The Ford Barn

Gold Digger · 10-01-2013, 03:14 AM

I had this same problem back in the late 60's on an "A" and found it to be the front axle was bent. Took it to a front end shop and they had tools to bend it to get the right caster and camber.

Barry B./ Ma. · 10-01-2013, 06:50 AM

Cape Codder, I would also adjust the steering gear to take out the slop in the gears, just don't tighten it up too much or you will have hard steering. Put the front end on jackstands when adjusting the box. I had a low speed wobble in mine and the problem was the right hand steering arm was loose, those large nuts in the front must be good and tight.

Ray64 · 10-01-2013, 06:56 AM

Don't forget to check the wiggling pin in the wobbling shaft

George Miller · 10-01-2013, 08:23 AM

Things to check. Loose steering gear, loose steering arm on steering gear, loose steering arm on front spindle, loose tie rod ends, loose drag length ends. maybe number one loose at transmission pivot ball on bottom of transmission that supports the radius arms from the front axle.

BILL WILLIAMSON · 10-01-2013, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray64

Don't forget to check the wiggling pin in the wobbling shaft

Ray, Dog here,
What's the part # uf thet pin & whar's it go? Then I can show Ol' Bill how SCHMADRT I am!
Buster T.

1931 flamingo · 10-01-2013, 01:55 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Cape Codder: Before you start adj and replacing parts, etc, what were the tire pressures BEFORE you changed to 34 lbs???
Paul in CT

Cape Codder · 10-01-2013, 02:38 PM

Tire pressure was not off more than 2-3 lbs. when I aired them up to 34 lbs. before I went to the meet. I have had the car out one other time this year for maybe a 50-60 mile trip with no problems in the steering.

I do appreciate all the suggestions but I still have not seen a definite answer as to "how come at low speed and goes away at a higher speed"?

Thanks for your time.
Cape Codder

Greg Jones · 10-01-2013, 10:31 PM

Just this weekend a member of our club had the "wobble" at low speeds but it went away at higher speeds. Her problem was what I mentioned previously: loose radius ball arms where they bolt into the spindles. I suppose it could be explained that at lower speeds there is less dynamics going on allowing the loose parts to wobble more pronounced, and at high speeds the higher dynamic stress keeps the parts in one position. Or something like that. Whatever the case, check those nuts where those arms bolt into the spindles! I'm tellin' ya more often than not I see these loose on a Model A nowadays.

H. L. Chauvin · 10-02-2013, 12:57 AM

FWiw:

Who will win the "Dead Horse Award" on this Front End shake Question?

Is something definitely loose as opposed to tight?

Maybe Bill W's Buster-T can shed some canine light on this subject -- I know that my wife's dogs can often read human minds & offer advice, only if we are humble enough & willing to pay attention & read their canine expressions?

Hope this helps.

Tom Wesenberg · 10-02-2013, 03:33 AM

A club member has the same problem. I changed his rubber wishbone ball cap to the original style steel cap. This helped, but didn't stop the shake completely. Everything feels tight in the front suspension and steering, so at this point I think he should remove the axle and check it for straightness by using the cones and 4 rods, as Kevin pictured in the past.

BTW, does anyone know of a source for the 4 cones, so I don't have to turn them on the lathe?

Thanks

BILL WILLIAMSON · 10-02-2013, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H. L. Chauvin

FWiw:

Who will win the "Dead Horse Award" on this Front End shake Question?

Is something definitely loose as opposed to tight?

Maybe Bill W's Buster-T can shed some canine light on this subject -- I know that my wife's dogs can often read human minds & offer advice, only if we are humble enough & willing to pay attention & read their canine expressions?

Hope this helps.

H.L, Dog here, I feel thet it's EASY to overlook a problem when you FRUSTRATED & CRAZY WURRIED
Guru Claude's inspection system in POST # 11 helps a lot to spot stuff & even to see what's goin' on KOOKY at thet RADIUS rod ball thingy.
Vermin had all new frunt end stuff, but shimmied 4 times on "FUNNY" pavement in frunt of Bill Jones' house THE NEW SPRING IN THE REAR TIE ROD END WUZ TOO SHORT!! And when Bill put a 24" flex handle to them 2 nuts thet hold the steering arms to the spindle, they tightened by 2 nut slots, even when they "LOOKED" tite!! Thet's the same thing thet caused Dave's "TUDOR FRUM HELL'S front end wobble at 30 to 35 mph, & thet's NOT FAST, (Ol' Bill goes thet FAST in 2ND GEAR)
Buster T.

Cape Codder · 11-02-2013, 08:11 PM

Here is an update to my front shaking I thought some would like to read.

