Steering Question

Larry in Ark.

Larry in Ark.

Junior Member
Here I am again! I have another problem. While checking out my spark problem, I noticed my steering is off. If I turn the wheel from the center, the travel is 1 1/2 turns to the left. Turning from the center to the right, it only turns not quite 1 1/4 turn. With it disconnected from the drag line, I get 3 full turns. (It's like the drag line shrunk) :eek: I also measured the front wheels. The distance is the same in the front and in the back.
I had put new guts in all the ball joints (tie rod ends and drag line) and made them nice and snug. I'm wondering if I could have thrown off my tie rod adjustment.
Years ago I replaced the whole steering section (steering column and sector) with a 2 tooth unit. This replaced a 7 tooth that somebody had put on the '31 coupe. Maybe the steering has always been that way and I'm just now noticing it. I've only had the car for 54 years :D!
Any help would be appreciated. I usually screw around trying to fix my problems for 3 or 4 days before I finally ask for help (wasted time!!!)
 
Have you read the Service Bulletins on the 2 tooth steering adjustments? They tell how to center the steering.

As far as the missing 1/4 turn, have you looked at each end of the travel to see if the wheels are tuned until the stops are touching? Sometimes people install the kingpin locking bolts the wrong way and have the stop nuts on the front side, instead of the rear.
 
There is nothing wrong with your steering. What you describe is normal for the Model A steering setup.

In a turn, the inner wheel must turn sharper than the outer wheel. In a left turn, the left wheel turns sharper than the right wheel and vice verse. The drag link connects the pitman arm to the left spindle arm and has to move a greater distance foe and aft for a left turn. This means the steering wheel must be turned more for a left turn than a right turn.

Ford changed to a cross steer setup in V-8s I believe. In this setup, the pitman arm is connected to the drag link. The drag link has equal movement for a left or right turn and the steering wheel rotation is the same left or right.
 
Yes, Ned,
The inner wheel turns more degrees than the outer wheel. If you subtract the lesser degrees from the larger degrees, that is the "ACKERMAN ANGLE." NOT adjustable! It is created by the WEIRD shape of the steering arms!! And now, you know the rest of the story!! LOL! Bill W.
 
Thanks, Tom, Ned and Bill, for your responses. I was kinda thinking along the line of what Ned said. I figured there was no way to adjust it so the travel would be the same distance from the center. Glad to have the reinforcement! Thanks again.
 
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