Oh Lordy what now!

ivoryjohn

ivoryjohn

Senior Member
I got the wobbles and random roaming blues!

Yesterday I spent the day trying to eliminate the causes of my problems with the various solutions. My steering is terrible and has a quarter turn of left and right play in the wheel. I also get a bad jaw jarring shimmy when I brake and or hit a bump at slow speed. Lordy, you would think the front end is going to fall off!

My first effort was to install a shortened pitman arm and tighten everything. I once had a shimmy in another car because the steering box wasn't tight on the frame. Then I tried to adjust the two tooth steering and managed to get a little of the play out...about half... but that still equals a quarter turn of the wheel. My efforts also stiffened the steering considerably. I don't seem to have the feel of what "Bind" seems to mean, "When it starts to bind back off."

After I got through screwing those things up I added a cupped washer to the wishbone ball. This is probably going to go badly because I don't think the springs are supposed to be completely compressed in order to get the cotter pin in place on the castle nuts.

As a final check to see if I could find any other thing to worry about or screw up I shook the tie rod. Hmmm seems okay. Sorta like kicking the tires but is is supposed to rotate? I grabbed it in the middle of the shaft and it will rotate in place. I didn't dare move it a full rotation, but it will easily, for fear of really screwing something up if it isn't all ready. The tie rod compression bolts are all the way closed and it doesn't look like I could tighten them any further.

Are tie rods suppose to rotate? I wouldn't think so.
 
Last edited:
Have you jacked the car up under the center of the front axle, or each side and tried checking the king pins for wear, and then work your way back to the steering box?? Also check the steering arm balls for wear, then go to the steering box. JMO
Paul in CT
 
sounds alot like worn kingpins and bushings. i have had this problem of shimmy when the brakes are applied. good luck
 
Is this something that sort of happened over a very short period of time or has it be coming on for awhile? If it is something that just happened, it could be your tire pressure not equal in all tires. Or another thought-do you have shocks on your car? If not putting them on may help. Just a simple thought from someone that does not know much about this type of problem.
 
Living where I do I have NEVER seen one thing cause problems.Our cars were beat so badly and used that everything is loose,and contributes to problems.To check the tie rod ends you have to remove them,there is no other way to see how egg shaped the balls are.Same with the drag link.There are a dozen things that can cause shimmy,and I have always found it to be a combination of a little wear everywhere.Grab the pitman arm,if it moves up or down at all,you need to get into the steering box.The shortened pitman arms are great,and help a lot,but if it improves your problem a little it is just covering up a problem that could be serious.If it an unrestored car or a restoration done years ago the steering balls NEED to be looked at.Loose spring perches,loose spring,loose kingpins,loose wheel bearings,loose radius ball,loose sector shaft,you get the idea.With Model A brakes and steering there is no one thing that is a cure.All those parts have to be good and work together.
 
ivoryjohn said:
I got the wobbles and random roaming blues!

Yesterday I spent the day trying to eliminate the causes of my problems with the various solutions. My steering is terrible and has a quarter turn of left and right play in the wheel. I also get a bad jaw jarring shimmy when I brake and or hit a bump at slow speed. Lordy, you would think the front end is going to fall off!

My first effort was to install a shortened pitman arm and tighten everything. I once had a shimmy in another car because the steering box wasn't tight on the frame. Then I tried to adjust the two tooth steering and managed to get a little of the play out...about half... but that still equals a quarter turn of the wheel. My efforts also stiffened the steering considerably. I don't seem to have the feel of what "Bind" seems to mean, "When it starts to bind back off."

After I got through screwing those things up I added a cupped washer to the wishbone ball. This is probably going to go badly because I don't think the springs are supposed to be completely compressed in order to get the cotter pin in place on the castle nuts.

As a final check to see if I could find any other thing to worry about or screw up I shook the tie rod. Hmmm seems okay. Sorta like kicking the tires but is is supposed to rotate? I grabbed it in the middle of the shaft and it will rotate in place. I didn't dare move it a full rotation, but it will easily, for fear of really screwing something up if it isn't all ready. The tie rod compression bolts are all the way closed and it doesn't look like I could tighten them any further.

Are tie rods suppose to rotate? I wouldn't think so.
Click to expand...

Ya, it is supposed to rotate, but only while you adjust the toe in, I would try the lock bolts again, if they don't do there job. pull the tie rod, and fix it so they will. There's more then one shaft that had bad threads from running loose. Herm.
 
Check for excess play with the two bolts that hold the radius rod ball in the bottom of the clutch housing. Easy to check.....Get someone to turn the steering wheel back and forth, enough to take out the slack, while you lay underneath watching for movement. Over the years, the bolt holes in the bottom of the clutch housing wore due to road conditions.
 
My A slowly started the shimmy ,at first just when turning left or right downhill,
I went away on a 7000klm trip towing a camper and it got to the stage that every time I went to slow up it shook so bad my teeth nearly fell out.
I tried , adjusting the wheel bearings, brakes ,checked the steering links,OK, tyre pressures etc,etc,
Finally ,I got a scare on a long downhill in the pouring rain,(I was being a cheapskate and trying to get the last half mile from the tyres)I rang ahead to order some new front tyres.
On fitting the new tyres we found. the rim protector rubber flap thing was not seating on the rim all the way round and was folded under the tyre bead ,on both front wheels,
I replaced the front tyres and tubes,balanced them ,and it has been like a new car since.
That was 3500klms ago.
Lawrie
 
bind means just tighten the the screw till you just feel a small amount of resistence, any tighter than that and it will steer hard when driving
 
Bearings and or bushings in lower steering box are shot. Been there got t- shirt. I had 45* slop in steering wheel. Found bearing rollers laying in grease in lower box and bushings were shot.
 
I believe you. The car also leaves a slime trail like a snail and puddles oil like a toy poodle. When I got the car back I wondered why the guy had over filled the dipstick, he was planning ahead. It over heats at 40 mph if asked to go that fast and wanders down the road like a payday drunk. It may be time to admit that although it looks good it isn't the same as I sold it 14 years ago. I think it may need rebuilding from the firewall forward.
 
I haven't known about the Ford Barn very long but have to say that I am impressed at the reception I have received and the care and thought shown answering my rambling questions. This place is about the love of the cars and their restoration and that is why I am in the hobby. Thank you one and all!:o
 
ivoryjohn said:
I haven't known about the Ford Barn very long but have to say that I am impressed at the reception I have received and the care and thought shown answering my rambling questions. This place is about the love of the cars and their restoration and that is why I am in the hobby. Thank you one and all!:o
Click to expand...

I'll second the motion. This is the best informational site that I've found. Thanks to all for the help.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top