The Ford Barn

Lembomw · 06-19-2013, 07:48 PM

Gentlemen, thank you for all your responses. Things look better today. Went out early and took a close look at the tie rod. Too many bends in different places and on different sides of the bar. You can’t notice that it is not straight until turning it to adjust the toe-in. Ordered a new one from Snyder’s this morning. Since I am bringing it to the interior shop tomorrow so he can take a look at the interior of the car before the LeBaron Bonney interior arrives in a couple of days, I need to be able to drive it so I did the toe-in alignment with the not straight tie rod. Took a little while (have not done this before) but I finally got rid of the toe-out on both wheels and now have toe-in. Should be able to do a better job when the new tie rod comes.

I also ordered a couple of radius ball washers. I will put as many as I can under the radius ball cap. Maybe I can pick up a degree of caster.

This morning I talked to Randy Gross (F-100 Steering Box) to get directions on how to “fine tune the new steering box as it seemed that I had some play in it. Turns out that after removing the drag link from the pitman arm and following his instructions to center the steering box…….no play. However, not moving the pitman arm, when I reconnected the drop link both front wheels were pointed a little to the left instead of straight ahead. Hmmmm. Talked to Randy again and he gave me directions on how to adjust the steering box with the wheels pointed forward so there would be no play since the box was not at center anymore.

Took it for a ride. Wow, what a difference. Nothing like having some toe-in and no play in the steering box to take the terror out of driving the car. I can let go of the steering wheel now and it goes straight ahead. It no longer darts all over the road in unpredictable directions (most of the time looking for a ditch to go in) and I don’t have to have a death grip the steering wheel and fight the car down the road. Should be even better once I get a straight tie rod installed.

Thank you all for your advice and guidance.

Mark

06-19-2013, 07:48 PM	#12
Lembomw Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Orange County, NY Posts: 162	Re: Insufficient Front Caster - Update Gentlemen, thank you for all your responses. Things look better today. Went out early and took a close look at the tie rod. Too many bends in different places and on different sides of the bar. You can’t notice that it is not straight until turning it to adjust the toe-in. Ordered a new one from Snyder’s this morning. Since I am bringing it to the interior shop tomorrow so he can take a look at the interior of the car before the LeBaron Bonney interior arrives in a couple of days, I need to be able to drive it so I did the toe-in alignment with the not straight tie rod. Took a little while (have not done this before) but I finally got rid of the toe-out on both wheels and now have toe-in. Should be able to do a better job when the new tie rod comes. I also ordered a couple of radius ball washers. I will put as many as I can under the radius ball cap. Maybe I can pick up a degree of caster. This morning I talked to Randy Gross (F-100 Steering Box) to get directions on how to “fine tune the new steering box as it seemed that I had some play in it. Turns out that after removing the drag link from the pitman arm and following his instructions to center the steering box…….no play. However, not moving the pitman arm, when I reconnected the drop link both front wheels were pointed a little to the left instead of straight ahead. Hmmmm. Talked to Randy again and he gave me directions on how to adjust the steering box with the wheels pointed forward so there would be no play since the box was not at center anymore. Took it for a ride. Wow, what a difference. Nothing like having some toe-in and no play in the steering box to take the terror out of driving the car. I can let go of the steering wheel now and it goes straight ahead. It no longer darts all over the road in unpredictable directions (most of the time looking for a ditch to go in) and I don’t have to have a death grip the steering wheel and fight the car down the road. Should be even better once I get a straight tie rod installed. Thank you all for your advice and guidance. Mark