Well today I and a friend got into checking the front end for something loose.
We did not see anything what I would call overly loose. I didn't want to over tight anything so after some consideration I looked further.

What I found, which I still am unable to comprehend, is that the the rear of the tires were close to 1" more than the front. Yes I did say 1" so we got it back to 1/16" although I couldn't tell if I have + 1/32".

Checked out with a ride and didn't have any problems of shaking. Will know for sure as we are going on a 2 1/2 hour tour to R.I, one way.

Still don't understand this enormous discrepancy and still able to steer the car. Yes I still do have front tires.

10-01-2013, 03:14 AM	#21
Gold Digger Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Arkansas & Alaska Posts: 685	Re: Front End Shake I had this same problem back in the late 60's on an "A" and found it to be the front axle was bent. Took it to a front end shop and they had tools to bend it to get the right caster and camber.

10-01-2013, 06:50 AM	#22
Barry B./ Ma. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southbridge, Ma. Posts: 1,614	Re: Front End Shake Cape Codder, I would also adjust the steering gear to take out the slop in the gears, just don't tighten it up too much or you will have hard steering. Put the front end on jackstands when adjusting the box. I had a low speed wobble in mine and the problem was the right hand steering arm was loose, those large nuts in the front must be good and tight.

10-01-2013, 06:56 AM	#23
Ray64 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Grafton,OHIO Posts: 755	Re: Front End Shake Don't forget to check the wiggling pin in the wobbling shaft

10-01-2013, 08:23 AM	#24
George Miller Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NC Posts: 2,975	Re: Front End Shake Things to check. Loose steering gear, loose steering arm on steering gear, loose steering arm on front spindle, loose tie rod ends, loose drag length ends. maybe number one loose at transmission pivot ball on bottom of transmission that supports the radius arms from the front axle.

10-01-2013, 01:55 PM	#26
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,428	Re: Front End Shake Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Cape Codder: Before you start adj and replacing parts, etc, what were the tire pressures BEFORE you changed to 34 lbs??? Paul in CT

10-01-2013, 02:38 PM	#27
Cape Codder Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,337	Re: Front End Shake Tire pressure was not off more than 2-3 lbs. when I aired them up to 34 lbs. before I went to the meet. I have had the car out one other time this year for maybe a 50-60 mile trip with no problems in the steering. I do appreciate all the suggestions but I still have not seen a definite answer as to "how come at low speed and goes away at a higher speed"? Thanks for your time. Cape Codder

10-01-2013, 10:31 PM	#28
Greg Jones Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Aiken, South Carolina Posts: 697	Re: Front End Shake Just this weekend a member of our club had the "wobble" at low speeds but it went away at higher speeds. Her problem was what I mentioned previously: loose radius ball arms where they bolt into the spindles. I suppose it could be explained that at lower speeds there is less dynamics going on allowing the loose parts to wobble more pronounced, and at high speeds the higher dynamic stress keeps the parts in one position. Or something like that. Whatever the case, check those nuts where those arms bolt into the spindles! I'm tellin' ya more often than not I see these loose on a Model A nowadays.

10-02-2013, 12:57 AM	#29
H. L. Chauvin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,179	Re: Front End Shake FWiw: Who will win the "Dead Horse Award" on this Front End shake Question? Is something definitely loose as opposed to tight? Maybe Bill W's Buster-T can shed some canine light on this subject -- I know that my wife's dogs can often read human minds & offer advice, only if we are humble enough & willing to pay attention & read their canine expressions? Hope this helps.

10-02-2013, 03:33 AM	#30
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Front End Shake A club member has the same problem. I changed his rubber wishbone ball cap to the original style steel cap. This helped, but didn't stop the shake completely. Everything feels tight in the front suspension and steering, so at this point I think he should remove the axle and check it for straightness by using the cones and 4 rods, as Kevin pictured in the past. BTW, does anyone know of a source for the 4 cones, so I don't have to turn them on the lathe? Thanks

11-02-2013, 08:11 PM	#32
Cape Codder Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,337	Re: Front End Shake Here is an update to my front shaking I thought some would like to read. Well today I and a friend got into checking the front end for something loose. We did not see anything what I would call overly loose. I didn't want to over tight anything so after some consideration I looked further. What I found, which I still am unable to comprehend, is that the the rear of the tires were close to 1" more than the front. Yes I did say 1" so we got it back to 1/16" although I couldn't tell if I have + 1/32". Checked out with a ride and didn't have any problems of shaking. Will know for sure as we are going on a 2 1/2 hour tour to R.I, one way. Still don't understand this enormous discrepancy and still able to steer the car. Yes I still do have front tires.