Has anyone heard of a Model A front hub/drum being out of BALANCE? I don't mean out of true. I am having a death wobble issue . I balanced the two front tires but nothing changed.( the car is tight otherwise) The mechanic thinks that the hub/drum is out of balance and the solution might be to remove the hub with the wheel attached and have it spin balanced ? Does this make sense?
hub/drumbalance
- Thread starter lakeside
- Start date
Also if front wishbone has a rubber ball socket installed ... get rid of the rubber ball, install correct wishbone socket hardware.
Do not reuse the rubber ball hardware or jury rig the setup.
The rubber ball hardware is not correct ... Install the correct hardware.
Are steering gear mounting bolts tight?
Do not reuse the rubber ball hardware or jury rig the setup.
The rubber ball hardware is not correct ... Install the correct hardware.
Are steering gear mounting bolts tight?
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Agree with Vince and Benson . If you can't see 1/2 or all of your front axle from the front view under the apron your spring is probably weak which can contribute. Check toe in to spec and ensure all tightness is corrected in areas of steering box, front steering arms, shackles, wheel bearings, etc. one thing I can guarantee is it is NOT a balance issue on the drum. If new drums were installed I would check they were installed correctly but if turned you would of course already know that .
As Benson mentioned rubber ball caps also cause more issues than they solve so go back to an original steel cap upper and lower at radius ball if it has one.
Sounds like you need an A mechanic as well.
Larry Shepard
As Benson mentioned rubber ball caps also cause more issues than they solve so go back to an original steel cap upper and lower at radius ball if it has one.
Sounds like you need an A mechanic as well.
Larry Shepard
Mitch//pa
BANNED
As long as the bearings are adjusted properly with no end play it would not matter if they were old or new..
You can also try rotating the tires /// Ck air pressure
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BILL WILLIAMSON
Well-known member
Remember, the "DEATH WOBBLE" is just an old fashioned SHIMMY, usually caused by SLACK somewhere in the steering/front end. Just locate & fix it!
A friends' car had a weird shaking, it had NO Crank Bearing Block, just a 1/4" steel plate for a spacer!!!
Bill W.
A friends' car had a weird shaking, it had NO Crank Bearing Block, just a 1/4" steel plate for a spacer!!!
Bill W.
Mitch//pa
BANNED
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SeaSlugs
Well-known member
agreed you do not have a wheel or hub problem. I can guarantee your steering balls are loose or 99% likely egg shaped. Worn out shackles, Kingpins, steering gear box, and wishbone too. Your mechanic should know that as jeep Cherokees and wranglers have a bad habbit of having death wobble and its always worn out ball joints and tierod ends.
DO NOT go the cheap/ lazy route of installing a steering dampiner, properly repair the front end AND keep it lubed it should last another 80 years.
DO NOT go the cheap/ lazy route of installing a steering dampiner, properly repair the front end AND keep it lubed it should last another 80 years.
H. L. Chauvin
Well-known member
Hi Lake,
In addition to trying all of the above wonderful advice, if still no luck, please:
1. Jack up the front axle & place same on jack stands with wheels off ground.
2. If you are not 12 feet tall with a 12 foot arm spread, please get a helper, (male or female), to sit in car to rotate steering wheel back & forth. (Hard headed "neck stretching" Model A owners usually never even want to try this step).
3. In addition to placing one hand on both top & bottom of front wheel at the same time to check for loose vertical play ................. also, while steering wheel is rotated by helper, check "every" mechanical joint that "moves" back & forth for "excess" loose play.
4. Try with wheels straight forward, & with wheels at about a 20 degree angle.
Let us know what is observed ...... many will continue to try to assist ...... severe wheel wobbling can be life threatening in some cases.
In addition to trying all of the above wonderful advice, if still no luck, please:
1. Jack up the front axle & place same on jack stands with wheels off ground.
2. If you are not 12 feet tall with a 12 foot arm spread, please get a helper, (male or female), to sit in car to rotate steering wheel back & forth. (Hard headed "neck stretching" Model A owners usually never even want to try this step).
3. In addition to placing one hand on both top & bottom of front wheel at the same time to check for loose vertical play ................. also, while steering wheel is rotated by helper, check "every" mechanical joint that "moves" back & forth for "excess" loose play.
4. Try with wheels straight forward, & with wheels at about a 20 degree angle.
Let us know what is observed ...... many will continue to try to assist ...... severe wheel wobbling can be life threatening in some cases.
1931 flamingo
Well-known member
How old are your tires (bias or radial, size??) and what pressure are you using??
Paul in CT
Paul in CT
Y-Blockhead
Well-known member
There is a machine that spin balances while the wheel/tire are still on the car. You might try to find a place that has one to eliminate that concern. But I agree with the others, I think it is something else.
After having looked at the items everyone suggested and not finding any issues, I rotated the tires. Took the old tires from the front and put them on the back. New tires that were on the back, went upfront. END OF DEATHWOBBLE ! After doing this I lifted the front tires off the ground, spun the tire on the front left again and watched it go back and forth like a pendulum until it settled at the bottom. This is exactly what the old tire did even after being balanced. Would this indicate that the hub/drum is still out of balance or should I JUST LEAVE THINGS ALONE??Thank you all for your help!!
Mitch//pa..#17... No I didn't put in the dyna beads. I decided to spin balance the older tires with stick on weights instead. What's odd is that this deathwobble began when I switched the two front tires around. I did manage to temporarily get rid of the wobble after a few pull overs and stops but once it ''straightened out'' I could travel on a smooth road at 50 m.p.h. with no problem (foolish thing to do I know) and surprisingly the headlts. no longer vibrated. After putting the new tires on the front the car can run at 50-55mph. with no vibrations and very smooth.I think I'm leaving things alone now. By the way, I do have an ''A'' mechanic.Thanks again.
H. L. Chauvin
Well-known member
Hi lake,
The best part is ... you are not giving up ... & are learning as we all do while continuing to "try" different things.
Results reported from anyone trying different things are always most interesting and helpful.
The best part is ... you are not giving up ... & are learning as we all do while continuing to "try" different things.
Results reported from anyone trying different things are always most interesting and helpful.
BILL WILLIAMSON
Well-known member
H.L,
Our Guru, Claude, (RIP) spotted many front end problems by using a similar procedure.
He used the Ford Tractor, Factory Safety Inspection method, starting at the steering wheel nut & going down through the WHOLE SYSTEM. MANY of his diagnostic skills came from working on tractors.
Bill W.