod

the rubber cover should go onto the ball dry, don't use any lube. the steel ball will not come off the wishbone, its all one piece. the bolts that hold the wishbone on should use castle nuts with split pins in them so they cannot come loose, the only way they would come loose is if the rubber cover disintegrates.

in the pic below you can see the wishbone with the ball on the end, the rubber cover which goes over the ball is part no. 3446. the clamshell which holds the ball in place is part no. 3440.

 

[V8COOPMAN]

Great information. So....if I unbolt the ball will it slide off both wishbone halfs where I could get it on the work bench for inspection?

The BALL does not un-bolt from the wishbone. It's a forged steel piece that's welded into the two wishbone tubes. DD

 

[zippi]

Thanks for the info guys. I just enjoy getting all this info from the Pro Barners.

 

[tubman]

When it comes time to put the new rubber ball on the steel ball, there is a neat trick that facilitates the task. Since I have never had the occasion to do it, I will leave to to the guys who have to explain it.

 

[zippi]

Ok guys.....what is the proper procedure for getting the rubber cover over the steel ball?

 

[lotsagas4u]

I tried the air hose blow up trick, didn't work for me, but 2 spoons did.

 

[V8COOPMAN]

Ok guys.....what is the proper procedure for getting the rubber cover over the steel ball?

This is the rubber ball. You hold the ball with the pictured hole firmly against the rear of the wishbone ball. There is a small hole opposite the big hole. While holding the rubber ball against the wishbone ball with some pressure, burp your air chuck into the small hole in rubber ball. It should practically jump onto the steel ball. DD

 

[tiger.1000]

A steering stabilizer will invariably eliminate the "death wobble" but accordingly will make the steering heavier....worth noting

 

[weemark]

the air thing didn't work for me either. I put some talc on the ball then just pushed the rubber ball on and it went on relatively easily.

 

[zippi]

Once again guys....this is the "Holy Grail" of information. Thanks.

 

[JSeery]

I think this thread is showing the importance of not jumping to a steering damper without strighting out other issues first! Dampers have there place, but masking other issues is not a good approach.

 

[zippi]

I've got to cut grass today after work and a couple other honey do's. Tomorrow after work I'll pop the ball cover off and see what shape the rubber ball is in. Might as well clean the cover and paint it while it's off.

 

[zippi]

Pulled the cover off the wishbone ball. There were no cotter pins in the bolts holding the cover on. The rubber ball seems to be in-tacked and not tore up. I could not get the wishbone to pop down even using a pry bar. I would move a little but would not drop down. I was wanting to get it down far enough to inspect the rubber ball on the other side. I assume the wishbone has to be disconnected at the front axle. I had my 37 jacked up and the axle was setting on jack stands. Not sure if that had anything to do with the ball not wanting to drop down or not. I didn't have any cotter pins small enough so looks like a trip to the hardware store in the morning before we head out to a cruise-in.

 

[rich b]

Put stands under the frame, high enough the wheels are off the ground and you will have better luck. With the stands under the axle, the weight of the car is pushing "up" on the wishbone ball.

 

[JSeery]

Yep, your trying to lift the weight of the whole front of the car!

 

[zippi]

Yup......I see now how I was fighting against myself. I always put the jack stands under the axle when I jack the truck up and never thought anything about it. After I get back from the hardware store tomorrow I'll put the jack stands under the frame. Does the rubber ball look ok ? I assume the ball would show signs ware and be coming apart if it was bad but not sure.

 

[Tony NY]

To me, I would look elsewhere.