Firestone Tires rubbing service brake rod

[Fishercat]

I just put 4 new Firestone whitewalls on my 31 roadster. I noticed that if I crank the steering wheel all the way to the right the tires will just touch the service brake rod on the passenger side. When I turn all the way left they clear the driver side brake rod by about an 1/8"

Has anyone experienced this and is there a quick fix?

I searched the forum and couldn't seem to find any threads that talked about this issue.

[roccaas]

My driver's side rod rattled across my Goodyears. The rod was slightly bent away from the centerline of the car.

Straitened the rod (as they all should be) no more issues.

Are your tires standard sized?

[Fishercat]

They are standard 4.75/5 19". Order them from Tam's in MA as stock replacements.

[d.j. moordigian]

Does your king pin wedges have castellated nuts? Could be the tie rod....where
the steering box is not "centered", make sense?

[Mike]

Check your king pin wedges, there is supposed to be a lock washer then then crown nut.

mike

[Fishercat]

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Yes they do have castle nuts and they appear to be centered. I can see where that could cause the problem. I'll take a real close look and try to figure out if they are centered. From just looking at them I think they're pretty close to center. Any tips on how to verify?

[Joe K]

The castellated (actually closer to Acorn nuts) go to the rear. And depending on your specific year/front axle, the acorn part may be taller or shorter. Maybe about an inch long or so average? (Early Kingpin wedges may even show another nut on the front side - this castlelated with a cotter pin.)

Early in my Model A experience I renewed the Kingpins. With the kit came a couple of "ordinary" nuts to be used with the new retainer wedges. Which I dutifully put on.

Gosh would that allow me a close turn - I could turn around 180 degrees in my father's garage, perhaps a 20 foot space? But it did allow the wheels to hit the brake rods. Still, I left it like that for a while since I could put the A over in the corner, and get two additional cars into the usual spaces.

There used to be some talk about the 21" Firestones being a bit "larger" than other tires in overall circumfrence. As I don't own these I haven't had a chance to confirm this. The firestones also were reported to hit the fender brace similarly.

Joe K

[Fishercat]

Thanks for the help.

[d.j. moordigian]

You should start off with the steering box centered and go from there. You could
end up taking off the tie rod.....a pain. That's were I'd start.

Dudley

[28ACoupe]

At the risk of raising the ire of the site, there is no such thing as a "Castelated" nut or even a "Castle" nut. The proper term is Crenellated. Just a point of fact, not meaning to be a pain.

The term comes from the nuts resembling the look of crenelations on the top of medieval castle and town walls which were defensive positions built into the walls.

[Fred K-OR]

Are your front spindle bolt locking pin nuts in front of your front axle or are then in the back of the axle? If they are in the front (like my huckster) the tires will rub on the brake rods. If they are in back, they stop the wheel from turning to far. See page 11 in the Bratton's catalog drawing. It is part number 8. Good luck.

[d.j. moordigian]

Originally Posted by 28ACoupe

At the risk of raising the ire of the site, there is no such thing as a "Castelated" nut or even a "Castle" nut. The proper term is Crenellated. Just a point of fact, not meaning to be a pain.

The term comes from the nuts resembling the look of crenelations on the top of medieval castle and town walls which were defensive positions built into the walls.

Okay,.......I stand corrected!
I'm just using the terms that Ford used and also the JS.....

[Bob C]

How about that.

SLOTTED HEX NUT


A castellated nut, also called a castle nut or slotted nut, is a nut with slots (notches) cut into one end. The name comes from the nut’s resemblance to the crenellated parapet of a medieval castle.

[Fishercat]

They're in front, so maybe that's an issue.

[CarlG]

Never heard of them called by the name Crenellated.

Castellated nut

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

Castellated nut

A castellated nut, also called a castle nut or slotted nut, is a nut with slots (notches) cut into one end.[1] The name comes from the nut’s resemblance to the crenellated parapet of a medieval castle.


(Bob beat me to it!)



More on the subject:

NASA
'Reference
Publication
1228
March 1990
. _-
Fastener Design Manual


Castellated nut.—The castellated nut normally has six slots
as shown in figure 6(a). The bolt has a single hole tirough
its threaded end. The nut is torqued to its desired torque value.
It is then rotated forward or backward (depending on the user’s
preference) to the nearest slot that aligns with the drilled hole
in the bolt. A cotter pin is then installed to lock the nut in
place as shown in figure 6(b). This nut works extremely well
for low-torque applications such as holding a wheel bearing
in place.

[peters180a/170b]

I believe that is the problem with Firestone's tires they are larger then the Goodyear. I had the same problem with my roadster that had Firestone tires,, it did rub on the drivers side brake rod. Goodyear no problems.

[28ACoupe]

Just because Wiki and Nasa use the word doesn't mean it is correct. You need to consider the etymology of the word.

The term Crenellated is actually the correct term as it comes from the reference to the crenellations on castle and town walls in medieval times as previously mentioned.

[QGolden]

Hi Fishercat, great handle by the way. I am next door to you in Alton, iff'n an extra set of eyes might help, let me know.

[Fred K-OR]

Who cares about the true name of this nut! Must still have cabin fever.

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by 28ACoupe

Just because Wiki and Nasa use the word doesn't mean it is correct. You need to consider the etymology of the word.

The term Crenellated is actually the correct term as it comes from the reference to the crenellations on castle and town walls in medieval times as previously mentioned.

Originally Posted by Webster's Dictionary

castellated (ˈkæstɪˌleɪtɪd)
adj1. (Architecture) having turrets and battlements, like a castle
2. (Mechanical Engineering) having indentations similar to battlements: a castellated nut; a castellated filament.

(C17: from Medieval Latin castellātus, from castellāre to fortify as a castle)

I guess if we still spoke Medieval Latin, you would be correct.