Fordomatic High Speed Vibration

5

57wagon

New member
I have a 1957 Country Sedan Wagon that has recently developed a high speed pulsating shutter that begins to appear at 45 mph and gets progressively worse as it goes up to 80 mph at which point it begins to lessen in intensity. I can get it to go away momentarily by backing off of the throttle slightly so there is no positive or negative load on the drive train. It has been getting worse over time so I put in some Gunk Trans Medic, and it dramatically reduced the vibration, so I know the problem is in the Fordomatic transmission. Any help would be appreciated. Tim

I also have another noise that I believe is the overrun clutch: I get a load CLANK when accelerating from low speed coasting. I have already checked the U-Joints to eliminate that possibility. Thanks, Tim
 
the clank you get at low speed is from slope in your drivetrain usually the rear end and im guessing thats where your problem is.with the weight of the rear wheels turn the driveshaft back and forth and see if you have play.also see if the yoke is tight.
 
Agree with Darrell that it is in the drive train and probably not the trans. If there is any strain on the drive shaft when you check the u-joints, it will not be easy to detect where the play is. Make sure the trans in in neutral when you check the pinion for back lash as well as the u-joints. Also check the tail shaft housing bushing for lateral play.
 
My guess is that neither of these things has anything to do with the Ford-o-Matic.

Vibration ! Does the car have the original driveshaft and third member? If not, are you sure driveshaft is the right length? Are the original counterweights still on the driveshaft or did some fall off. Losing some counterweights will throw balance off and cause vibration.

Has the original integral housing third member been replaced with a rear axle from a different car? If so, the pumpkin may have a shorter snout than the old one did, thus pullingyour driveshaft fronk yoke back toward the rear more than it did. If the front yoke doesn't engage enough with the Ford-o-Matic rear shaft, it will cause major vibration.

Completely remove and inspect U-joints. Remove caps and Poke a rod all the way thru the Yoke, both ways each pivot point to clear old baked hardened grease. Replace caps. Do all caps turn freely. Re-assembe and grease the joints with grease gun. Watch for grease to pop out of EVERY grease seal (4) places each. If not, there is an internal obstruction and that grease cap will dry out and burn up.

Clank ! Third member gear backlash probably out of adjustment. Could be sloppy pinion bearing, but not likely, unless you find it very low on 90 wt gear oil. Then I would check it and replace pinion seal.
 
First place I'd check is the bushing in the trans extension housing. Check for up and down play in the slip yoke. If worn, it will cause vibration.
If the trans is original, it eoes not have an overrunnig clutch. These came out in the Cruise-O-Matic; yours is the Ford-O-Matic. One way to check is: the Ford-O-Matic will start out in 2nd gear unless floored.
The clunking noise is more likely to be worn splines on the axle shafts and in the side gears. If the backlash is that bad you have a worn out ring and pinion and likely a loud whine/howl.
 
Thank you to everyone! I will get the car up on the lift and check out all of your suggestions. I will also take some pictures and measurements in case it will help to determine if my drive shaft and rear axle are original. I just got back from a 100 mile trip and I had my window down in bumper to bumper traffic and the clank is coming from the rear end area, just as you thought. I will reply again with the results in a few days. Thanks again, Tim
 
Y-Blockhead said:
Correct me if I'm wrong but don't all 57's have a 9" with removable pumpkin?
Click to expand...

The passenger cars had a rear axle banjo housing with the pumpkin removeable at the front. I think the station wagon models had an integral housing posi-track with a removeable rear plate. It didn't have a "pumpkin" like the banjo housing type.
 
I know in '55 & '56 the wagons and birds had the "intetgral housing" but I thought the 9" was used in all cars in '57. If not I stand corrected. :cool:
 
57 wagons used a 9", 56 wagons were the last to use a spicer integral. I think the vibration is a seized u joint
 
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