The Ford Barn

bugsiegel · 05-19-2012, 05:15 AM

I have a little death wobble on the front end at the higher speeds. it's triggered by the larger bumps in the road. I have terrible tires and need to change them but it that doesn't fix things I'm interested in if/how anyone has mounted a dampener on their F1. If so what has it done for the ride of the truck?
Photos are a great help.
Thanks Much.

1931 flamingo · 05-19-2012, 06:50 AM

High speed wobble, usually it's low speed. BESIDES the tires you need, what is the condition of the rest of the front end (especially toe-in/out) starting at the steering box??
A little bit of wear here and there gets multiplied and leads to what you have. JMO
Paul in CT

bugsiegel · 05-19-2012, 08:32 AM

High speed for this truck. Usually above 30 mph. I did inflate the front tires up to 40 psi and that definitely reduced it. It's almost gone. There's not much play in the steering box. I haven't done anything as far as checking alignment. I will go over it all soon.

Barry-ct · 05-19-2012, 08:38 AM

Check your spring shackles at the front and rear of the spring. The pins can also wear and all this play can contribute to your death wobble. These are common wear items on these trucks. Look at the ball on the end of the pitman arm, another wear spot. Drag link cups inside can wear from lack of grease. A little wear here and there can add up. Check it all.

Walt Dupont--Me. · 05-19-2012, 08:48 AM

It sounds like the caster is out on the front end, you may need a tappered shim under the spring on the axel to tip the axel back. If the is not tipped back thay like to go into a saint viters dance when you hit a bump. Walt

mtflat · 05-19-2012, 08:58 AM

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IMHO a steering damper on a front end is like putting a bandaid on cancer.

If the front is in like new condition you won't have death wobbles. Follow the advice above and replace everything worn, radial tires will make it even better and you can drive anywhere.

My 48 has been all over the US and into Canada without a hint of the wobbles.

George/Maine · 05-19-2012, 11:43 AM

I had a bad wobble on my 52 f1 and had a loose king pin,the ball ends on drag link don,t make them tight just snung,and any other wear.

makemc · 05-19-2012, 12:51 PM

the other guys are right, if everything is correct you shouldn't have wheel wobble. I would first jack it up and check the wheels by shakeing them from top to bottom and side to side, top to bottom you should just have a slight amount of loose play, too much its either loose bearings or worn king pins, side to side will be bad tie rod ends or steering sector, if all that checks out, it could just be out of adjustment or even bad tires, my 48 f1 had a little wobble that turned out to be broken belts in one of the tires..they do make a shock style dampner that mounts on the axle and tie rod...I have seen them in many parts mag...a friend of mine has one on his 50 f1

05-19-2012, 05:15 AM	#1
bugsiegel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 248	stearing dampener on F1 I have a little death wobble on the front end at the higher speeds. it's triggered by the larger bumps in the road. I have terrible tires and need to change them but it that doesn't fix things I'm interested in if/how anyone has mounted a dampener on their F1. If so what has it done for the ride of the truck? Photos are a great help. Thanks Much.

05-19-2012, 06:50 AM	#2
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,390	Re: stearing dampener on F1 High speed wobble, usually it's low speed. BESIDES the tires you need, what is the condition of the rest of the front end (especially toe-in/out) starting at the steering box?? A little bit of wear here and there gets multiplied and leads to what you have. JMO Paul in CT

05-19-2012, 08:32 AM	#3
bugsiegel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 248	Re: stearing dampener on F1 High speed for this truck. Usually above 30 mph. I did inflate the front tires up to 40 psi and that definitely reduced it. It's almost gone. There's not much play in the steering box. I haven't done anything as far as checking alignment. I will go over it all soon.

05-19-2012, 08:38 AM	#4
Barry-ct Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Newington, Connecticut Posts: 1,374	Re: stearing dampener on F1 Check your spring shackles at the front and rear of the spring. The pins can also wear and all this play can contribute to your death wobble. These are common wear items on these trucks. Look at the ball on the end of the pitman arm, another wear spot. Drag link cups inside can wear from lack of grease. A little wear here and there can add up. Check it all. __________________ Barry 50 F-1

05-19-2012, 08:48 AM	#5
Walt Dupont--Me. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Gardiner Me. Posts: 4,200	Re: stearing dampener on F1 It sounds like the caster is out on the front end, you may need a tappered shim under the spring on the axel to tip the axel back. If the is not tipped back thay like to go into a saint viters dance when you hit a bump. Walt

05-19-2012, 08:58 AM	#6
mtflat Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Kalispell Montana Posts: 344	Re: stearing dampener on F1 Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) IMHO a steering damper on a front end is like putting a bandaid on cancer. If the front is in like new condition you won't have death wobbles. Follow the advice above and replace everything worn, radial tires will make it even better and you can drive anywhere. My 48 has been all over the US and into Canada without a hint of the wobbles. Last edited by mtflat; 05-19-2012 at 08:56 PM.

05-19-2012, 11:43 AM	#7
George/Maine Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mid coast Maine Posts: 1,878	Re: stearing dampener on F1 I had a bad wobble on my 52 f1 and had a loose king pin,the ball ends on drag link don,t make them tight just snung,and any other wear.

05-19-2012, 12:51 PM	#8
makemc Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Northwest Fl. Posts: 152	Re: stearing dampener on F1 the other guys are right, if everything is correct you shouldn't have wheel wobble. I would first jack it up and check the wheels by shakeing them from top to bottom and side to side, top to bottom you should just have a slight amount of loose play, too much its either loose bearings or worn king pins, side to side will be bad tie rod ends or steering sector, if all that checks out, it could just be out of adjustment or even bad tires, my 48 f1 had a little wobble that turned out to be broken belts in one of the tires..they do make a shock style dampner that mounts on the axle and tie rod...I have seen them in many parts mag...a friend of mine has one on his 50 f1