The Ford Barn

35 coupe · 10-05-2012, 11:58 AM

Took my truck for a ride this morning, and driving about 35-40 hit a raised manhole cover,1- 1 1/2" high with the driver's side front tire and it went into a death wobble. I had to pull over to stop it. It always ran good, the king pins and front seem good and tight, tires are bias 16" firestones, 40 lb air, no shake or vibs at 65mph. This is the first time for this. Any suggestions as to what causes this besides not hitting manhole covers.... THANKS

Pete · 10-05-2012, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 35 coupe

Took my truck for a ride this morning, and driving about 35-40 hit a raised manhole cover,1- 1 1/2" high with the driver's side front tire and it went into a death wobble. I had to pull over to stop it. It always ran good, the king pins and front seem good and tight, tires are bias 16" firestones, 40 lb air, no shake or vibs at 65mph. This is the first time for this. Any suggestions as to what causes this besides not hitting manhole covers.... THANKS

Check the spring shackles and the shackle holes in the frame.

Seth Swoboda · 10-05-2012, 12:45 PM

Check your ball joints also. You will need to jack up or raise the front end off the ground to do this. Once you have the front end off the ground check each ball joint to see if they are loose. You could have jarred one of them loose or also thrown off your wheel alignment.

flathead 53 · 10-05-2012, 02:58 PM

Had the same problem with my 53 f-100, hit a small pot hole at 45 and it would shake really bad. I added 4 deg shims under the springs ,also added steering stablizer from LMC ,now truck handles much better ,no wobble even when hitting pot holes .

gearhead1952 · 10-05-2012, 03:32 PM

Got the same problem on my f1 but it comes and goes even when I hit the same bump in the road. I have play in the steering box that I need to remove but you might try a little more toe in.

35 coupe · 10-05-2012, 04:48 PM

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THANKS TO EVERYONE... Now I have something to do this weekend here in pennsylvania. It is going to rain all weekend here.. can't go archery hunting so I work on my truck.

Shadetree · 10-05-2012, 09:09 PM

I had the same issue with my `51 F1. I adjusted the play out of the steering box and it never did it again. Hope it works for you.

bugsiegel · 10-05-2012, 09:43 PM

Did you make any changes? You mentioned it always ran good. When was the last time it ran?
My experience: I had this issue as well on my 49 F1. I bought the truck with old, hard, rotted, tires. I changed the tires the wobble disappeared.

Mountaindoc · 10-05-2012, 10:37 PM

I know you said you hit that thing at 45 mph, but you also mentioned running 65 mph. For the record, my truck feels like a boat with a sloppy rudder in a hurricane at 65 mph, so I'd doubt it has a terribly bad problem. Just keep working on it and enjoying it (after you clean out the seat after that death wooble).

Bums F-1 · 10-06-2012, 01:48 AM

I had the same problem on my 1950 F-1,after changing to radial tires it never did it again.

tailgaterdude · 10-06-2012, 06:26 AM

The tie rod is hollow .. If it is bent at all it will cause that problem .. I had that happen to me ... What size tires do you have? If they are wider than stock, beef up the tierod with a piece of angle iron ..... Dude

10-05-2012, 11:58 AM	#1
35 coupe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 373	1950 f1 front end wobble Took my truck for a ride this morning, and driving about 35-40 hit a raised manhole cover,1- 1 1/2" high with the driver's side front tire and it went into a death wobble. I had to pull over to stop it. It always ran good, the king pins and front seem good and tight, tires are bias 16" firestones, 40 lb air, no shake or vibs at 65mph. This is the first time for this. Any suggestions as to what causes this besides not hitting manhole covers.... THANKS

10-05-2012, 12:45 PM	#3
Seth Swoboda Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 3,795	Re: 1950 f1 front end wobble Check your ball joints also. You will need to jack up or raise the front end off the ground to do this. Once you have the front end off the ground check each ball joint to see if they are loose. You could have jarred one of them loose or also thrown off your wheel alignment.

10-05-2012, 02:58 PM	#4
flathead 53 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: central nj Posts: 717	Re: 1950 f1 front end wobble Had the same problem with my 53 f-100, hit a small pot hole at 45 and it would shake really bad. I added 4 deg shims under the springs ,also added steering stablizer from LMC ,now truck handles much better ,no wobble even when hitting pot holes .

10-05-2012, 03:32 PM	#5
gearhead1952 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Julesburg, Colorado Posts: 714	Re: 1950 f1 front end wobble Got the same problem on my f1 but it comes and goes even when I hit the same bump in the road. I have play in the steering box that I need to remove but you might try a little more toe in.

10-05-2012, 04:48 PM	#6
35 coupe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 373	Re: 1950 f1 front end wobble Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) THANKS TO EVERYONE... Now I have something to do this weekend here in pennsylvania. It is going to rain all weekend here.. can't go archery hunting so I work on my truck.

10-05-2012, 09:09 PM	#7
Shadetree Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Cottageville, WV Posts: 1,535	Re: 1950 f1 front end wobble I had the same issue with my `51 F1. I adjusted the play out of the steering box and it never did it again. Hope it works for you. __________________ Son, you will never blow an engine up in high gear.

10-05-2012, 09:43 PM	#8
bugsiegel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 248	Re: 1950 f1 front end wobble Did you make any changes? You mentioned it always ran good. When was the last time it ran? My experience: I had this issue as well on my 49 F1. I bought the truck with old, hard, rotted, tires. I changed the tires the wobble disappeared. __________________ Mechanically Inclined but not Auto Familiar

10-05-2012, 10:37 PM	#9
Mountaindoc Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: East KY Posts: 42	Re: 1950 f1 front end wobble I know you said you hit that thing at 45 mph, but you also mentioned running 65 mph. For the record, my truck feels like a boat with a sloppy rudder in a hurricane at 65 mph, so I'd doubt it has a terribly bad problem. Just keep working on it and enjoying it (after you clean out the seat after that death wooble).

10-06-2012, 01:48 AM	#10
Bums F-1 Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Modesto CA Posts: 37	Re: 1950 f1 front end wobble I had the same problem on my 1950 F-1,after changing to radial tires it never did it again.

10-06-2012, 06:26 AM	#11
tailgaterdude Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: North Port Florida Posts: 97	Re: 1950 f1 front end wobble The tie rod is hollow .. If it is bent at all it will cause that problem .. I had that happen to me ... What size tires do you have? If they are wider than stock, beef up the tierod with a piece of angle iron ..... Dude