Tie Rod rubbing on steering arm

[FlatheadTed]

What do you thinks going on here ,

 

[2manycars]

It looks like you have a reversed eye spring on there. If the front spring is weak, or reversed eyes are used, the front axle rides so close to the frame that the drag link can rub the tie rod. The axle is closer to the frame, but the steering box is in the same location, causing the interference.

 

[d.j. moordigian]

The steering arm, the one that the drag link is tied to, is bent down under. The rest
looks OK.
Sorry about that, Dudley

 

[Bruce of MN]

Too much driving on the wrong side of the road?

 

[quickchange]

Ted you going to the meet in Vancover? Derek , from Nelson where the sun always shines.

 

[Mitch//pa]

if the front spring is weak the rods will rub each other. had 2 cars do that and the spring fixed it

 

[FlatheadTed]

Thanks for all the answers so far ,No reverse eyes ,
Derick were the sun all ways shines Nelson ,wish I was there (My home town .When is the Vancouver meet ? )

Ted you going to the meet in Vancover? Derek , from Nelson where the sun always shines.

 

[FlatheadTed]

Picture 2

 

[d.j. moordigian]

I also agree about the front spring now, the brake rod is close to the shock, do you
have a pic of the front of the car?

 

[Kahuna]

Is there a dropped axle on that front end?

 

[Tony SFl.]

The short Pitman Arm might work. Tony

 

[J Franklin]

Frame sag? The parts that are rubbing are both attached to the spindle arm so the spring would not cause that problem. Bent spindle arm?

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

Frame sag? The parts that are rubbing are both attached to the spindle arm so the spring would not cause that problem. Bent spindle arm?

The lower the frame sets due to a weak front spring, the lower the pitman sets and then it will lower the drag link.

 

[Purdy Swoft]

My bet is a sagging front spring. I've seen a lot of model A's that way. A shortened pitman arm would probably get the drag link off the tie rod but wouldn't help the other problems that a sagging front spring cause. I wouldn't rule out the possibility of the frame sagging at the rear motor mounts, though I have never seen a sagging frame cause the drag link to rub the tie rod.

 

[Roger V]

I had the tie rod and drag link rub apparently on some bumps due to being close to each other (not in the stationary position). Thought it was the front spring not holding the frame and therefore pitman arm high enough. After replacing the front spring, it still had the same amount of clearance. As mentioned in another string, it turned out to be the rear spring which controlled the lighter front spring. Replaced the rear spring with a new one. Now all is well...............

 

[V4F]

sagging front spring ................ steve

 

[Dennis/CT]

Hi Ted,did you change the steering arms? I put rebuilt one's on my car and had the same problem,had to bend the arm up a little.Seems the replacement arm was bent when the rebuilder got it and did'nt notice the bend. Good Luck

 

[Bob A.]

Check your front spring. I had the same problem, I asked the model A wizard and he told me my front spring was sagging. I took his advise and changed the front spring. Cured the problem.

 

[MikeK]

Thanks for all the answers so far ,No reverse eyes ,

Ted, OK, some of us are looking at things upside down. Here's the pix you posted. Yesterday 2manycars said he saw a reversed eye spring, and that's what I see too. That's the problem. The bottom leaf should wrap over the top of the upper shackle bolt, not under then over it. That accounts for about an inch of drop. Look at another A spring in a catalog.

If you like where the vehicle sits and want to keep that spring you will need to make a custom drop drag link or elevated tie rod to give at least 1" clearance. The way it is, one good pot hole slam and the tie rod will pop the drag link off of the axle steering arm ball, leaving you with NO STEERING.

 

[RonC]

common problem. sagging front spring.......