Radial sway

Y-Blockhead said:
Don't get the shackle nuts so tight that it binds on the spring and hanger. I usually tighten mine snug and then back them off a little. You may have been OK.

Good find on the backing plate.
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No I didn’t over tighten the nuts. They were a little too loose so I I just put a full turn and pinned it. Then grease.
Tomorrow I’m pulling the drums.
 
A friend in our Model A club has had Coker American A tires for 2 or so years and really likes them. I have driven for years with coker 16” American Classic tires on my Tudor and have had good control in wind and rain.

I would check to see if your springs are sagging and if your shackles are at 45*.
Shackles too vertical can cause sway.

John
 
I love my Coker 19" radials. I have had them for 2 years, use 35PSI and a night a day drive difference over biased.

it rides better and tracks better.
 
Hello all
I removed the rear drums. Tighten up the backing plates. Re-torqued the rear axle nuts to 90 lbs. Tire pressure is still at 45lbs. It seams to be better. But still a little sway going on but it’s much safer. I think the sway is coming from the flexing of the side walls.
I’m going to be calling Coker tire and hear what they have to say. Off course they are going to blame the shocks and springs. It can’t be the tires!! I never had a problem with my old bias ply tires :mad:
 
JOHN CT said:
Hello all
I removed the rear drums. Tighten up the backing plates. Re-torqued the rear axle nuts to 90 lbs. Tire pressure is still at 45lbs. It seams to be better. But still a little sway going on but it’s much safer. I think the sway is coming from the flexing of the side walls.
I’m going to be calling Coker tire and hear what they have to say. Off course they are going to blame the shocks and springs. It can’t be the tires!! I never had a problem with my old bias ply tires :mad:
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Getting a little off topic here but a common oversight made by people when they install the rear hubs is they do not make sure there is absolutely no oil or grease on the taper either on the axle or in the hub. No matter how much you tighten the nut, if there is lubrication in there, they will not hold.
 
How old were your bias ply tires? If older then the rubber could have been quite stiff, and now you are riding on softer material. Are the springs sagging? I doubt the tires, if running true, are the problem.
 
J Franklin said:
How old were your bias ply tires? If older then the rubber could have been quite stiff, and now you are riding on softer material. Are the springs sagging? I doubt the tires, if running true, are the problem.
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Tread depth can affect drivability as well. Old thin tread tires tend to feel like they grip the road better than new thicker tread tires. The thicker tread sometimes gives a swishy feel to the ride.

I notice this more on my Mazda Miata. The old radial tires tend to hug the road stiffly, but new ones will feel springy until they wear down a bit. For me, that’s just one of the trade offs of moving to new rubber.


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What condition are your shocks and springs in?? 50 lbs sounds like way TOO much to me, what is max inflation noted on sidewall??
Paul in CT
 
Synchro909 said:
Getting a little off topic here but a common oversight made by people when they install the rear hubs is they do not make sure there is absolutely no oil or grease on the taper either on the axle or in the hub. No matter how much you tighten the nut, if there is lubrication in there, they will not hold.
Click to expand...

Ditto
 
Okay
I think I’m getting closer to a safer model a. The sway is getting 75% better. With all of the adjustments I’ve been doing it’s getting better. So far I found the LR backing plate was lose. And the steering wheel had too much play. I used the method to adjust the steering box
http://modelaclub.com/archives/tech-tips/981

It’s better! But now it’s squishy. I think it’s just the flexing of the side walls. And I’m at 45 lbs what I’m worried about over inflation. My next thing to try is to start dropping the pressure and se if I get the sway back

Again never had this problem with bias ply tires
 
1931 flamingo said:
What condition are your shocks and springs in?? 50 lbs sounds like way TOO much to me, what is max inflation noted on sidewall??
Paul in CT
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I'am wondering weak springs, wrong springs. I started with no shocks and rusty springs and 6.50x16 old tires and a very harsh ride little sway. Now I have Stipe shocks and repaired the old springs 4.50 x 19 tires, and the rear can sway or lean when turning. A pan hard bar might help but what's needed is a anti sway bar!!
 
I have a 1930 Tudor that had bias ply Firestone tires on for years. Last year I put a set of American Classic Tubed Radial Whitewalls (Made in USA) on my car and have put 5000 miles on the car in the last year. I run 35psi of pressure in the tires so they always look a little low, but they are GREAT TIRES that ride nice, run quiet and show no signs of wear. I would buy the tires again. It makes the car drive a lot like a modern car.
 
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