Wishbone ball

Leatherback 57

Leatherback 57

Member
My wishbone came loose on my 29 causing a shimmy. Found that one of the nuts had cracked. When taking apart it had the rubber ball cap assy that was worn out. Also the felt pad was up inside. I ordered new assy from snyders with the felt. What is proper way to install rubber on ball and how is felt installed or is it nessesary with rubber style?
 
I squirt some WD-40 into the ball and push it onto the ball. I don't use the felt. Works for me though there are a number of folks that condemn the rubber ball as not proper and doesn't work. They advocate building up or replacing the ball and use only the original set up. Works for them.
 
Rubber ball is a fix,should replace ball by welding and reshaping to proper size.felts for lubrication.
 
How is the rest of your front end?

Shimmy could be a combination of worn parts.

If you have not rebuilt front end and you decide to remove wishbone, that’s the time to get things sorted out. Enjoy.
 
My front end has all been rebuilt. My ball looks to be in good shape but has rubber ball cover installed and was worn out. Is there spec diameter for original ball? If good I'll go back to original. I set toe in to 1/16. Was at 3/8 toe out!!!
 
Leatherback 57 said:
My front end has all been rebuilt. My ball looks to be in good shape but has rubber ball cover installed and was worn out. Is there spec diameter for original ball? If good I'll go back to original. I set toe in to 1/16. Was at 3/8 toe out!!!
Click to expand...

A lot of guys do not like the rubber ball. Having said that. If just replacing the rubber ball will get you back to where you want to be? That sounds like the best thing to do. Will most likely last for a good number of years.

If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.
 
What is the spec diameter for the original ball? Be a good thing to know so you know what needs to be done, other than that you are guessing.
 
Last edited:
The ball is 1 1/2".
My 29 had the rubber cover, so I removed the rubber and cast iron caps, and installed the original style steel caps. I still had at least 1/8" gap between the caps, so it was fine.
 
When one of my cars started to shimmy, I checked things over and found amongst other things that the wishbone ball was badly worn. I put in one of those cupped washers and all was good there - for a while. I later found that the washer had slipped from the top of the ball to now being under it. I threw it away and built up the ball with weld and reshaped it with a flap disc and 1 1/2" washer I made. All has been good for about 20,000 miles since.
I see the rubber ball and cupped washer as stop gap, temporary repairs. Fix it right, fix it once.
 
Tom Wesenberg said:
The ball is 1 1/2".
My 29 had the rubber cover, so I removed the rubber and cast iron caps, and installed the original style steel caps. I still had at least 1/8" gap between the caps, so it was fine.
Click to expand...


My radius ball measured 1.479. I have been using the original style so maybe I will add the washer and see how the bolts tighten up.
 
sjhark, I say on top because that positions the axle for more caster. Under would be less caster like a model T and more apt to wobble or shimmy.
 
Assuming your two measurements are in horizontal and vertical planes, your ball is very round. Sounds great.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top